PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. are calling for coordinated action among government agencies, telecommunications operators, technology platforms, schools, families and civil society groups to address online threats against children, saying no single institution can adequately protect young Filipinos in digital spaces.
The companies raised the call during the Safe Online Space Forum: Building Safer Online Spaces for Filipino Children and Families, which brought together representatives from government, education, technology, media and civil society to discuss online safety policies, harmful content and measures to help children navigate digital platforms.
Menardo “Butch” G. Jimenez, PLDT chief operating officer and chief technology officer, said child protection had become a priority as risks increasingly extended beyond the internet into children’s offline lives.
“Our children are under attack. And the moment your child is under attack, that becomes priority one,” Jimenez said.
He stressed that addressing the problem requires cooperation across sectors rather than leaving responsibility solely to telecommunications companies or the government.
“This problem is not solved by telcos playing God or even government playing God. This problem is solved by every single sector in this room talking with each other to understand the problem, and together come up with solutions,” he said.
Jimenez said PLDT’s role was to bring stakeholders together and draw on their respective expertise, including technology, education, psychology, public policy and parenting. He also urged participants to develop practical measures that could be implemented immediately.
Government, industry and families discuss safeguards
The forum featured three panel discussions covering existing regulations and institutional responsibilities, harmful online content and threats, and the roles of families, schools and communities in developing children’s digital resilience.
The first panel included representatives from the Department of Education, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), Philippine National Police, the Office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Converge ICT Solutions Inc.
Rojun V. Hosillos, director of the Cybercrime Investigation Office at CICC, emphasized the importance of proactive coordination with digital platforms.
“We will not win in the reactive part of cybercrime. We will always win on the proactive side,” Hosillos said, adding that engagement with platforms had established a channel for coordination before requests to remove harmful content are made.
A second panel examined the role of social media platforms, esports, media and families in addressing online risks. Alexandre “AK” Laverez, a national esports athlete and chairperson of the Esports Party List, cautioned against treating gaming and esports as inherently harmful.
“The esports industry offers careers, friendships, and opportunities,” Laverez said.
The final panel focused on children’s development and the responsibilities of parents, educators and communities. It included child development specialists, nongovernment organizations, educators and representatives of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Social Technology Bureau.
Tina Zamora, a family life and child development specialist and developmental psychologist, called for greater investment in the people who influence children.
“Invest in parent education, care for teachers, and boost content creators. Invest on the people influencing children, in addition to investing on technology,” Zamora said.
Bryanna Mariñas, founder and executive director of Violence Ends With Us, urged stakeholders to involve young people and survivors of violence in developing protective measures.
She said their experiences could help identify gaps in existing responses and inform measures to prevent similar harm to others.
Parents remain central to online safety
Jimenez said technology, legislation and government action would not be sufficient without parental involvement in helping children develop judgment and values for navigating online environments.
“We can talk about how technology, the government or the laws will solve this, but the reality is a big part of the solution lies with the parents as well,” he said.
The forum forms part of the PLDT Group’s broader efforts to promote cooperation in creating safer digital environments for children. The initiative also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on peace, justice and strong institutions, as well as partnerships for sustainable development.
The discussions highlighted the need to combine technical safeguards with education, family involvement, platform accountability and coordinated responses to online threats. The forum announcement, however, did not identify specific new policies, implementation deadlines or measurable targets resulting from the discussions.
