Calls for tighter oversight of social media platforms have renewed following a violent incident at a school in Tacloban City, Leyte.

House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Chairperson and Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua urged the government to regulate social media platforms to protect the moral values of the youth.

Chua said the root of growing youth violence is not merely a matter of law or the age of accountability, but the gradual erosion of moral values and moral compass in society.

He noted that social media has a significant influence on young people, where exposure to profanity, threats, and inappropriate behavior has become normalized.

"Sa akin pong paniniwala, hindi problema ang batas. Ang problema ay yung ating nawawalang moral values. Dapat yung pag-aralan natin, i-regulate na rin yan. Ito actually concerted effort ito ng gobyerno, at saka ng private sector lalong-lalo na yung mga Kabataan, yung mga magulang, ang eskwelahan, Malaki ang magiging papel ng bawat isa."

(In my belief, the problem is not the law. The problem is our eroding moral values. We should study how to regulate that as well. This is actually a concerted effort of the government, the private sector, especially the youth, the parents, the schools. Each one will play a big role.)

Chua clarified that he does not seek to suppress access to the internet, but rather to push for oversight of content that is harmful to the character and behavior of Filipinos.

Among his proposals is requiring a franchise for social media platforms operating in the country.

"Hindi naman natin isu-suppress yung social media. Ang isusupress natin yung laman. Panahon na. Dahil kung wala, nakikita natin. Dahil ito hindi lang usapin dito, hindi lamang yung sa gobyerno, ang usapin na rin dito yung moralidad na naidudulot na ito sa mga kabataan, yung mga values na dapat."

(We will not suppress social media. What we will suppress is the content. The time has come. Because if there is none, we can see what happens. Because this is not just a government issue — it is also about the morality being imparted to the youth, the values that they should have.)

Chua reiterated his call for a concerted effort from the government, private sector, schools, and most especially parents to correct the harmful behavior children are learning online.

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