ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya managing director Susan Afan (center) with Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, Australian Embassy representatives and other ‘Batang Safe Online: Smart All The Time’ project partners The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reported that eight in 10 Filipino youth are victims of cyberbullying and online child sexual abuse, marking the Philippines as a dangerous place for children.
Bantay Bata 163, in partnership with the Australian Embassy, launched the Batang Safe Online: Smart All the Time project which aims to educate children on the risks and dangers of the online world.
In collaboration with different local government units, Bantay Bata 163 social workers will visit schools to conduct a series of trainings for service providers and students.
Taguig, one of the cities that Bantay Bata 163 visited, is challenged with high incidence of cyberbullying and online child abuse. Part of the city’s action to address this issue is a program called Community Awareness Towards Resilient and Empowered Students or C.A.R.E.S.
As a prelude to the project, Bantay Bata 163 dedicated a day to train the service providers of Taguig City in responding to reports of abuse that will be disclosed by their students.
Jennelyn Camsol, social worker and officer in charge of Bahay Pag-asa in Taguig City, said: “As a social worker, kung ano ang kaalaman mo, it needs to be updated. Itong training on online sexual exploitation and cyberbullying ay nakakatulong sa pagiging competent namin bilang isang social worker.”
After the seminar, Bantay Bata 163 social workers will facilitate sessions for children.
Said Bantay Bata 163 operations manager Jacel Paguio: “If we work all together in this fight, we can do more, we can help solve the problem of cybercrime and save our children.” (Story/Photos by: (Hyle Loneza)