PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY ATTENDS ASEAN SENIOR OFFICIALS’ ROUNDTABLE MEETING ON THE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

16 January 2025 - Atty. Tadeo Culla, Assistant Director-General for Organizational Development, International Affairs, and Quality Management at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), led the Philippine delegation to the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Roundtable Meeting on the Safe and Responsible Use of Social Media, held on 09 January 2025 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

The event was hosted by the Ministry of Communications of Malaysia and officiated by Communications Minister YB Ahmad Fahmi Fadzil. Also in attendance was YBhg Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Bin Md Isa, Secretary General of the Ministry of Communications, and other senior officials and representatives from ASEAN member states.

The Roundtable Meeting provided a platform for ASEAN member states to engage in open dialogue and share best practices in addressing growing digital challenges. Discussions centered around pressing issues such as misinformation, online scams, and cyberbullying, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger digital regulations to safeguard public well-being, security, and economic stability. A key takeaway was the call for a unified ASEAN approach to combat these challenges, ensuring coordinated efforts to protect citizens from online threats while promoting a safer digital environment.

Atty. Culla was joined by key officials from the Philippine Information Agency, namely Mr. Gary Penuliar, Head of the Management Information System Division, Ms. Kate Shiene Austria, Senior Editor of the Digital Media Desk, and Mr. Filomeno Capul, Jr., Computer Maintenance Technologist III. During the meeting, Atty. Culla highlighted the Philippines' digital regulatory framework and shared insights on the SIM Card Registration Act, the Cybercrime Prevention Act, and the Data Privacy Act. He also emphasized the “Maging Mapanuri” campaign led by the Presidential Communications Office which encourages Filipinos to think critically when dealing with digital content.

In addition to the Roundtable Meeting, the Philippine delegation participated in the International Regulatory Convention 2025 (IRC 2025) that was held on 07-08 January 2025. With the theme “Leaping into the Quantum Frontier: Regulation and Innovation in the Tech Era,” the IRC 2025 served as a platform for industry experts to exchange ideas and insights, fostering discussions aimed at ensuring the advancement of digital technology in a safe, sustainable, and balanced manner.

The IRC 2025 was also attended by Philippine Ambassador Maria Angela Ponce, Economic Officer Clarissa Villamor, and Attaché Aina Abrencillo, underscoring the Embassy’s support of the delegation’s efforts to strengthen the Philippines’ presence in international dialogues on technology and regulation. END

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