The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) voiced support for the Council for the Welfare of Children’s (CWC) push for heightened security measures on digital networks, citing growing worries over the online exploitation and abuse of minors.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao stressed on Monday, September 14, that young people should not be left to manage digital dangers without adult support, especially as online access becomes vital for schooling, social interaction, and entertainment.
“With the increasing time spent by children online, we cannot allow digital spaces that should be used for communication, learning, and recreation to become grounds for abusers and online predators. The incidents of online child abuse, sexual exploitation, and grooming remind us that we must not leave children to navigate these risks on their own. Hence, we are calling for stronger regulation of digital platforms,” Dumlao said.
The agency urged tech companies to implement robust protocols to prevent, detect, and report abusive content.
“When we say we support the regulation of online platforms, we are urging them to strengthen age-appropriate safety measures, immediately detect and remove abusive content to prevent grooming and exploitation, and provide accessible and child-friendly reporting mechanisms that keep abusers and predators from accessing, targeting, and manipulating children,” she stated.
The DSWD noted its preference for targeted platform oversight rather than total internet bans, arguing that complete restrictions do little to deter child predators.
“Digital experts and child rights advocates agree that a blanket ban will not protect children online. Bans are easy to bypass and fail to address the root causes of abuse. Instead, we need accountability, strong safeguards, and safety-by-design platforms so children can use technology safely,” Dumlao explained.
Dumlao also advocated for strict penalties for non-compliant platforms, alongside mandatory transparency reports and automated tools linked directly to law enforcement and the country’s MAKABATA Helpline 1383.
“This means imposing strict penalties on platforms that fail to comply with child safety requirements, requiring mandatory transparency reports, and establishing automated reporting systems that can quickly flag suspected abuse by connecting directly with local authorities and the MAKABATA Helpline 1383,” Dumlao said.
The 24/7 MAKABATA Helpline 1383 offers round-the-clock emergency assistance, legal guidance, psychosocial support, and referral services for child rights violations via phone, email, websites, and social media channels.
Encouraging the public to report suspicious activities, Dumlao urged citizens to partner with authorities to keep online spaces safe.
“We should not make children choose between being connected and being safe. It is our responsibility to make the digital environment safer for them. We call on the public to support us by immediately reporting cases of child abuse and exploitation to law enforcers or through the MAKABATA Helpline 1383,” she said.
“The overall goal is not to keep children offline, but to keep abusers and online predators away from children online,” she added.