The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) commended the establishment of the MAKABATA Helpline 1383 as one of the significant initiatives that reflects the Philippine government’s commitment to protect and uphold the rights of children.
“The MAKABATA Helpline is a 24/7 service dedicated to providing support to children in need of special protection here in the Philippines. The hotline aims to address various issues affecting children including child abuse and exploitation, bullying, mental health concerns and violence, among others. Hence, these numbers are not just simply a hotline, but a lifeline that gives protection and hope for children.”
This was emphasized by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian in his message, which was delivered by Undersecretary Monina Josefina Romualdez of the DSWD’s Operations Group, during the MAKABATA Helpline Summit on Friday (July 11) at the Diamond Hotel, Manila.
With the theme, “Helplines Protecting Children in the Digital Age – A Helpline and Hotline Summit,” the activity convened government agencies, non-government organizations, industry partners, and advocates to discuss best practices, challenges, and innovations that will help unify protection mechanisms related to helplines and hotlines for children.
During the event, the DSWD chief stressed that hotlines and helplines are important mechanisms to protect children from all forms of child rights violations.
“Helplines and hotlines play a crucial role in protecting children by providing a safe, confidential, and accessible space for them to seek help and support. They also provide immediate crisis intervention, emotional support, and linkages to other services, especially when children may fear disclosing abuse or neglect to their families or communities,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
Institutionalized through Executive Order No. 79, S. 2024, the MAKABATA Helpline 1383 serves as part of the reporting component of the MAKABATA Program, a one-stop system for addressing and monitoring all issues and concerns of children in need of special protection (CNSPs).
The MAKABATA Helpline 1383 was also one of the cited child protection initiatives of the Philippine government during its high-level engagements with United Nations (UN) representatives that helped facilitate the removal of the Philippines from the UN’s agenda of children and armed conflict in 2025.
The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), an attached agency of the DSWD, serves as the overall coordinating and monitoring body for the implementation of the MAKABATA Program. (AKDL)