Gatchalian to schools: Strengthen child protection committees to prevent sexual harassment

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday urged public and private schools in the Philippines to mobilize their Child Protection Committees (CPC) in preventing various abuses on learners, including sexual harassment.

This was after several netizens took to social media to report alleged abuses they experienced at the hands of their teachers, some of them from prestigious universities.

Citing a 2016 study on violence against children in the Philippines, the chair of the Senate committee on basic education said in a statement that 17.1% of youth aged 13-18 experienced sexual violence and 5.3% of which happened in schools.

Gatchalian said the creation of CPC in each school has been mandated by the Department of Education since 2012. It shall be led by the school head and be composed of a guidance counselor and representatives of teachers, students, and local community.

Further, he acknowledged that violence and abuse may also happen in homes.

"Hindi natin dapat pinapalagpas ang ano mang uri ng pang-aabuso o karahasan sa ating mga kabataan sa tahanan man o sa paaralan," Gatchalian said.

"Dahil sa panganib na maaaring umakyat pa ang bilang ng mga kaso ng karahasan at pang-aabuso ngayong nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya, lalo nating dapat paigtingin ang mga hakbang upang bigyan ng proteksyon ang mga kabataan," he added.

According to President Rodrigo Duterte's report to Congress, more than 4,200 cases of violence against women and children have been recorded by the Philippine National Police since the implementation of community quarantine last March to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

As of June 11, the PNP had tallied 2,183 reports of violations against women and 2,077 against children. —Dona Magsino/KBK, GMA News