PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS

AND DEVELOPMENT

MARIA CRISTINA C. AZUELO, PhD

WHAT IS POLICY ANALYSIS?
is a process through which one identifies and evaluates
alternative policies or programs that are intended to lessen
or resolve social, economic, or physical problems.
WHAT IS POLICY ANALYSIS?
It is also an applied discipline, which uses multiple
methods of inquiry and argument to produce and
transform policy-relevant information that may be utilized
in political settings to resolve public problems.
 STEPS IN POLICY ANALYSIS AND
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
•1. VERIFY, DEFINE AND DETAIL THE PROBLEM
 STEPS IN POLICY ANALYSIS AND
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
•2. IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE POLICIES
 STEPS IN POLICY ANALYSIS AND
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
•3. SET AN EVALUATION CRITERIA
 STEPS IN POLICY ANALYSIS/
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
•4. EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE POLICIES
 STEPS IN POLICY ANALYSIS/
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
•5. RECOMMEND POLICIES
 STEPS IN POLICY /DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS
6. MONITOR THE POLICY OUTCOMES
 POLICY DEVELOPMENT ON COMPUTER AND
VIDEO GAMES IN THE PROVINCE OF SORSOGON
RATIONALE  
TELEVISION AND MORE RECENT INVENTIONS LIKE COMPUTER
AND VIDEO GAMES AND THE INTERNET HAVE INDEED CHANGED
THE MODERN WORLD. WHILE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GREAT
BENEFITS, THESE MEDIA CAN ALSO CAUSE GREAT HARM. TOO
MANY CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES ARE
SUFFERING FROM THAT HARM. CHILDREN NOW SPEND MORE
TIME IN FRONT OF TV AND VIDEO GAMES SCREENS THAN THEY
SPEND ON ANY OTHER ACTIVITY OF THEIR LIVES EXCEPT
SLEEPING.
 THE CONTINUOUS PROLIFERATION OF ESTABLISHMENT
OFFERING VIDEO AND COMPUTER GAMES GIVE A DETRIMENTAL
EFFECT TO THE CHILDREN. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT UNHEALTHY
MEDIA HABITS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A HOST OF PROBLEMS,
ESPECIALLY AGGRESSIVE AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, LOWER
READING SCORES, POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, UNHEALTHY
SEXUAL BEHAVIORS, OBESITY, TOBACCO USE AND UNDERAGE
DRINKING. STUDENTS WERE LURED IN THE GAMES; HAVE TO SKIP
THEIR CLASSES AND LEARN TO COMMIT PETTY CRIMES TO
GENERATE MONEY TO BE SPENT FOR PLAYING COMPUTER AND
VIDEO GAMES.
PARENTS WERE ALARMED BY THE PRESENCE OF CHILDREN AND STUDENTS
DURING REGULAR CLASS DAYS. THE TYPES OF GAMES AFFECT THE MORAL,
SPIRITUAL, INTELLECTUAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS OF THE PLAYERS.

MOST OF THE ETHICAL CONCERNS ABOUT COMPUTER GAMES CENTER ON

THEIR NOTORIOUSLY HIGH LEVEL OF VIOLENCE. IT COMES IN A VARIETY OF
FLAVOR SUCH AS REPETITIVE DEATH GAMES WHICH THE PLAYER’S
CHARACTER DIES OVER AND OVER, MILITARY GAMES THAT STIMULATE AND
GLORIFY WAR, SHOOT-EM-UP GAMES IN WHICH THE OBJECT IS TO BLOW AWAY
EVERYTHING THAT MOVES, THE BLOOD-AND-GORE WHICH SHOW UP
CLOSE-AND –PERSONAL SCENES OF BLOOD AND DEATHS AND THE FOR
ADULTS ONLY GAMES.
IT CANNOT BE ARGUED THAT COMPUTER GAMES IS A MINDLESS
ENTERTAINMENT WITH ZERO MORAL VALUE, BECAUSE IT’S OBVIOUS
THAT THERE IS SOME FORM OF CULTURAL COMMUNICATION GOING
ON WHENEVER SOMEONE SITS DOWN TO PLAY AND GAME. AND IT’S
BUT APPROPRIATE FOR US TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT
MESSAGES ARE BEING COMMUNICATED.

