DSWD pilots Project SAFE in Iligan City to fight online sex abuse, exploitation of children

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday launched the pilot of its Project SAFE, a program aimed at fighting online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) at the grassroots level.

The DSWD has teamed up with the local government unit (LGU) of Iligan City in Lanao del Norte for the initiative’s roll-out.

In a statement, DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said Project SAFE aims to strengthen the prevention, protection, recovery, and safe reintegration mechanisms for OSAEC victims while preventing revictimization.

She said the government agency is “very happy to partner with Iligan City to pilot implement Project SAFE.”

The DSWD will also pilot the Project SAFE initiative in Angeles City, Pampanga and in Cebu City by the end of December.

“This initiative will provide a holistic model of intervention to help victim-survivors and their families, as well as the prevention of OSAEC, and the production of child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM),” Dumlao said.

Under Project SAFE, the DSWD will provide technical assistance and capacity building activities to selected local government units (LGU) that will implement the program.

The LGUs will be tasked to implement Trauma Informed Care (TIC) and other necessary interventions to OSAEC victim-survivors, their family members, and parent-substitutes.

“The project also focuses on building digital safety awareness among children and caregivers, improving OSAEC reporting and case management systems, providing healing services for victim-survivors and their families, and ensuring safe family and community reintegration,” Dumlao said.

The project will focus on child victim-survivors of OSAEC and CSAEM, newly rescued and active cases, out-of-school children, and in-school learners from Grades 3 to 12.

Secondary clients will include parents, guardians, legal or kinship carers, foster carers, and the broader community.

Aside from the LGUs, the DSWD will also tap its attached agencies such as the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) for further technical assistance.

The CWC manages the MAKABATA Helpline 1343, a 24/7 one-stop system for addressing and monitoring all issues and concerns of children in need of special protection (CNSPs), including OSAEC victim-survivors.

“For the NACC, the department will tap their assistance for the provision of alternative child care services such as foster care and kinship care,” Dumlao added. — JMA, GMA Integrated News