BAGUIO City Councilor Vladimir Cayabas has encouraged residents of Baguio City to observe social media ethics at all times.
He said social media channels have already evolved as the primary tools of communication amid the pandemic.
Social media has been used for promotion, marketing, modality for learning, advocacy campaign and as a platform of sharing opinion or showing support or opposition to the government policies, projects and programs.
"As number of digital users increase being spurred by readily available information that at the same time false news have been spreading like wildfire. In effect that it causes harmful misinformation among the users and readers apart from its adverse impact to our community, especially during these challenging times of the pandemic. Its serious problem that should be addressed not only by the government but by the willing cooperation from the digital community," he said.
Cayabas made the resolution, which was approved by the City Council in support of the city's character council and Department of the Interior and Local Government's "Disiplina muna advocacy" program.
The councilor stressed the responsibility of sharing information on the digital platform, saying: "Others claim that it's their choice and personal decision to share information that's being fed to them through online but attached to it is the digital person's discernment initiative of verifying the source of information. Others may also say it's their vested right to express opinion or views which they are correct as long as not to purposely cause harm to the interest of the public, undermine or misguide the same or maliciously curtail the rights of others."
Official records show that as of January 2020, the country's digital penetration rate stood at 67 percent, while there are 73 million Filipinos who are considered active social media users.
A previous survey showed that 78,313 households in the City of Baguio have internet access, increasing the number of the so-called digital population especially among millennials.
"Baguio City is not only known as the country's summer capital or the citadel education of the north but also known as the city of character. This is cemented by the creation of the character council and institutionalization of the values restoration team," Cayabas said.
The resolution read that Baguio City's primary asset, apart from its natural beauty, are its disciplined people guided by tenants of "malasakit," "ub-ubbo" and seamless collaboration advocated by the present administration.
"We encouraged everyone to actively help in sharing best practices and positive development being introduced in the city of Baguio. Positive critiquing is also welcome but should be coupled with correct data and information with the clear purpose of uplifting our beloved city," added Cayabas.