COMPUTER GAMES NEED AN EXTRA SCRUTINY, MAINLY BECAUSE

THEY ARE PERCEIVED AS CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT AND CLOSELY
ASSOCIATED WITH THEM AND IT’S TIME TO THINK THEIR MORAL
CONTENT.
IT IS THE STATES RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THE
GENERAL WELFARE OF THE CHILDREN IN FAVOR OF
THEIR DEVELOPMENT THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OF THE PROVINCE OF SORSOGON SHOULD FORMULATE
POLICY REGULATIONS TO PROTECT THE BEST INTEREST
OF THE CHILDREN OF SORSOGON PROVINCE.
 
THE PROBLEM
THE ABSENCE OF POLICY REGULATING COMMERCIAL COMPUTER AND VIDEO
 
GAMES OFFERED BY ESTABLISHMENTS IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS
CONFRONTING THE PROVINCE OF SORSOGON. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER
THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED UPON BECAUSE IF NOT, THIS WILL LEAD TO MORE
VIOLENCE AND CONTRIBUTES TO SOCIETY’S TIGHTENING CYCLE OF
VIOLENCE.

IT COULD BE OBSERVED THAT MOST OF THE COMPUTER ESTABLISHMENTS IN

THE PROVINCE PARTICULARLY THOSE LOCATED NEAR THE SCHOOLS ARE
DISREGARDING THEIR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND SOMETIMES NOT EVEN
CONCERNED ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT THEY OFFER WHETHER THIS WOULD
AFFECT CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT PHYSICALLY, INTELLECTUALLY,
SOCIALLY, AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR NOT.
THEY EVEN ALLOW CHILDREN TO ENTER INTO THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS DURING
SCHOOL HOURS TO PLAY INTERNET GAMES WITHOUT CONSIDERING IF THIS IS
APPROPRIATE OR NOT TO THEIR AGE. COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAMES ARE VERY
INFLUENTIAL AND IF THERE IS TOO MUCH VIOLENCE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN
TO PLAY, THIS CAN SWAY THEIR ATTITUDES IN A NEGATIVE DIRECTION.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO FACE THIS PRESSING CONCERN SINCE WHAT IS AT

STAKE HERE IS THE FUTURE OF THE CHILDREN. IT HAS TO EXERCISE ITS
POWERS PROVIDED IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 TO PROTECT
THE CHILDREN FROM THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF UNREGULATED USE
AND ACCESS OF THE COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAMES IN INTERNET CAFES AND
OTHER SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS.
POLICY ALTERNATIVES
THE FOLLOWING POLICY ALTERNATIVES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND
REGULATE VIDEO AND COMPUTER GAMES OFFERED BY THE ESTABLISHMENTS IN
THE PROVINCE ARE AS FOLLOWS:

REGULATIONS AND PROHIBITIONS

1. PROHIBITION ON COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS – COMMERCIAL

ESTABLISHMENTS WHICH BUSINESS INVOLVED RENTING OF ELECTRONIC VIDEO
GAMES AND COMPUTER GAMES MUST NOT BE LOCATED 100 METERS FROM THE
NEAREST SCHOOLS/INSTITUTION AND ARE PROHIBITED TO CATER CHILDREN
FROM 6 YRS OLD TO 17 YEARS OLD DURING CLASS DAYS.
2. PROHIBITION OF VIOLENT ORIENTED VIDEO GAMES
-COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT INVOLVED IN RENTING
OF VIDEO GAMES ARE PROHIBITED TO RENT TO THE
CHILDREN GAMES WHICH SHOWS BLOOD, DEATH AND
VIOLENCE SUCH AS; GAMES SHOWING REPETITIVE
DEATH GAMES, MILITARY GAME BLOOD-AND – GORE
GAMES AND FOR ADULTS GAMES
3. CATEGORIZING OF COMPUTER GAMES- COMPUTER
GAMES MUST BE CATEGORIZED AS FOR ADULT GAMES
AND FAMILY GAMES THAT CHILDREN AND PARENTS CAN
LIKELY PLAY TOGETHER OR CHILDREN GAMES.
3.POSTING- ESTABLISHMENTS OF COMMERCIAL VIDEO GAMES, COMPUTER
GAMES ARE REQUIRED TO POST GAMES SUITABLE FOR EACH CATEGORY OF
PLAYERS SUCH AS ADULT’S FAMILY GAMES AND CHILDREN’S GAMES.

