*Philippine Conference on Children and Media 2026 Opens in Quezon City: Building a Safe, Dynamic, and Child-Friendly Media Environment*

*Philippine Conference on Children and Media 2026 Opens in Quezon City: Building a Safe, Dynamic, and Child-Friendly Media Environment*

*QUEZON CITY, Philippines — October 25-28, 2026 —* The *National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT)*, in partnership with the Department of Education, officially opened the *Philippine Conference on Children and Media (PCCM) 2026* — a four-day national conference running from *October 25 to 28, 2026 at the Novotel Manila, Quezon City.*

With the theme *“Building a Safe, Dynamic, and Child-Friendly Media Environment,”* PCCM 2026 brings together child development experts, educators, broadcasters, content creators, regulators, parents, and children themselves to confront the most urgent question of our digital age: How do we protect children while empowering them in a media world driven by algorithms and Artificial Intelligence?

 From Television to TikTok: A New Reality for Filipino Children

Created in 1997 — when social media did not yet exist — the NCCT has evolved from monitoring children’s TV to shaping policy for all media that children consume.

“Definitely, sa television lang tayo nakakakuha ng information at balita. It’s different now because there are many sources,” said *Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara* in his welcome address on Day 2 (Oct 26). The Secretary, who shared that he grew up watching _Sesame Street_, emphasized that “the way children are getting information now is fundamentally different.”

Angara warned about the rising mental health challenges linked to overexposure — depression, anxiety, and even nihilistic violent extremism observed in schools. “Learning is still the control in schools and not algorithms,” he stressed, noting DepEd’s ban on cellphone use in classrooms and its *Kaagapay program* that engages parents on responsible media use.

“We are asked by no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to protect and safeguard our children for their future,” Angara said, as he and NCCT officials signed the Commitment Wall.

Key Issues at PCCM 2026

*Day 1-2 (Oct 25-26): The State of Children and Media*

NCCT OIC Ma. Jowelyn Abendan presented the conference overview —  data on Filipino children’s screen time, content gaps, and the impact of AI-generated content. DepEd cannot control what happens at home, Angara admitted, urging parents to regulate social media use, especially during family meals.

*Day 3 (Oct 27): Regulation and Creation*

Panel discussions on proposed legislation to restrict minors’ access to social media, child-friendly content standards, and incentives for local producers to create educational, culturally-rooted programs. Broadcasters and platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and local networks will discuss co-regulation.

*Day 4 (Oct 28): The Commitment*

Launch of the *National Agenda for Child-Friendly Media 2026-2030*, including media literacy curriculum integration, mental health safeguards, and support for Filipino creative industries producing child-centered content.

 A Call to Action

PCCM 2026 is more than a conference — it is a national commitment.

As Angara put it: “Let's make media a safe place for them, a place that encourages them, that gives them a positive outlook on life, and also encourages them to be better citizens.”

The conference runs until October 28 at Novotel Manila, with workshops for teachers, screening of child-friendly programs, and a Children’s Media Exhibit.

*#PCCM2026 #ChildFriendlyMedia #NCCT #SafeMediaForChildren*