The House of Representatives has deferred approval of the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s proposed P19.49-billion budget for 2027, demanding a clearer plan to hold social media companies accountable for scams, harmful content, and risks to children.
Deputy Speaker and Iloilo representative Janette Garin said lawmakers believed the DICT lacked the authority or resolve to confront large online platforms despite their extensive reach and commercial operations in the Philippines.
“Kaya nga sinususpende ’yung deliberation ng kanilang budget kasi nakukulangan ng tapang, nakukulangan ng ngipin. ’Yan ang pananaw ng karamihan ng ating mga mambabatas,” Garin said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
The House deferred action on the DICT budget during plenary deliberations amid concerns involving Meta, the operator of Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.
The issues raised include online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, child sexual abuse materials, illegal gambling, cyberbullying, social media addiction, online scams, and violent content targeting young users.
Garin said social media companies should not be allowed to earn from the Philippine market without taking responsibility for the harm occurring on their platforms.
She said lawmakers support companies doing business in the country, but access to Filipino users must come with accountability and compliance with Philippine laws.
The DICT has said online platforms operating in the Philippines must promptly remove harmful material and cooperate with local authorities.
The agency earlier announced that Meta would send a technical team to study the possible use of the national identification system for age verification.
Meta also committed to improve coordination with Philippine authorities on harmful content, child sexual abuse and exploitation materials, artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, online threats, and cybercrime-related requests, according to the DICT.
Lawmakers, however, want the department to show how these discussions will lead to concrete enforcement measures.
“Eh nakita mo nang nagpapatayan, nakita mo nang may mga kulto at recruitment na nangyayari, at ang isasagot natin is beyond our pay grade, beyond our capability. Mukhang hindi katanggap-tanggap ’yun,” Garin said.
“There’s always a whole-of-government approach, at diyan tayo nakukulangan,” she added.
Garin said the House was prepared to provide the DICT with legitimate resources or additional authority, but the department must first present a coordinated strategy involving social media companies and other government agencies.
“Kailangan nila ipakita ano ba ang plano nila, sino-sino ang kanilang kinakausap, hanggang saan tayo papayag na ang ating social media platforms ay makasira sa future ng ating young generation,” she said.
“’Yun lang eh. May ngipin ba sila? Meron bang kaakibat na tapang diyan?” she added.
Garin said the budget deferment was not merely a dispute over government spending. “Hindi ito usapin ng pera lamang, ito ay usapin na ng buhay ng ating mga kabataan,” she said.
