A child shows the online game Roblox in this photo taken on August 21, 2026. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — By October, Roblox must implement age verification through the national ID, according to Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda.
This is among five demands given to the online gaming platform for compliance, including the establishment of a Philippine office.
“Yung fifth nalang na kulang is ‘yung age verification through the national ID. So by October, dapat kumpleto na po si Roblox,” Aguda told House lawmakers during the budget hearing of the DICT on Monday.
During a meeting in Singapore among representatives of DICT, the National Privacy Commission (NPC), and other agencies alongside Meta and Roblox, Aguda said they discussed ways to make age verification more accurate as the gaming platform has age-based content access.
“So ang mangyari si Roblox tatanungin si national ID… Wala pong ililipat na personal information from PSA papunta sa Roblox. Ang mangyayari lang is ive-verify lang na tama ‘yung tao,” Aguda said.
Roblox was behind the suggestion to integrate the national ID into the platform, Aguda added.
Authorities recently raised concerns over Roblox and the role it potentially played in the school shooting in Ateneo de Zamboanga.
READ: Remulla links Roblox to 'radicalization' of children after deadly Zamboanga shooting
NAT’L ID FOR META AGE VERIFICATION
Aguda said Meta expressed interest in utilizing the same age verification method should this work for the gaming platform.
This is to ensure content is age-appropriate, according to the DICT secretary.
“Kapag gumana po ‘yan sa Roblox, ‘yun naman ang sinasabi ni Meta na pupuwede niyang gamitin as another tool para makapag-verify din po siya ng edad ng mga kabataan or iba pang mga information na baka kailanganin nila makalap. Ito naman po’y naka-focus on making sure na kung sinuman ‘yung user, age-appropriate ‘yung content na makukuha niya po,” Aguda said.
However, Aguda said Meta is also concerned it would have to implement this in more countries.
“‘Yung sinabi naman nila ay maiintindihan po natin. Hindi pa nila nagagawa ‘yan anywhere in the world. First time sa Philippines magagawa ‘yan na mag-i-integrate sila into sovereign national ID. Ang kaba lang ni Meta, pagka ginawa namin ‘yan sa isang bansa, gagawin namin ‘yan sa 170 or so countries. So naintindihan namin complexity,” Aguda said.
Meta told them a technical working team will be brought to the Philippines to study this, according to Aguda.
“Umaasa kami na pagka naging successful si Roblox diyan, baka ‘yan din po ‘yung maging technical template and policy template for the other social media platforms to follow,” Aguda added.
300 STAFF HIRED FOR ROBLOX PH OFFICE
Citing Roblox, Aguda said the gaming platform already hired 300 people for an office in the Philippines.
“‘Yung dalawa na kailangan nilang mag-comply ‘yung magtayo ng opisina ng Pilipinas. Pero shinare na po nila sa amin, mayroon na po silang hinire na 300 people not through Roblox directly, but through a partner of Roblox,” Aguda told members of the House.
As for Meta, Aguda expects their Philippine office to be set up before the year ends.
According to Aguda, Meta is also concerned about needing to set up offices in other countries.
“I think they will fly in next week together with TWG– bubuo na sila ng TWG together with NBI and the police. Ang medyo matagal lang na usapan sa kanila ‘yung pagtatayo ng opisina kasi ‘pag rinequire natin sila na magkaroon ng opisina, ‘yung mga ibang bansa rin baka i-require sila,” Aguda said.
“Alam na nila ‘yung parating na legislation. And alam nila na sa Pinas, ire-require sila. So naghahanda na rin sila. Meta realistically baka before end of the year sila either tumupad o ma-violate nila ‘yung deadline,” Aguda added.
The proposed 2027 budget of the DICT and attached agencies presented to the House Committee on Appropriations on Monday was at P19.4 billion.