The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and its attached agency, the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), on Friday urged the public to immediately report cases of Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) to law enforcement authorities or through the MAKABATA Helpline 1383.

“Kahit kamag-anak o magulang ang lumabag sa iyong karapatan, kailangan mo silang isumbong. Humingi ng tulong sa mga ibang kamag-anak, sa barangay, sa LGU (local government unit), and of course, kung hindi mo alam ang gagawin, sa Makabata Helpline 1383,” CWC Executive Director and Undersecretary Angelo Tapales said.

Institutionalized through Executive Order No. 79, s. 2024, the MAKABATA Helpline 1383 serves as a 24/7 reporting mechanism under the MAKABATA Program — a one-stop system for addressing and monitoring all issues concerning children in need of special protection (CNSPs).

Tapales cited a 2023 International Justice Mission (IJM) report, which found that one in every 100 Filipino children — an estimated 471,416 minors — were victims of sexual abuse or exploitation materials. A separate 2022 report by ECPAT International, INTERPOL, and UNICEF revealed that 20 percent of internet users aged 12 to 17 experienced grave instances of OSAEC.

The CWC official also raised alarm over a case of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated CSAEM documented in the Philippines. “We are creating awareness that AI CSAEM is here in the Philippines. May one documented case tayo. AI CSAEM is not a victimless crime,” Tapales said.

He explained that AI-generated CSAEM can either involve a real child’s photo manipulated into obscene content or a fully artificial image of a child created for sexual purposes. Tapales stressed that both forms are equally harmful and unacceptable.

“Maaring walang batang involved dun sa pangalawang klase ng AI, but we cannot consent or we resist its normalization dahil ayaw nating ma-normalize at mag-proliferate ang mga bastos na video at picture ng bata dahil lang AI ito,” Tapales said.

“Why? Kasi po pinapababa natin yung dignidad ng mga bata. Yung intrinsic worth ng mga bata. Ano ang kasunod ng AI CSAEM? Yung actual sexual abuse na. So, we are resisting its normalization at ayaw natin sine-sexualize ang mga bata,” he added.

Tapales emphasized that child protection is non-negotiable: “The dignity of our children is not for sale. Tandaan natin iyan.”

The statement was made during the Talakayang Makabata, the annual press conference leading up to the 33rd National Children’s Month (NCM) celebration this November. This year’s theme, “OSAEC-CSAEM Wakasan: Kaligtasan at Karapatan ng Bata, Ipaglaban!” highlights the urgency of ending online and offline child exploitation and strengthening public awareness on child protection and reporting mechanisms.