DICT Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Camba | DICT official website
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Monday said that a safety measure should be put in place to protect vulnerable individuals, including members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and more (LGBTQ+) community, against discrimination.
During the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality hearing, DICT Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Camba lamented that acts of discrimination could also be present on online platforms as technology changes together with the means of communication of people.
The assistant secretary proposed a safeguard to prevent Filipinos from being victims of internet discrimination.
“Hence, a further safety measure should be put in place in order to ensure that Filipinos do not experience discriminatory acts online and by doing so, not only will this benefit the LGBTQ persons, but all others made vulnerable by discrimination through online platforms,” Camba noted.
The DICT supported the proposed Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality Act.
“The Department of ICT interposes no objection to the proposed legislative measures, as we in the department also recognize the importance of promoting equality among all citizens regardless of their SOGIESC,” Camba said.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, the committee chairperson, responded to Asec. Camba’s suggestion by stressing the importance of fighting discrimination in the online space and mentions the passage of the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (Anti-OSAEC) law.
The Anti-OSAEC law, also authored by Hontiveros, aims to provide legal efforts to protect minors against online sexual exploitation regardless of any form of consent from the child.
The committee hearing invited several representatives from both government and non-government agencies to discuss Senate Bill Nos. 139, 245, and 442 — all aimed at prohibiting acts of discrimination based on SOGIESC.
Hontiveros is the author of Senate Bill No. 139, prohibiting discrimination based on SOGIESC and providing penalties.
In addition, Senator Mark Villar also filed Senate Bill No. 442 to penalize discriminatory actions based on gender identity or expression and sexual orientation.
On the other hand, Senate Bill No. 245, or the Anti-Discrimination Bill, is authored by Senate President Pro-Tempore Loren Legarda. Christian Paul Dela Cruz, INQUIRER.net trainee