Manila: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a call for a whole-of-nation approach to ensure a safer digital environment for Filipino children. This appeal was made during the commencement of this year’s Safer Internet Day (SID) celebrations, led by the DOJ’s National Coordination Center against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM).

According to Philippines News Agency, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla emphasized the need for real justice that extends into cyberspace, urging stronger collaboration to create a safer internet for all. Undersecretary-in-Charge for the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), Nicholas Felix Ty, highlighted the importance of awareness activities like SID in promoting digital safety and responsible internet usage. He stressed the need for enhanced collaboration among stakeholders to tackle the significant issue of underreporting.

Ty pointed out that underreporting remains a major issue in child safety and crimes targeting children, due to factors such as shame, fear, and a lack of awareness about the phenomenon. He explained that children often do not realize they are being victimized or are unaware of their rights, with some cases involving their own parents or relatives, which adds to the challenges in reporting to authorities.

The Council for the Welfare of Children reported that online sexual abuse or exploitation of children continues to be a serious concern in the country, with a significant percentage of facilitators being the victims’ own family members. Ty urged victims and witnesses to report incidents, assuring them of government support.

Ty also noted that AI-generated images are classified as online sexual abuse or exploitation materials. This concern was echoed by Globe Senior Director Carlo Bernardo Santos, who stated that they have blocked nearly 4,000 domains and URLs related to child pornography. He expressed alarm at the increasing use of AI to generate inappropriate images, which they are also actively blocking.

Barbara Mae Pagdilao-Flores, the OIC Executive Director of NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM, announced plans to establish guidelines for a registry of child sex offenders and blacklisted aliens. She emphasized that the Bureau of Immigration is already working to prevent known sex offenders from entering the Philippines.

This year’s SID, themed ‘Digital Bayanihan, Para sa Kabataang Ligtas at Protektado Online,’ aims to promote cooperation among government entities, civil society organizations, and the private sector to ensure a safer digital space. Originating from the European Union’s SafeBorders project in 2004, SID is now celebrated annually in approximately 180 countries, including the Philippines, which observes it under Proclamation 417 issued in February 2018.