Public Wi-Fi providers urged to block porn sites

Local

CEBU City officials are taking a stand against the easy access to pornography, pushing for stricter internet filters on public Wi-Fi to protect minors and uphold community values.

Concerned over the spread of explicit content online, the Cebu City Council is urging operators of city-backed Wi-Fi services, as well as hotels and malls offering free internet, to block adult websites.

Councilors warn that unregulated access poses serious risks to children and contributes to broader social issues.

Councilor Joel Garganera emphasized that businesses and institutions providing public internet access have a responsibility to filter harmful content.

He noted that while the city government currently offers free Wi-Fi at Plaza Independencia and Plaza Sugbu, plans are underway to expand the service to all 80 barangays, making protective measures even more urgent.

During a privilege speech at the council session, Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover called for a multi-sectoral effort to combat the spread of explicit content online.

He urged the church, the National Government, and lawmakers to take concrete steps to address the issue.

The Cebu City Council has scheduled an executive session on March 5 to discuss measures against cyber pornography.

Alcover has invited relevant key agencies, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology 7, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police, and Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Alcover also called on the Cebu City Police Office to intensify its efforts against cyber pornography, citing Republic Act 10364, which defines pornography as any representation of explicit sexual acts or body parts for sexual purposes.

He expressed concern over the rise of vloggers producing sexually suggestive content for online engagement, making it easily accessible to both minors and adults.

He warned that the increasing prevalence of explicit material online is contributing to rising cases of rape involving children and incidents of child abduction.

He also voiced frustration over society’s apparent failure to recognize the severity of the issue.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera echoed these concerns, calling the widespread exposure to explicit content a sign of deepening moral decline.

She pointed to the role of social media algorithms in continuously pushing such material to users based on their viewing habits.

She urged parents to closely monitor their children’s online activities and to be mindful when sharing photos of them on social media, warning that such images could be exploited.

Councilor Philip Zafra also highlighted the disparity between traditional and digital media regulation. While television content is subject to oversight by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, social media remains largely unregulated.

He stressed the need for stronger intervention from the National Government to address this gap.(MyTVCebu)