Manila: The Philippines has officially launched a multiyear strategic plan against online child abuse and exploitation. The launching of the First Philippine Strategic Plan Against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (OSAEC and CSAEM) for 2025-2028 was led by the National Coordination Center Against OSAEC and CSAEM (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM) last Dec. 11.
According to Philippines News Agency, the event marked a unified, whole-of-nation commitment to eliminate online sexual abuse and exploitation of children through coordinated prevention, protection, enforcement, and partnership, as stated by the Department of Justice (DOJ). A key highlight was the 'Digital Activation Launch,' demonstrating the nation's dedication to safeguarding Filipino children in a digital world.
The presence of top government officials, including representatives from the Senate and House of Representatives, undersecretaries of the DOJ and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other key national and international partners underscored the importance of a multisectoral approach to child online protection. Also in attendance were representatives from the United Nations Children's Fund, Association of Southeast Asian Nations' Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children, and the United Nations Population Fund.
DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty emphasized that the strategic plan represents a solemn covenant of the Philippine Government to protect Filipino children from harm in the digital age. Highlighting the DOJ's focus on modernization, survivor-centered justice, and stronger digital accountability, he stressed the urgency of coordinated national action. He noted that criminals are using technology to move faster and hide deeper, and the response must be faster, smarter, and more coordinated.
The plan, approved by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) in September 2025, serves as a multiyear, gender-responsive, child-sensitive, and disability-inclusive roadmap. It was developed by the NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM to fulfill its mandate under Republic Act 11930, shaped through extensive nationwide consultations involving over 300 stakeholders, ensuring the strategy is grounded in lived realities and frontline experience.
Built on the vision that "every child is free from online sexual abuse, online sexual exploitation, and all forms of sexual abuse or exploitation materials," the plan's mission is to safeguard, protect, and empower children from all forms of OSAEC and CSAEM through a holistic and coordinated approach. It focuses on four key result areas: prevention and advocacy; protection and response; law enforcement, prosecution, and compliance; and partnerships and networking.
NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM Secretariat's OIC-Executive Director Barbara Mae Pagdilao-Flores stated that the strategic plan will only matter if it shapes program design, resource allocation, case handling, and system building. She emphasized that no single entity can carry the responsibility alone, and each sector holds a piece of the solution. Pagdilao-Flores expressed hope that the launch would be remembered as a turning point where commitments translate into concrete action for children whose lives will be positively impacted by these efforts.
