It's unanimous! Tougher child online safety, right to information bills passed in House

Two Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority measures gained unanimous approval at the House of Representatives on Tuesday night, June 2, which echoed the widespread belief on the necessity of the bills. Passed on third and final reading during plenary session Tuesday were House Bill (HB) No. 9461, or the proposed “Child Online Safety and Protection Act of 2026"; and HB No. 9397, or the proposed "Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2026". The two bills--which were supported by House Speaker Isabela 6th district Rep. Faustino "Bojie" Dy III and Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos--both garnered 284 affirmative votes during nominal voting in plenary. None of the House members entered negative votes or abstained. HB No. 9461 seeks to strengthen the country's fight against online child sexual abuse and exploitation, including emerging threats posed by artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content and other digital technologies. It aims to expand Republic Act (RA) No. 11930, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act by introducing stronger safeguards, broader enforcement powers and a more coordinated national framework to protect children in the digital age. Marcos said the bill responds to the rapidly evolving nature of online child exploitation and the growing use of technology by criminal networks to target children. “Technology has created new opportunities for learning, communication and development, but it has also opened new avenues for predators to exploit children. Our laws must evolve just as quickly to confront these threats and ensure that Filipino children remain protected,” said the presidential son. The bill expands the definition of child sexual abuse or exploitation materials to include artificial intelligence-generated, synthetic and digitally manipulated exploitative content, including deepfakes involving children. It also criminalizes a wider range of online offenses, including sexual extortion, grooming, luring, image-based sexual abuse and livestreamed child exploitation. Under the measure, those convicted of producing, distributing, livestreaming or facilitating child sexual abuse materials may face life imprisonment and fines of at least P2 million. Persons found guilty of possessing child sexual abuse materials may face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to P500,000, while those convicted of knowingly accessing such materials may face up to 12 years in prison and fines of up to P300,000. The bill also imposes heightened responsibilities on Internet service providers, digital platforms, financial intermediaries, regulators and educational institutions to help prevent, detect, report and disrupt online child exploitation activities. To strengthen enforcement, the measure authorizes lawful blocking, takedown and disruption orders against online accounts, websites, platforms and digital infrastructure used to facilitate child exploitation crimes. The proposal likewise enhances financial surveillance by allowing covered financial entities to temporarily restrict or suspend suspicious transactions linked to child exploitation offenses, helping authorities disrupt criminal networks and trace illicit proceeds. “The exploitation of children is among the most heinous crimes imaginable. Every child deserves to grow up in a safe environment, free from abuse, coercion and exploitation, whether in the physical world or in digital spaces,” said the majority leader. The bill also institutionalizes a whole-of-government approach by creating the National Council for Child Online Safety and Protection under the Department of Justice (DOJ). It is tasked to coordinate policies, programs and enforcement efforts across agencies. Meanwhile, HB No. 9397 seeks to give Filipinos broader access to government records, spending documents, contracts and decision-making processes, while requiring agencies to proactively disclose information of public interest. According to Marcos, the measure seeks to strengthen transparency and accountability in government by transforming public access to information from a constitutional principle into an enforceable statutory right. “The right to information is a constitutional right that empowers citizens to participate meaningfully in governance, demand accountability from public officials and strengthen democratic institutions,” Marcos said. If enacted into law, the measure would establish a comprehensive framework allowing citizens to access official records, contracts, expenditures, policy documents, research data and other information used by government agencies in making decisions that affect the public. The bill would cover the executive, legislative and judicial branches, constitutional commissions, government-owned and controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, local government units and other government instrumentalities. One of its centerpiece provisions is the creation of an independent Right to Information Commission that would oversee the implementation of the law, hear appeals from denied requests, investigate violations and enforce compliance across government agencies. The measure would also establish a centralized Online RTI Portal through which citizens may electronically file, monitor and track requests for information, while requiring all government offices to designate dedicated Right to Information Officers and Decision Makers to ensure prompt action on requests. To promote transparency without requiring citizens to file formal requests, the bill mandates the proactive publication of government budgets, expenditures, procurement contracts, audit findings, annual reports, performance indicators, public programs, utilization of public funds and other records involving public interest. The proposal likewise seeks to strengthen transparency in government contracting by requiring disclosure of beneficial ownership information involving entities doing business with the government, helping identify the real individuals behind corporations participating in public transactions. The bill adopts the principle that disclosure is the rule and secrecy the exception. Government agencies seeking to withhold information would be required to prove that the requested records fall under narrowly tailored exemptions involving national security, law enforcement operations, foreign relations, privacy rights or other exceptions recognized by law.