Manila: The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) is ramping up its campaign against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM) as the nation marks the 33rd National Children’s Month this November. In a recent interview on Bagong Pilipinas, CWC Executive Director and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Angelo Tapales emphasized the importance of strengthening public awareness and fostering collective action to protect children’s rights.
According to Philippines News Agency, Tapales highlighted the crucial role that parents play as primary guardians and caregivers. “Child protection starts at home. Bilang mga magulang, tayo po ang unang nagbabantay sa ating mga anak, yung mga taga-pangalaga po ng bata. Kaya inaabot po namin ang mga magulang,” he stated, underscoring the need for parents to be vigilant in safeguarding their children. He expressed concern about the internet’s potential threats due to technological advancements and the digital age.
To address online child abuse, including bullying and cyberbullying, the CWC has joined forces with key government entities such as the Department of Education, the Cybercrime Investigation Coordination Center, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Philippine National Police – Anti-Cybercrime Group, and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Tapales noted the NBI and its Makabata Helpline 1383 as early partners in child protection efforts.
Tapales stressed the importance of collaborative efforts, stating, “Gusto natin protektahan doon (We want to protect them in the internet), but of course, the government cannot do it alone. That’s why this month, we will be conducting a conference on parenting in the digital age.” He elaborated on the necessity of equipping parents and children with life skills to avoid becoming victims of malicious online actors, acknowledging the government’s limitations in monitoring every user constantly.
The CWC is also focusing on addressing violence against children, particularly corporal punishment reported by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as inflicted by some misguided parents. Tapales emphasized the need for collaboration between parents and communities to protect children from both online and offline harm.
There has been a significant improvement in local child protection efforts, with the number of child-friendly local government units (LGUs) increasing from 372 in 2022 to 1,091 this year. Tapales attributed this progress to the administration’s directives for LGUs to implement OSAEC ordinances, appoint trained personnel, and enhance referral systems for victims.
He also mentioned Executive Orders 52, the Pag-abot Program for street dwellers, and EO 79, the Makabata Program, which aim to harmonize national and local initiatives for children in vulnerable situations, including those in street or conflict-affected areas.
The theme for this year’s National Children’s Month is “OSAEC, CSAEM, wakasan, kaligtasan at karapatan ng bata ipaglaban” (End OSAEC, CSAEM, fight for the safety and rights of the child).
