A major step towards child safety
Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for intensified efforts against OSAEC, DILG releases two Memorandum Circulars to boost local endeavors towards the protection of Filipino children against all forms of abuse or exploitation.
The Memorandum Circulars provide a clear directive to local government units to adopt anti-OSAEC ordinances within their respective jurisdictions. The passage and implementation of these ordinances have become critical indicators to be assessed by the Child Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA) in 2025. To further support local units in complying with this directive, a “model anti-OSAEC ordinance” was also attached as reference.
Leading up to these issuances, IJM through its National Prosecution Development Team met with then Former Secretary of Interior and Local Government, Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos, and other DILG officials to discuss IJM’s Scale of Harm findings and discuss ways to further scale the anti-OSAEC initiatives in local government units last September 2023. IJM then facilitated a Writeshop on the Anti-OSAEC Memorandum Circular with DILG last April 2024. This Writeshop sought to introduce IJM’s work in protecting Filipino children from online sexual exploitation such as the mainstreaming of child protection strategies in legal proceedings including said findings from the Scale of Harm Study that may serve as a foundation for the Memorandum Circular. The Writeshop was graced by the members from the DILG led by Undersecretary Atty. Juan Victor Llamas, Atty. Jocelyn Reyes, Atty. Ramon Ayo Jr., Jesi Lanete, and JP Bagunas.
1: Memorandum Circular No. 2024-094
Issued on July 2024, Memorandum Circular No. 2024-094 announced the integration of indicators on anti-OSAEC and anti-child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM) into the CFLGA.
The circular explained that Child Friendly Local Governance Audit / CFLGA is a “results-based assessment tool and an annual mandatory audit designed to gauge the level of performance of local government units in sofar as implementing programs and instituting measures to uplift the welfare status of children.” It specified the indicators to be integrated in said audit, namely:
- Adoption of Local Ordinance against OSAEC and CSAEM;
- Percentage of LGU staff /social service workforce who are trained to implement special child protection laws, including Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (OSAEC)/Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM);
- Number of reports and proper actions made by the LSWDO to whom a report of a suspected or alleged OSAEC/CAEM incident/s made;
- Inclusion of RA 11930 in the Local Code for Children; and
- Inclusion in the menu of PPAs the Advocacy initiatives including celebrating the second Tuesday of February every year as Safer Internet Day for Children Philippines.
The integration of these indicators, specifically the adoption of an anti-OSAEC ordinance, signals a strong commitment from both national and local governments to prioritize the safety and welfare of children.
2: Memorandum Circular No. 2024-140
Issued on September 2024, Memorandum Circular No. 2024-140 further provides local government units with guidelines on the enactment of a comprehensive ordinance to address OSAEC and CSAEM. With this Circular, DILG attached a model ordinance as reference. This incorporated IJM’s insights and recommendations, coming from its years of collaborative casework with the Philippine government.
Ordinances are specific to each local government. Enacting and implementing the ordinances make each locality a place where children are protected from online sexual abuse or exploitation. Since 2022, there have been a total of 18 Anti-OSAEC Ordinances enacted across the Philippines.
Existing local efforts combatting OSAEC
Since the enactment of the Anti-OSAEC Law in mid-2022, local government has been provided with opportunities to strengthen child protection in their communities.
Prior to this, a series of collaborations between IJM Philippines and local governments had already been launched. Various legislators, councilors, and mayors participated in IJM’s seminars and workshops since 2022, which focused on specific provisions of the anti-OSAEC law and resources it offers local governments in protecting their communities from said crime. On December 4-6, 2023, a training was held on Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11930 for local legislators, as another opportunity to initiate the same transformation, for more localities across the country.
Communities leading stronger child protection
Through IJM’s collaborative efforts with the DILG, the issuance of these two memorandum circulars is a significant milestone for child protection across local communities. They provide clear policy guidance and a mandate that will serve as their foundation on crucial child protection issues.
Early on, we recognized the impact that the local government units had in the enactment of Anti-OSAEC legislation at the grassroots level. This was evidenced by the success of the legislators' trainings conducted by IJM since 2022. Together with the directive from the DILG through the recently passed Memorandum Circulars, the resolve to end OSAEC in the communities will be strengthened tenfold.
IJM Philippines’ Director for National Prosecution Development Atty. Nelisa Guevara-Garcia
IJM celebrates the progress this represents, beginning from the four legislators’ training sessions since 2022, laying the groundwork for transformative local policies, to providing support in related Committee Hearings. Until all are free from exploitation, IJM looks forward to continued collaboration with DILG and local government units in this important work.
