𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 “𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄" 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲

Amidst increasing incidents of abuses and exploitation in the online world, the provincial government of Davao de Oro called for immediate prevention and response activities to safeguard the people on the internet by providing an environment conducive to the free and healthy flow of information.

The online world brought a negative impact on the lives of people where fake news, identity theft or scams, cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and harassment are rampant on any social media platform. With this, the PLGU-Davao de Oro per Executive Order No. 0043.2021 “An order creating the Safe Space Online initiative” creates advocacy for the people to promote the responsible use of social media and provide an online space that is in accordance with allowed community policy rules and regulations. 

This advocacy is inspired by R.A 11313 also known as the “Safe Space Act” which would help each individual to be responsible for the safety use of the internet especially on filtering information and what should we take in. 

Moreover,  this serves as a network of support targeted against the vulnerable such as women and other sexual minorities, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, the elderly, and others, so that they will be guided with the right information, combat foul, discriminatory, and malicious language and feel that they are far from any physical and emotional abuses. 

Furthermore, this assures that teachers, parents, students, the youth, and the entire public have access to the free content online along with the Prevention, Protection, and Empowerment principles.  “Digital Parenting” is also provided so that parents and teachers give proper guidance, support, and control over what the child sees or does on the internet or social media. Also, the importance of “Data Privacy” is highlighted so that each individual will be responsible for controlling his or her personal information over where it is used on the internet. 

On April 1, 2022, the “Safe Space Online Advocacy” (SSO) in Davao De Oro was officially launched via Zoom and Serbisyo Oro Mismo (SOM) neteleradyo. During the launching, some of the attendees are DepEd teachers and students represented by Dr. Hilda Opeña, Education Program Supervisor in English-DepEd DDO Division, State Colleges and Universities students, Municipal Women Council Presidents in DDO headed by  Sholai Lim, Chairperson-Provincial Women Development Council, Michael L. Uy, Information Center Manager-PIA Davao de Oro, Kim Khael Calabio, Supreme Students Government Provincial President, and Atty. Niel John Villarico, PG Department Head-Provincial Legal Office. 

Guest Speaker Renee Boy Binondo, Regional Coordinator-Council for the Welfare of Children Region XI gave his insight on the use of social media platforms. “We recognized that one out of three internet users are under 18 years old but also we would like to associate with this that more women are using this internet gadget and in perspective also, unsang klaseng pag gamit sa mga kababainhan ug kabataan ug kalalakihan sa pag access aning internet, then rapidly increasing internet penetration. Estimated that over 120 million na mga kabataan naga adtu nagyud online especially that explains our two years lockdown pandemic ug distance learning offered by the Department of Education. Then, the digital world provides critical opportunities to learn, connect, and play, but also amplifies and creates risk. I’ve heard gyud na maayu ang digital world, maayu ang mga instruments but also dunay disadvantages if we don’t put mechanisms and systems that would protect the people” Binondo said.

Hence, this advocacy was created by the task group led by Fe F. Maestre, PAO-Information Division Supervisor, with its members Joyzel R.  Odi, PAO-Information Technology, and Communication Development Office, Josephine M. Frasco, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer, Atty. Niel John R. Villarico, Provincial Legal Officer, Zenith Maceda, PGO-Women Development Program , Edu C. Macabatas , PGO-Bayanihan para sa Karunungan (BPSK) , Allin Joy M. Camile and  Arianne Dacalos from Provincial Governor’s Office. (Jaynus Fernandez PAO-IPRD)