4.PROHIBITION ON INTERNET CAFÉ AND /OR COMPUTER SHOPS-

ESTABLISHMENTS INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS OF INTERNET AND OTHER
COMPUTER WORK BUSINESS ARE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERTAINING OR
CATERING CHILDREN TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES DURING SCHOOL DAYS. OWNERS
ARE REQUIRED TO SUPERVISE CHILDREN CONDUCTING RESEARCH THRU
INTERNET.
ENFORCEMENT
1. CONDUCT A DIALOGUE IN COLLABORATION WITH PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND
NONPROFIT GROUPS CONCERNED WITH THE ROLE OF COMPUTER
TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIETY WITH THE RESEARCHERS, SOFTWARE AND INTERNET
COMPANIES TO CREATE HIGH-QUALITY CONTENT OF GAMES THAT CAN
ENHANCE CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

2. ADOPT AN AGE APPROPRIATE GUIDELINES FOR CHILDREN’S COMPUTER

FLUENCY. SUCH GUIDELINES SHOULD BE DISSEMINATED TO ALL ELEMENTARY
AND SECONDARY TEACHERS AND INCORPORATED INTO PRE-SERVICE AND
IN-SERVICE TECHNOLOGY TRAINING SESSIONS.
3. CREATE A MONITORING COMMITTEE WHICH SHALL BE
COMPOSED OF A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE
CITY MAYOR, SP CHAIRMAN ON COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CITY SOCIAL WELFARE AND
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, THE CITY OF POLICE, ABC PRESIDENT AND
A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
4. THE CITY SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IN
COOPERATION AND WITH APPROVAL OF THE SORSOGON CITY
POLICE STATION MAY ASSIGN AND DESIGNATE POLICE OFFICERS
TO SERVE AS THE CHILDREN AND STUDENT RELATION OFFICERS
WHO WILL BE TASKED TO MONITOR AND APPREHEND PERSONS
AND ESTABLISHMENTS VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE.
 EVALUATING POLICY ALTERNATIVES
 

•THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE RECOMMENDED POLICY

ALTERNATIVES WAS BASED UPON THE ANALYSIS OF THE POLICY
ALTERNATIVES AGAINST FIVE MAIN CRITERIA: EFFICIENCY,
EQUITY, ADMINISTRATION, POLITICAL AND LEGAL FEASIBILITY
AND IMPROVABILITY. THE ANALYSIS IS SUMMARIZED IN THE
TABLE BELOW. IT IS ONCE AGAIN IMPORTANT TO STRESS THAT
THE ANALYSIS IS BASED UPON THE VIEWS OF THE CONCERNED
OFFICIALS OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.
 

THE SCREENING OF POLICY ALTERNATIVES IS BASED UPON THE CRITERIA FOR POLICY
ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS AS SHOWN BELOW:
• EVALUATIVE CRITERIA

• EFFICIENCY (BENEFIT TO COST RATIO)

THE EFFICIENCY OF A PROPOSED POLICY MEASURES THE EXTENT TO WHICH A
POLICY MAXIMIZES THE NET BENEFITS OF ALL INDIVIDUALS IN THE MARKET
SYSTEM, INCLUDING BOTH PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS. MORE SIMPLY
STATED, THE EFFICIENCY CRITERION ASSESSES THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE
ALTERNATIVE ACHIEVES THE POLICY OBJECTIVE RELATIVE TO THE COST OF
IMPLEMENTATION AS COMPARED TO OTHER POTENTIAL OPTIONS.
ALTERNATIVES THAT RATE HIGHER ON MEASURES OF EFFICIENCY WOULD BE
DEEMED MORE COST-EFFECTIVE THAN OTHER COMPETING ALTERNATIVES.
EQUITY (FAIRNESS)
• THE ISSUE OF EQUITY FOCUSES ON THE DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF THE
POLICY ON KEY ECONOMIC FACTORS IN THE MARKET SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE
COMPUTER OPERATORS AND THE CONSUMERS. THE EQUITY ISSUE
SPECIFICALLY FOCUSES ON WHETHER THESE KEY PLAYERS WILL BE TREATED
FAIRLY RELATIVE TO THEIR SITUATION PRIOR TO THE POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION AND/OR RELATIVE TO OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN THE
MARKET. THE EQUITY ISSUE GENERALLY INVOLVES A VALUE JUDGMENT
ABOUT HOW INDIVIDUAL OPERATORS “SHOULD” FARE AS THE RESULT OF A
POLICY’S IMPLEMENTATION.
PRACTICAL AREA
 

