BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance regulating the operation of internet café’s in the city, creating an internet café accreditation board and providing penalties for violations and for other purposes.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated the scope of the measure is any establishment which includes residential units with more than 1 computer unit principally offering internet services including, but not limited to, email, fax, online and network games, chatting, sorting and other such services covered by the internet technology which are accessed for a fee.
Further, the ordinance covers other business establishments that offer a combination of services such as food and internet bar and internet recreation or similar nature and that internet and other combinations are still included as internet café and shall be included as part of the measure.
However, educational institutions, private homes and corporate entities using the internet through an internet service provider for purposes other than business shall not fall under the category of internet café.
Also included in the scope of the measure are internet café establishments expanding to other lines of services such as offering short-term courses which may run between one to six months and which may fall under computer programming, computer technology and such other similar courses shall apply for a permit to offer such courses from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Under the proposal, no internet café shall operate without first securing a business permit and other licenses required by the local government, and internet café establishments which offer a combination of other services as defined are also required to declare in their permit applications other lines of business other than internet service, and not allow minor students to stay in the premises of the establishment during their class hours unless for specific educational or study purposes.
The ordinance stipulated the creation of the Baguio City Internet Accreditation Board for the purpose of accrediting internet cafes in the city and shall be composed of the City Mayor as Chairperson, Permits and Licensing Officer as Action Officer with the Chairperson of the City Council on Social Services, Women and Urban Poor, representative from the internet café association, representative of TESDA, City Legal Officer, representative of non-government organizations identified with information technology-related advocacy to be appointed by the City Mayor upon recommendation of the body, Division Schools Superintendent and representative from the Department of Education as members.
Violators of the ordinance shall be fined P3,000 for the first offense, P5,000 for the second offense and revocation and non-renewal of business permit for the third offense.
Yangot admitted the proliferation of internet cafes operating within the city has become one of the primordial concern affecting today’s youth.
By Dexter A. See
