SEVERAL members of the National Unity Party (NUP) renewed their push for House Bill 5494 which aims to update the country's law against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (Osaec).
The bill seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) 11930 which punishes the production, distribution, possession, and access of child sexual abuse or exploitation materials.
"Our amendments refine definitions, elements of crimes, and ascertain roles in the commission of OSAEC crimes," Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano said in a statement on Saturday.
The Expanded Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act was recently added to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) list of priority bills.
HB 5494 was filed last October by Valeriano along with Antipolo 1st District Rep. Ronaldo Puno, then Antipolo representative Romeo Acop, who died in December, and several others.
The bill "recognizes the indispensable role of internet and financial intermediaries in prevention, detection, disruption and reporting, and the crucial supervisory authority of their regulators to set enforceable child-safeguarding standards."
Earlier this month, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos said the chamber was ready to do its part to ensure that the priority bills move without delay.
Added to the Ledac list of priority measures were the abolition of the travel tax, a bill that addresses fake news and digital disinformation, and the resetting of the elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
