Marcos establishes child protection office

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. established the Presidential Office for Child Protection (POCP) in response to rising cases of online child sexual abuse and exploitation in the country.

The President, through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, issued Executive Order (EO) 67, which establishes the POCP, which falls under the Office of the President (OP).

“Given the increasing cases of OSAEC and other threats to the well-being of children in the Philippines, and in line with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which states that protecting children from physical and mental distress is a key strategy to achieve a transformative social system, it is critical to ensure a national approach in strengthening the existing institutional and legal framework for child protection,” the President said in his order.

The POCP is intended to monitor and harmonize government actions, policies and programmes related to the protection of children and the promotion of their welfare. It focuses in particular on combating child sexual abuse or exploitation online, child sexual abuse or exploitation material and child trafficking issues.

It makes policy recommendations to the President and monitors the implementation of relevant policies, programmes and projects relating to the welfare and protection of children.

The POCP is also mandated to collaborate with the Council for Child Welfare (CWC) and other relevant government agencies and bodies, as well as civil society organizations, in formulating or updating the National Action Plan for Children.

In addition, it has the task of identifying and prioritizing urgent government interventions for child protection.

The POCP also has the task of promoting and monitoring the harmonization, integration and avoidance of duplication of relevant government actions, policies and programs.

In addition, it will represent the Philippines in relevant international forums and initiatives. It will also monitor the government’s compliance with its duties and obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labor and other similar international legal instruments.

The POCP is headed by a Presidential Adviser on Child Protection (PACP), who is supervised by the Special Assistant to the President (SAP).

Technical working groups may also be established for the effective implementation of EO 67.

Under EO 67, the POCP is supported by staff with the necessary background or expertise in child protection.