It takes a village to raise a child

 

The Northern Luzon launch of the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) Research and Child-Friendly Content Standards

Hotel Veniz, Baguio City

September 17, 2019

Registration started at 8:30 a.m. with participants coming from the local government units, media organizations, content creators, academic institutions, and research enthusiasts of Regions I, II, III and IV-A.

  A jovial greeting of “Makabatang araw sa lahat”  from Ms. Yasmin Mapua Tang, Council Member of the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) Child-Focused NGO Sector formally opened the activity. She acknowledged the presence of all participants. It was followed by an Overview of the NCCT given by Ms. Desideria M. Atienza, NCCT Secretariat. She said that the National Council for Children’s Television was created by virtue of Republic Act 8370 called the Children’s Television Act of 1997, and on May 5, 2003, the NCCT was transferred from the Office of the President to the Department of Education, under Executive Order No. 203 signed by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Ms. Atienza said that NCCT envisioned all children in the Philippines will have access to quality television programs that are creative, informative, educational, and entertaining, wherever they are and in whatever circumstances they are in. Further, she mentioned that NCCT is mandated to promote quality television programs that develop the moral values and strong sense of national identity of the Filipino child; formulate policies, set standards for children’s TV, and ensure their implementation; research on the impact of TV on Filipino children; monitor and evaluate child-friendly television; advocate media literacy among various stakeholders; support the production of quality TV programs for children; and, strengthen linkages with the broadcast industry.

    A research study on the impact of media consumption entitled, “The Filipino Child’s Media World” was presented by Mr. John Isaac A. Hilario, Project Support Staff/Researcher of NCCT. He said that the research was conducted by NCCT in 2018 in partnership with Far Eastern University (FEU) Manila to explore the roles of parents in mediating children’s media use and the effects of media in their school performance in terms of competency, attributes, pro-social behavior, and task-oriented inclination.

 Mr. Hilario explained that the study took place from May 2018 to March 2019, in continuation from the first research conducted by NCCT on year 2015 as part of NCCT’s mission to further explore children’s media habits and patterns not only in television viewing, but also on their social media use and video gaming. Parents’ involvement in their children’s media use is also heavily emphasized and focused on by the researchers. The research was conducted among Grades 1 to 6 school children in public and private schools in the Philippines. It had a total of 2,203 participants of which 1,007 were pupils, 1,007 were parents and 189 were teacher-advisers from the  National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Results of the study reveal that Filipino school children are now watching less TV as they also start spending more hours on mobile phones to watch YouTube videos, update their social media and play video games. Parents and children involved in the surveys and focus group discussions reported that they watch TV together, but children are more often left unattended when they use social media and play video games.

The study concluded that there is a need for digital media and information literacy to be taught among teachers, children and parents as this recent study points at the numerous adverse impacts of media and exposure to age inappropriate media content to children’s overall well-being (cognitive, psychological, social, behavioral and health impact). It echoed the suggestion of children and parents to have more child-friendly media content, stricter regulation of internet cafes, and engage family into more social activities like sports, outdoor activities and other bonding moments with relatives. Mr. Hilario expressed his high hopes that the report will help all concerned to understand the role that media plays in children’s environment to come up a meaningful discussion on how to protect and keep the children from media and online harm.

    Highlighting the activity was the Northern Luzon launching of the NCCT Child-Friendly Content Standards presented by Ms. Yasmin Mapua Tang. She emphasized that by virtue of Section 9 of the Republic Act No. 8370, or the Children’s Television Act of 1997, NCCT shall require each broadcasting network a minimum of fifteen percent (15%) of the daily total air time for child-friendly shows as part of the network’s corporate social responsibility of serving the public. This set of standards will allow government agencies and other stakeholders that are involved in shaping the future generations of Filipinos to be in-step with the quick-paced information revolution, keeping Filipino values intact, and ensuring that children gain proper knowledge and are not led astray by negative content.

The Standards, Ms. Tang revealed underwent several drafts and consultations from 2012, aims to promote more child-friendly content through airing of child-friendly television shows across the country. Pursuant to the Standards, broadcast of children’s television programs and child-friendly television programs shall be aired between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and/or between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., taking into consideration other activities necessary or desirable for their balanced development. According to the rules and regulations of the Child-Friendly Content Standards, children’s television programs shall be: educational or must promote, protect, and develop the child’s physical, emotional, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being; value-laden or must foster and nurture the positive value formation and overall development of a child; and age-appropriate or must be suitable according to the formative and developmental stages of a child.

      Ms. Tang stressed that child-friendly television programs on the other hand, are programs that are not specifically intended for viewing by children but can be considered if they meet specific set criteria covering theme, value, dialogue, language, nutrition, sex and nudity, violence, substance use, gambling, and advertisements. She said that the criteria also apply for children’s television programs. Every broadcast network is required by law to allot at least 15% of its daily total airtime for children’s programs and/or child-friendly program content shall submit a monthly compliance report. However, this requirement shall be complied by every broadcast network gradually in order to give them enough time to comply with the law. From the date of effectivity until December 31, 2019, the compliance to the minimum 15% shall be on a voluntary basis. Beginning January 1 to December 30, 2020, every broadcast network shall have at least five percent (5%) compliance, while at least 10% minimum allotment should be attained beginning January 1 to December 31, 2021. The required 15% of the total everyday airtime for children’s programs and/or child-friendly programs shall be fully complied within 2022.

A meaningful discussion through an open forum wrapped-up the whole day activity. Participants shared observations, comments and suggestions that may find helpful in the development of programs related to media and children in their respective locality, and to the nation as well. The NCCT and the participants all agreed that it will take a collaborative effort of all concerned to protect children’s interests by providing television programs that reflect their needs, concerns and interests without exploiting them, hence, “it takes a village to raise a child”, indeed.