THE Quezon City government said on Monday that the Sangguniang Panglunsod (city council) is set to enact an ordinance on digital awareness and healthy screen time for children and teens. Mayor Joy Belmonte said this would ensure that adolescents are guided in responsible internet use in a child-friendly digital environment, both at schools and at home. Marking this year’s Safer Internet Day for Children, Belmonte said the local government has strengthened its drive towards a child-safe digital environment to protect children from online abuse and exploitation. Belmonte revealed that it has gathered student leaders, parents, and barangay focal persons for the protection of children and internet service providers to promote safe, responsible, and ethical use of digital technology. Artificial intelligence, safe and responsible digital practices, including cybersecurity basics, reporting mechanisms, and digital self-care strategies, were discussed to enhance practical skills of children and community stakeholders in the digital space, she said. “The importance of mental health and digital well-being was also emphasized,” she added. The city government cited the Global Online Safety Survey conducted by technology company Microsoft, which revealed that teens around the world commonly experience harms online, including hate speech, scams, and cyberbullying. At the same time, they demonstrated resilience: 72 percent of them have spoken to someone after experiencing a risk, and reported behavior increased for the second consecutive year. "Data show that our young people are not helpless; they are capable of reaching out and reporting the dangers that they experienced online. As the local government, this is where we have to take action: we have to build an environment where our children can feel safe to speak up and ask for help," according to the city chief executive. As Unesco's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) pilot city for Media and Information Literacy, the mayor reiterated that the city government is championing various initiatives and programs to empower people, especially youth, to think critically about information and the use of digital platforms. Belmonte said the city’s Gender and Development Office, in partnership with the Public Affairs and Information Service Department, will relaunch "TekkiNanay" to equip parents with basic digital literacy to help guide their children as they navigate online spaces. "We have to make the internet a safe and meaningful space for our children, where they can thrive, learn, and express who they are. We will ensure a child-friendly digital space for our children," the mayor added.