Posted on by Digital Media Service

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography (IACACP), and partner-agencies and non-government organizations call for heightened vigilance on incidents of child abuse in light of the enhanced community quarantine imposed in NCR, and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal on March 29 to April 4, to curb the spike in COVID 19 cases.

Considering that during ECQ, the possible victim-survivors are locked in with their perpetrators and cannot go outside to seek help, the Department called on all member agencies to ensure that the hotlines and helplines for abused children remain open and active.

These are:

  • PNP Patrol 911 911
  • PNP WCPC Luzon 0945-863-2235 or (022)420-6460
  • PNP WCPC Visayas (032) 410 84 83
  • PNP WCPC Mindanao 0928-604-6425 or 0917-180-6037
  • PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (02) 723-0401 local 5354 Fax No. (02) 414-1560
  • PNP/Smart text ENDOSEC (space) Message and send to 7444-28473
  • NBI (02) 523-8231 to 38 local 3454 to 3455
  • DOJ Office of Cybercrime (02) 524-82-16
  • DSWD Text DSWD <space> blockchildporn <space> URL address and send to 2327, or
  • Text blockchildporn <space> URL address and send to 0918-9122813
  • DSWD Psychosocial Support Hotline/ RRPTP Hotline – (02) 8931-9141
  • Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO)/IACAT- 1343
  • Bantay Bata 163

The DSWD also urged the local government units to ensure that all existing local mechanisms in the province up to the barangay level are activated and heightened. These include the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC), Local Council Against Trafficking – Violence Against Women and their  Children (LCAT-VAWC), Barangay VAWC Desk, and the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC).

The Department called on the public to be vigilant and report cases of all forms of abuse to break the culture of silence and cycle of abuse and protect the children’s rights and welfare. The country has enacted laws protecting children from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, and other conditions prejudicial to their development, such as Republic Act 7610 or Anti-Child Abuse; Republic Act No. 9775, otherwise known as the “Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009; Republic Act 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004; and RA 9208 as amended by RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012, among others.

Moreover, the continuous threat of COVID-19 has not diminished the commitment of the DSWD and its partner agencies to address the online and offline sexual abuse and exploitation of children, particularly during ECQ. ###