Inside an internet café in Dumaguete City. (Photo by Juancho Gallarde)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Anti-Indecency Board (AIB) here is seeking a crackdown on the so-called “Piso Nets” in the city’s 30 barangays.
This, after AIB chair Dr. Phoebe Tan reported to the city mayor’s office the proliferation of these Internet machines and cafés in the different villages during the conduct of their monthly actual monitoring.
"Piso Nets" are arcade-style computer units in Internet shops, which are used mostly by minors to access the web after inserting a one-peso ("piso" in Filipino) coin into the machine slot.
The Child Protection Unit (CPU) in this capital city expressed concern over the report that pornographic advertisements just pop up in the middle of the games being played by children.
Tan said on Monday that most of the Internet cafes with "Piso Nets" are operating with either expired mayor’s permits or without permits at all. Others are still in the process of securing the requirements because they also need to get permits from the Optical Media Board (OMB).
The AIB was created through an ordinance and is operating under the city mayor’s office.
Tan wants to seek an audience with the Liga ng mga Barangay, headed by Motong village chief Dionie Amores, because most of the "Piso Nets" are established inside residences.
During the recent "Kapihan" forum held at the Talay gymnasium here, Bajumpandan village councilman Felomino Solamillio noted their difficulty in running after "Piso Net" operators.
Cantil-e village chief Pilardo Sarte and councilor Paul Bagaan, who chairs the committee on women and children, said he has scheduled a meeting with all Internet cafe operators in the barangay on July 20 to tackle the concern as well as discuss an existing city ordinance regarding the prohibition of students from Internet cafes during class hours.
Invited to attend are members of the Local Council for the Protection of Women, the AIB, Liga ng mga Barangay and the school principal of Cantil-e Elementary School.
Meanwhile, CPU social worker Roselyn Frejoles said a member of the city council is looking into blocking pornographic advertisements in "Piso Nets". (PNA)
