Children need protection from sex, violence in media

MANILA, Philippines - Professors and faculty members from different colleges and universities urged Congress to strengthen existing laws geared towards protecting children from sex and violence which are prevalent in today’s media.

Specifically, educators said that Congress can amend the National Children’s Television Act to lay down sanctions for violators and include clear tax incentives for those who support values education.

The call was made by participants at the two-day International Conference on Values and Moral Education held last Nov. 17-18 at University of the Philippines, in Diliman, Quezon City.

Participants also underscored the need to amend the Campus Journalism Act in order to promote lifelong skills and be used as an effective tool in the revival of values education programs in schools.

“Both laws are good entry points in the revival of values education through the use of media,” Eugenio O. Calapit and Ana Marie C. Calapit, noted in their paper entitled “Mainstreaming Values Education Through Media” presented during the conference. The couple have worked with University of Makati City and Taguig City University.

The campus journalism law which is being implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) can be used to promote values and character education as well as develop lifelong skills for school children in line with DepEd’s K12 program, the two said.

South Central Area SPEd Cooperative, Indiana, USA, and University of Redlands, California.