• ADMINISTRATION

• ADMINISTRATIVECRITERIA FOCUS ON THE RELATIVE EASE OF IMPLEMENTATION

AND COST ASSOCIATED WITH ADMINISTERING A PROGRAM OR POLICY. POLICIES
THAT RATE HIGHLY IN SATISFYING EVALUATIVE CRITERIA, FOR EXAMPLE, MAY BE
COST-PROHIBITIVE TO IMPLEMENT OR MAY NOT BE REALISTIC IN TERMS OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE EFFORT REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT THE POLICY FUNCTIONS
EFFECTIVELY. FOR THIS REASON, POLICIES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO OPERATE
WITHIN AN EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OR AT LOW ADMINISTRATIVE
COST WOULD BE MORE PRACTICALLY FEASIBLE THAN THOSE REQUIRING MAJOR
ORGANIZATIONAL RESTRUCTURING OR HIGH LEVELS OF SPENDING.
POLITICAL AND LEGAL FEASIBILITY

•A MAJOR PRACTICAL CONCERN INVOLVING THE FUTURE PROMISE OF A GIVEN

POLICY IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE POLICY RECEIVES POLITICAL SUPPORT FROM
KEY DECISION-MAKERS. EVEN POLICIES WITH CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED BENEFITS
MIGHT FAIL TO BE ADOPTED IN THE FACE OF STRONG POLITICAL OPPOSITION. IN
ADDITION TO POLITICAL FEASIBILITY, EXISTING LEGAL MANDATES ABOUT COMPUTER
AND VIDEO GAMES MAY SERVE AS CONSTRAINTS TO PROPOSED POLICIES. FOR
EXAMPLE, REGULATION OF COMMERCE, AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS MAY
SEVERELY LIMIT THE FEASIBILITY OF ANY PROPOSED POLICY THAT VIOLATES THESE
EXISTING LAWS.
IMPROVABILITY
•IMPROVABILITY REFERS TO THE DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY IN
IMPLEMENTING A PROPOSED POLICY. ALTERNATIVES WITH A HIGH
DEGREE OF IMPROVABILITY ARE THOSE THAT CAN EASILY BE
MANIPULATED ONCE THE POLICY IS IN PLACE, ALLOWING FOR
FURTHER REFINEMENT OF POLICY STRATEGIES OR COMPONENTS. BY
CONTRAST, THOSE ALTERNATIVES THAT LACK IMPROVABILITY
WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO BE FIXED AT IMPLEMENTATION WITH
LIMITED ABILITY FOR ADAPTATION IF OUTCOMES WHERE NOT
ACHIEVED AS ANTICIPATED.
 
RELATIVE WEIGHTING OF CRITERIA
• THIS SET OF SELECTED CRITERIA PROVIDES THE NECESSARY TOOLS FOR
DETERMINING THE MOST PREFERRED POLICY ALTERNATIVE WITH REGARD
TO BOTH OUTCOME AND FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTATION; HOWEVER,
EACH OF THE CRITERIA PRESENTED MAY DIFFER WITH REGARD TO ITS
RELATIVE IMPORTANCE TO THE OUTCOME OR PROCESS. IN OTHER WORDS,
ONE CRITERIA OR SET OF CRITERIA MAY REPRESENT A MORE CRITICAL
DETERMINANT OF THE POLICY’S POTENTIAL VALUE THAN ANOTHER, BASED
ON SOME VALUE JUDGMENT. FOR THIS REASON, IT IS USEFUL TO ASSIGN
RELATIVE WEIGHTS TO EACH OF THE CRITERIA IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE
DEGREE OF INFLUENCE THAT THE CRITERIA WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXERT
OVER THE FINAL POLICY DECISION. THESE WEIGHTS, ASSIGNED AS
FRACTIONS ADDING TO “1" ACROSS THE FIVE CRITERIA, ARE LISTED
BELOW:
•.30 (EF) + .05 (EQ ) + .25 (PL) + .20 (A) + .20 (I)

