STRICTER regulations and stiffer penalties will be implemented to all Internet cafes in Davao as a councilor has proposed to amend an existing ordinance on internet operation in the city.
Councilor Joanne Bonguyan, committee on information and communication technology chair, said several provisions are set to be amended to impose Internet security and discipline among internet users, especially the minors.
First to be amended is the number of hours that a minor will be allowed access to Internet.
As provided for in the existing ordinance, a minor is only allowed to access the Internet from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. But Bonguyan said they wanted to adjust this to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. to consider the child's unfinished assignments in the early hours.
She said that they proposed to set accreditation fee worth P10 for the Internet café and coin operated Internet machine (Coim) per computer unit, and a minimum of P100 accreditation fee for Internet cafes and Coim with less than 10 computer units.
Bonguyan said there will also be a weekly monitoring in all Internet cafes in Davao City. She said village chiefs will be part of the monitoring team.
"The barangay captain of the barangay concerned is the most qualified person to take on the task as he/she is more familiar with the place and he/she can certify as to whether or not the Internet café establishment and/or Coim has been complying with the ordinance," Bonguyan said in her privilege speech.
"The underlying reason for the empowerment of the barangay officials in this ordinance is to give the Business Bureau much needed help as the latter can simply go to the officials to pinpoint the problems," she added.
The proposed amendments were agreed in a meeting with the Internet Café Association of Davao City, Business Bureau and City Administrator last November 13.
The amended Internet Café Ordinance of Davao City was approved in 2013.