MANILA – A bill has been filed at the House of Representatives seeking to prohibit all computer shop owners from admitting minors into their establishments within school hours.

In a statement released on Sunday, Valenzuela City first district representative Win Gatchalian said House Bill No. 4740, to be known as the “Internet Cafe Regulation Act," will limit children’s access to computers and other gadgets to prevent addiction and untoward incidents on popular games, such as DOTA and Counter-Strike.

"High-stakes matches involving gambling among gamers, who are usually minors, tend to result in violence when one party becomes dissatisfied with the result of the match,” he said.

In the initial deliberation of HB 4740, Gatchalian said parents also have an important role in monitoring the computer games and websites their children access.

“Dapat din bantayan ng mga magulang kung appropriate ba sa age ng mga anak nila ang games at websites na nilalaro o binibisita ng mga bata,” Gatchalian said.

Due to too much computer exposure, Gatchalian said the risk of addiction to game and other unwanted sites among children increases.

“On one hand, Internet has allowed people to research and conduct work without having to invest so much on time,” he said.

"However, we also need to recognize that computers bring entertainment through games, and children have the tendency to be easily addicted to these games as they have impressionable minds that games could be easily influenced,” Gatchalian added.