•EF = EFFICIENCY
• EQ = EQUITY
• PL = POLITICAL/LEGAL
• A = ADMINISTRATIVE
• I = IMPROVABILITY
•  
• OF THE FIVE CRITERIA, THE ONE ASSIGNED THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF
INFLUENCE (WEIGHTING =.30) OVER THE POLICY OUTCOME WAS EFFICIENCY.
THE EFFICIENCY CRITERIA IS VIEWED AS MOST CRITICAL TO THE POLICY
PROCESS AS IT CAPTURES THE POTENTIAL FOR THE ALTERNATIVE TO
MAXIMIZE NET BENEFITS TO THOSE IMPACTED IN THE SYSTEM. THE
STRONGER RELATIVE RATING ASSIGNED TO THIS CRITERIA ALLOWS FOR THE
PRIORITIZATION OF MAXIMALLY EFFICIENT APPROACHES TO ACCOMPLISHING
POLICY GOALS, WHICH MIGHT BE IMPLEMENTED IN AN “IDEAL” WORLD
UNCONSTRAINED BY PRACTICAL LIMITATIONS, SUCH AS POLITICAL
ENVIRONMENT OR EQUITY CONCERNS.
•THE SECOND IN TERMS OF INFLUENCE WAS THE
POLITICAL AND LEGAL FEASIBILITY CRITERIA
(WEIGHTING =.25). POLITICAL AND LEGAL FEASIBILITY
ALSO RECEIVED A HIGH WEIGHT INDICATING THE
IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL SUPPORT TO SUCCESSFUL
ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES.
•THE THIRD TIER IS COMPOSED OF THE TWO OF THE THREE
PRACTICAL CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING POLICY PREFERENCES,
EACH ASSIGNED AN EQUAL WEIGHTING OF .20. THIS TIER
INCLUDES MEASURES OF ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN AND
IMPROVABILITY. THE CRITERIA WERE PRIORITIZED ONLY
SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN THE PRACTICAL CRITERIA OF POLITICAL
AND LEGAL FEASIBILITY, AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE BOTH
DESIRABLE AND NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFUL
IMPLEMENTATION.
•THE LOWEST PRIORITY CRITERIA USED IN JUDGING POLICY
PREFERENCES WAS EQUITY, RECEIVING A WEIGHT OF .05. EQUITY
WITHIN THE SYSTEM, THOUGH DESIRED WHEN FEASIBLE, IS NOT
CRITICAL TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF OUTCOMES FOR SEVERAL
REASONS. FIRST, THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF THE POLICY ARE
LIMITED TO MONETARY LOSSES AND ARE NOT TYPICALLY
ASSOCIATED WITH LARGER EQUITY CONCERNS, SUCH AS THE
VIOLATION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS; FURTHER, THOSE ADVERSELY
IMPACTED (E.G., COMPUTER OPERATORS) DO NOT CONSTITUTE A
PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE POPULATION (I.E., TRADITIONALLY
DISADVANTAGED GROUPS).
 Policy Alternatives Criteria

EF EQ PL I A Total
Regulation and Prohibitions
1.Prohibition on Commercial .30 .05 .25 .20 .20 1
Establishments
2.Prohibition of Violent .30 .05 .25 .20 .20 1
oriented Video games
3. Categorizing of computer .30 .05 .25 .20 .20 1
games
4. Posting .30 .05 .25 .20 .20 1
5.Prohibition on Internet Café .30 .05 .25 .20 .20 1
and /or Computer Shops
Enforcement
1. Conduct a dialogue .30 .20 .50
2. Adopt an age appropriate .05 .20 .25
guidelines
3. Create a monitoring .30 .05 .25 .20 .20 1
committee
4. Assign Police Officers .30 .05 .25 .20 .20 1
RECOMMENDING ACTIONS

• THE FOLLOWING POLICY ALTERNATIVES ARE NECESSARY TO REGULATE THE

COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAMES OFFERED BY THE ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE
PROVINCE OF SORSOGON.

• THE ENUMERATED FIVE POLICY ALTERNATIVES UNDER PROHIBITIONS AND

REGULATIONS ARE DEEMED NECESSARY TO REGULATE EXPOSURE OF CHILDREN
TO EXTREME VIOLENCE AND HARMFUL MATERIALS THROUGH ON-LINE GAMING.
THROUGH THIS, OPERATORS OF COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS MAY PERHAPS BE
CAUTIOUS AND SELECTIVE IN THEIR GAME OFFERINGS AS WELL AS BE MINDFUL
ON THE VIDEO GAMES’ RATINGS AS INDICATED IN THE EXAMPLE BELOW:
• EC IS FOR "EARLY CHILDHOOD." MAY BE SUITABLE FOR AGES 3 AND UP. CONTAINS
NO MATERIAL THAT PARENTS WOULD FIND INAPPROPRIATE.

