CWC wants regulations on online contents involving minors

The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) said on Monday that it would coordinate with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to craft regulations for online content, such as vlogs, involving minors.

“Pero ito, admittedly, siguro DOLE correct me if I’m wrong ‘no, but as of today wala pa akong alam na regulation ng DOLE na sinasaklawan naman iyong vlogging at saka iyong pag-create ng content sa social media or sa internet,” said CWC executive director Angelo Tapales in “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.”

(But on this matter, admittedly—perhaps DOLE can correct me if I’m wrong—as of today, I am not aware of any DOLE regulation that covers vlogging and content creation on social media or the internet.)

“Iyan po ay siguro isa sa mga gray areas pa ngayon na currently pinag-aaralan po ito ng DOLE and siguro we will work with DOLE para magkaroon ng regulation dito,” he added.

(That is probably one of the gray areas right now that DOLE is currently studying, and perhaps we will work with DOLE to establish regulations for this.)

Under the Philippine law, a working child permit is required for children below 15 years old for allowable work. Minors are allowed to work in specific circumstances such as family undertakings or in the entertainment industry provided that there is a permit.

“Ang sinasabi lang ng DOLE dito ay kailangang iyan ay nasa family business or supervised iyan ng mga magulang or iyong mga nasa public entertainment, sanay tayo sa mga child stars natin at saka iyong mga child models natin na covered ng Working Child Permit, iyong WCP, galing sa DOLE,” said Tapales.

(What DOLE is saying here is that it needs to be within a family business, supervised by parents, or in public entertainment—we are used to our child stars and child models being covered by the Working Child Permit, or WCP, from DOLE.)

The CWC noted that while online contents may look fun, it is concerned that some contents could be exploiting children.

“May mga nai-exploit din na bata dito, while nakakatuwa po ito. Pero, again, kung ang bata ay hindi na nakakapaglaro, hindi nakakapag-aral, iyong normal development impeded because of the vlogging, the content creation, maaaring may abuso, DOLE should step in and regulate it,” said Tapales.

(There are also children being exploited here, even though it looks fun. But, again, if the child can no longer play, cannot study, or if their normal development is impeded because of vlogging and content creation, there might be abuse, and DOLE should step in and regulate it.)

“Siguro ito ay isa sa mga idudulog namin kay Secretary Francis Tolentino, and perhaps DOLE can issue a regulation at the soonest possible time po.”

(Perhaps this is one of the matters we will bring up with Secretary Francis Tolentino, and perhaps DOLE can issue a regulation at the soonest possible time.) — RSJ, GMA News