From left: Atty. Roy D. Ibay; Lt. Col. Ayn Natuel of the PNP Women and Children Protection Center; PLDT COO Menardo G. Jimenez Jr.; Usec. Angelo Tapales of the Council for the Welfare of Children; Asec. Alvin Navarro of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center; Frances Kristine Canon of Creative Learning Paths School; Dr. Joan Mae Rifareal, Immediate Past President of the Philippine Psychiatric Association; and Karlos Naidas of Pixel for Creators, during the PROTECTA Pilipinas forum on strengthening efforts to protect children against online violence and exploitation.
Representatives from government, law enforcement, telecommunications, education, media, and the private sector have called for stronger collaboration and digital safeguards to protect Filipino children from online violence and exploitation.
The call was raised during a forum led by PROTECTA Pilipinas, a multi-stakeholder alliance spearheaded by PLDT that works to strengthen cyber resilience, protect critical infrastructure, and promote a safer digital environment.
Atty. Roy D. Ibay, Smart vice president and head of Regulatory Affairs and lead convenor of PROTECTA, said digital resilience must include protecting children who rely on connectivity for education, communication, and everyday activities.
The forum highlighted the need to expand reporting and coordination mechanisms, promote the consistent adoption of anti-child online exploitation platforms and tools, involve fintech companies, and strengthen legal frameworks addressing emerging digital threats.
Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) Usec. Angelo Tapales emphasized that online child protection should be treated as a child-rights issue. He said children should have meaningful and age-appropriate access to technology while being protected from harmful content, abuse, and exploitation.
PLDT Chief Operating Officer Menardo G. Jimenez Jr. also stressed the telecommunications industry’s responsibility to help safeguard children, noting the importance of clear guidance on when and how harmful platforms should be addressed.
Participants acknowledged that the Philippines already has laws, protocols, reporting mechanisms, and multi-stakeholder initiatives addressing online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM). However, recent cases involving harmful online communities underscore the need to continuously strengthen these frameworks.
The forum, moderated by PLDT and Smart Public Engagement Group Head Roby Alampay, brought together stakeholders including the CWC, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, PNP Women and Children Protection Center, educators, mental health professionals, and digital-sector representatives.
PROTECTA Pilipinas said protecting children online requires government, industry, civil society, communities, and families to work together while respecting privacy, due process, and children’s rights.
