By Brian Jules Campued
The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) is calling on the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass a law promoting positive parenting to eliminate cases of child abuse in the Philippines.
“Hindi naman bawal mamalo ano, bawal manakit ng mga bata in the name of discipline. Bawal na ang corporal punishment iyan po ang gusto natin,” CWC Executive Director Undersecretary Angelo Tapales said in an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Wednesday.
Usec. Tapales said the CWC wanted to let parents know that there are alternative, more loving, and more appropriate methods in disciplining children aside from spanking them.
The CWC also vowed to work closely with other government agencies to address online child sexual abuse and exploitation.
According to the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center (PNP WCPC), there were 19,131 reported cases of violence against children in 2022.
Out of this number, 18,513 were violations involving child abuse, rape, and acts of lasciviousness as provided under the Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
Additionally, 11,287 cases involving the said violations were already reported to the PNP WCPC as of August 2023.
Meanwhile, the relaunching of the Makabata Helpline with the landline 1383 in October 21 of last year as well as the CWC’s online presence resulted in addressing 290 reports which are mostly received through social media, followed by the landline, and e-mail.
The bulk of these cases consisted of physical and psychological abuse against young girls.
Tapales also said that the CWC forged 23 memorandums of understanding in 2023, including partnerships with various national government agencies such as the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and with the private sector like SM Cares, Philippine Long Distance and Telecommunications Company (PLDT), and Smart Communications.
The CWC is also aiming to operate the helpline 24/7 and create plantilla positions to cater to more Filipinos.
“We will be pushing for the issuance of an executive order from the Office of the President recognizing the Makabayan Helpline as the focal or apex helpline for children in the Philippines,” said Tapales.
Likewise, Tapales said that included in the Council’s legislative agenda for 2024 is the law addressing adolescent or teenage pregnancy as well the creation of Philippine Commission on Children.
Key Achievements of CWC
He also said that one of the Council’s accomplishments in 2023 was their high budget utilization rate at 90.43%—higher than the 80% utilization rate in 2022.
In 2021, the CWC’s utilization rate was only at 66%.
The agency was also able to confer 782 local government units with the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance last year.
This was a 110%-increase in conferment from 2021 when only 372 LGUs were recognized.
“We recognize na long way to go pa po tayo, dahil 1,634 if I’m not mistaken ang mga LGU natin,” Tapales added.
The said recognition is annually awarded to LGUs which successfully roll out child-friendly programs in their communities through the Child-Friendly Local Governance audit led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Tapales added the CWC entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS) for its MAKABATA TELERADYO, its first radio program in 49 years.
The radio program started airing in Radyo Pilipinas 3 every Saturday between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
“Maganda pong mouthpiece po ito para sa mga kabataan po, talagang ito po ang magbi-ventilate ng kanilang mga hinaing po,” Tapales said. – avds
