In a productive session, the Senate of the Philippines passed four significant bills, marking a busy start to the third regular session of the 19th Congress. The first bill, Senate Bill No. 2897, aims to amend the Safe Spaces Act (Republic Act No. 11313) to tackle gender-based online harassment facilitated by artificial intelligence and other new technologies. Senators Cynthia Villar and Robinhood Padilla, with support from Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, introduced the bill, which now includes protections against harassment in virtual environments and defines grooming as predatory behavior aimed at children or their guardians. Hontiveros highlighted the necessity of the bill, noting the rise of deep fakes and AI-generated pornography, which were not considered when the original law was enacted. The bill also extends the definition of public spaces to include rural areas and requires internet platforms to remove offensive content within 24 hours. Violators could face fines up to PHP100,000 or imprisonment for up to six months. Senator Grace Poe expressed hope that the increased penalties would deter such crimes and reflect the severity of the harm inflicted on victims.
The Senate also passed Senate Bill No. 2825, the Phivolcs Modernization Act, which aims to enhance the capabilities of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in monitoring seismic and volcanic activities. Senator Joel Villanueva supported the bill, stressing the importance of upgrading Phivolcs’ equipment, technology, and workforce to better protect the nation from natural disasters.
Another bill, Senate Bill No. 2863, the Foreign Affairs Pension Differential Act, received full Senate support. Senator Loren Legarda, the principal author, emphasized the need to honor retired Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) personnel for their service in challenging environments. The bill adjusts the pensions and disability benefits for retired DFA officers and employees, aiming to ensure a dignified retirement and inspire future diplomats.
Lastly, Senate Bill No. 2816, which extends the term of elected barangay officials to four years, was praised by Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Robinhood Padilla. Authored by Senator Imee Marcos, the bill seeks to enhance barangay governance and service delivery. Revilla highlighted the crucial role of barangays in implementing government policies, while Padilla argued that a longer term would provide stability, reduce election frequency, and allow for better resource allocation.
In addition to these four bills, the Senate unanimously approved House Bill No. 7406, which revises the Baguio City Charter.