MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Order No. 67, establishing the Presidential Office for Child Protection in response to the rising cases of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, as well as other threats against minors.
“In view of the increasing OSAEC (Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children) cases and other threats to the welfare of children in the Philippines, and consistent with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 which provides that the protection of children from physical and mental distress is a key strategy to achieve transformative social system, it is imperative to ensure a whole-of-nation approach in strengthening existing institutional and legal framework on child protection,” stated EO 67, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on August 6.
The order establishes the Presidential Office for Child Protection (POCP), which will be led by a Presidential Adviser for Child Protection (PACP) under the supervision of the Special Assistant to the President.
The POCP “shall monitor and harmonize government thrusts, policies, and programs relative to the protection of children and the promotion of their welfare, with special focus on anti-OSAEC, anti-CSAEM (Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials), and anti-child trafficking matters.”
This includes working closely with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the National Coordination Center to formulate and implement strategies to combat OSAEC, CSAEM, and child trafficking, as well as recommending urgent government interventions for child protection.
The POCP will also represent the Office of the President in various councils, including the National Coordination Center, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, the National Council Against Child Labor, and the Committee for the Special Protection of Children.
The office will be staffed by individuals with expertise in child protection, and initial funding will be sourced from the current appropriations of the Office of the President and other funds as determined by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).