The local government of Valenzuela City announced on Thursday that it has become the first city in the Philippines to enact an ordinance creating a database for convicted sex offenders.

Councilor Walter Magnum dela Cruz, who authored the ordinance, was inspired by a case involving an elementary school teacher who continued to teach despite being convicted for child exploitation.

“The principal said they didn’t have ‘official communication’ about the conviction,” Dela Cruz said, expressing frustration over the lack of information sharing.

Ordinance 1235 aims to address this issue by creating a citywide database of individuals convicted of various sex offenses, including rape, acts of lasciviousness, qualified and simple seduction, corruption of minors, abduction and violations of laws against child abuse, exploitation and online sexual abuse.

While there were concerns about data privacy, Dela Cruz emphasized that only specific entities, such as educational institutions, covered industries and barangay captains, will have access to the registry.

The ordinance also ensures that the identity of victims will remain confidential.

The councilor hopes that this ordinance will help protect children and vulnerable individuals from potential harm by providing a mechanism for tracking convicted sex offenders and preventing them from reoffending. ALJON DANNIELL EGUIA