•
• E IS FOR "EVERYONE." MAY BE SUITABLE FOR AGES 6 AND UP. MAY CONTAIN
MINIMAL VIOLENCE, SOME COMIC MISCHIEF AND/OR MILD LANGUAGE.

•
• E10+ IS FOR "EVERYONE 10 AND OLDER." MAY BE SUITABLE FOR AGES 10 AND UP.
TITLES IN THIS CATEGORY MAY CONTAIN MORE CARTOON, FANTASY OR MILD
VIOLENCE, MILD LANGUAGE, AND/OR MINIMAL SUGGESTIVE THEMES.

• 
• T IS FOR "TEEN." MAY BE SUITABLE FOR AGES 13 AND UP. MAY CONTAIN VIOLENT
CONTENT, MILD OR STRONG LANGUAGE, AND/OR SUGGESTIVE THEMES.

• M IS FOR "MATURE." MAY BE SUITABLE FOR PERSONS AGES 17 AND UP. MAY
CONTAIN MATURE SEXUAL THEMES, MORE INTENSE VIOLENCE AND/OR STRONG
LANGUAGE.

• AO IS FOR "ADULTS ONLY." HAVE CONTENT SUITABLE ONLY FOR ADULTS. MAY
INCLUDE GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF SEX AND/OR VIOLENCE. ADULT ONLY PRODUCTS
ARE NOT INTENDED FOR PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

• RP IS FOR "RATING PENDING." TITLES HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND ARE AWAITING
FINAL RATING.
• THE ABOVEMENTIONED RATING EXAMPLES WERE THOSE THAT HAVE TO BE
WELL THOUGHT-OUT BY THE COMPUTER OPERATORS AND PARENTS FOR
COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAMES. IN THIS WAY, THE TYPE AND CONTENT OF
GAMES THAT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE POSSIBLE PLAYERS
PARTICULARLY TO THE CHILDREN WILL BEST FIT WITH THEM. POSTING OF
GAMES SUITABLE FOR EACH CATEGORY OF PLAYERS WILL CREATE
AWARENESS ON THE GAMES THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THEM.

• FURTHER, PROHIBITING STUDENTS TO PLAY INTERNET GAMES DURING

SCHOOL DAYS IS IMPORTANT TO AVOID SKIPPING CLASSES. ALSO, REQUIRING
THEM TO PRESENT A PERMIT DULY APPROVED BY THE SUBJECT OR ADVISORY
TEACHER AND NOTED BY THE PRINCIPAL IN THE CONDUCT RESEARCH
ACTIVITIES THROUGH INTERNET WILL LIMIT THEIR ACCESSIBILITY TO
COMPUTER ESTABLISHMENTS.
• WHILE UNDER ENFORCEMENT, POLICY ALTERNATIVES NUMBER 1 AND 2 WERE NOT
CONSIDERED BECAUSE THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT IMMEDIATELY
ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WITH THESE POLICIES. BESIDES, LOBBYING FOR THE
IMPROVEMENT OF THE CONTENT OF COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAMES TO MAKE IT
CHILD-FRIENDLY CANNOT EASILY BE ATTAINED AS WELL AS DETERMINING HOW
MUCH COMPUTER USE IS TOO MUCH FOR CHILDREN OF DIFFERENT AGES.

• WHEREAS, THE TWO REMAINING POLICY ALTERNATIVES MAY BE EFFECTIVE IN THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY ORDINANCE DUE TO THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE
CONCERNED OFFICIALS AND OTHER SECTORS WHO WILL WORK AS A COMMITTEE
IN CARRYING OUT THE STIPULATED PROVISIONS. ASSIGNING A FOCAL PERSON TO
MONITOR AND APPREHEND PERSONS AND ESTABLISHMENTS VIOLATING THE
ORDINANCE WILL STOP THEM FROM DISOBEDIENCE.
•RECOMMENDATION:
•FORMULATE AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL REGULATE THE VIDEO
AND COMPUTER GAMES OFFERED BY THE ESTABLISHMENTS IN
THE PROVINCE OF SORSOGON BY MEANS OF INCORPORATING
ALL THE MOST PREFERRED POLICY ALTERNATIVES.