MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) is rolling out a nationwide program to help students, parents, and educators manage the risks linked to online gaming, social media platforms, and digital environments.
Formally named the School Digital Safety Campaign, the initiative addresses threats such as cyberbullying, online grooming, scams, digital harassment, harmful content exposure, and privacy violations, according to a DepEd press release issued on Monday, September 21.
The drive offers practical strategies for navigating digital spaces safely, covering responsible online communication, healthy screen time habits, and gaming safety. It also provides parents with guidance on identifying red flags, setting healthy digital boundaries, and seeking professional intervention when necessary.
“Keeping our children safe today means understanding that their world extends beyond the classroom and into their phones, games, group chats, and social media,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.
“We need to give children, parents, and teachers the knowledge and tools to navigate these spaces safely.”
Angara noted that safety strategies must expand into the virtual realm, where students spend significant time interacting and socializing.
The campaign comes alongside efforts to bolster physical school security following recent campus violence, including a fatal shooting on September 18 at Banga National High School in South Cotabato that resulted in three deaths.
Current physical safety protocols—such as metal detectors, perimeter fencing, security personnel, and Child Protection Committees—will remain in place while the new program trains teachers to spot early warning signs and follow proper referral protocols.
The campaign will reinforce existing digital citizenship topics within the revised K-10 curriculum for Grades 4 through 10, integrated into subjects such as Values Education, Technology and Livelihood Education, and Physical Education & Health.
“Parents do not have to know every app or platform their children use. But they need to keep the lines of communication open. Our children should know that when something online scares them, pressures them or makes them uncomfortable, they can tell a trusted adult and ask for help,” Angara said.
DepEd is partnering with several government bodies and civic groups—including the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine National Police (PNP), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)—to design training modules, educational materials, and reporting pipelines.
The program will undergo pilot testing in select schools before a full nationwide launch.
“We cannot leave our children to navigate the digital world on their own. Keeping them safe is a shared responsibility of the school, the home, government, and the community,” Angara stressed.