House approves child online safety bill on third reading
The House of Representatives passed, on third and final reading, the bill strengthening child online safety.
All 284 lawmakers voted in favor of House Bill No. 9461, or the "Child Online Safety and Protection Act of 2026," which is among the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council's priority measures.
The proposed bill details the definition of child sexual abuse or exploitation materials to include AI-generated, synthetic, and digitally manipulated content, including deepfakes involving kids.
It also criminalizes online grooming, sexual extortion, luring, image-based sexual abuse, and livestreamed exploitation.
Violators who produce, distribute, livestream, or facilitate child sexual abuse materials may face life imprisonment and fines of at least P2 million, while those found in possession of such materials may face up to 20 years in prison.
“The message is simple and unequivocal: those who exploit children, whether through digital platforms, financial networks or emerging technologies, will be pursued and held accountable. The law must always stand on the side of the child,” House Speaker Bojie Dy said.
Under the measure, lawful blocking, takedown and disruption orders against websites, accounts, and platforms will be authorized.
Additionally, the House also approved another LEDAC priority measure, the Right to Information Bill, which passed with 284 affirmative votes and no abstentions.
Under the bill, a comprehensive framework will be established to allow citizens to obtain contracts, official records, policy documents, expenditures, research data, and other information surrounding all three government agencies' functions.
It also aims to create an independent Right to Information Commission and a centralized online RTI portal.
Another LEDAC measure given the green light is the Bases Conversion and Development Act with 271-9-2 votes.
This bill would allow portions of BCDA-administered properties to be considered for reclassification as "alienable and disposable lands." It also limits areas that may be reclassified and earmarks them for residential, institutional, industrial, and mixed-use developments.