Youth empowerment drives call to end OSAEC this Children’s Month

By Nimfa L. Estrellado Young participants present a special number during the Provincial Children’s Month program, highlighting the province...

By Nimfa L. Estrellado

Young participants present a special number during the Provincial Children’s Month program, highlighting the province’s commitment to protecting children’s rights and safety. (Quezon PIO)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon - “Ang kapakanan at kagalingan ng ating kabataan ang siyang nagiging matibay natin na pundasyon para sa isang maunlad, malusog, at matatag na Lalawigan ng Quezon. Kaya’t tungkulin natin na tiyaking may sapat na suporta at oportunidad silang matatanggap. Sa pangangalaga sa kanila, pinangangalagaan din natin ang kinabukasan ng ating lalawigan.”

Those words set the tone as Governor Angelina "Helen" Tan and provincial leaders convened to renew their commitment to protecting Quezon’s children. The gathering underscored that safeguarding young people in an increasingly digital world demands vigilance, coordination and sustained public resolve.



Under the banner “OSAEC-CSAEM Wakasan: Kaligtasan at Karapatan ng Bata, Ipaglaban!”, the province brought together local officials, social workers, educators and families. With the Philippines still recording some of the world’s highest cases of online sexual exploitation, the theme carried a renewed urgency across the hall.

In her address, Governor Tan stressed that child protection cannot be the work of government alone. She called for unified action across families, schools and communities to shield children from abuse—especially in digital spaces where threats continue to multiply.

“Dapat po kayong mga magulang, kayo po ang una-una nagpo-protecta sa inyong mga anak,” she said. “Sa pagtutulong-tulong ng lahat ng ahensya at komunidad, maiwasan natin ang anumang uri ng pang-aabuso lalo na sa online. Malaki po ang impact nito sa mga bata kaya dapat tayong lahat ay maging mapagmatyag at responsable.”

The governor cited gains in early-childhood nutrition, wider developmental screening and stronger school participation. These improvements, she said, are being bolstered by the rollout of Child Budget and Expenditure Tagging and Tracking, which directs public resources more transparently to child-centered programs.

“Nakapaloob po sa aking ulat ang mga hakbang at programang isinagawa natin para sa kabataan,” Tan noted. “Ang kapakanan at kagalingan ng ating mga anak ang pundasyon ng isang maunlad at matatag na lalawigan. Kaya’t sinisikap natin na walang batang maiiwan sa pag-unlad ng Quezon.”

Yet the governor was frank about the province’s remaining challenges. She pointed to persistent maternal-health risks, pockets of child poverty and the accelerating dangers of online exploitation—issues that she said require sustained investment and close attention to the needs of vulnerable families.

“Ang kapakanan at kagalingan ng ating kabataan ang siyang nagiging matibay natin na pundasyon para sa isang maunlad, malusog, at matatag na Lalawigan ng Quezon,” she said. “Tungkulin natin na tiyaking may sapat na suporta at oportunidad silang matatanggap. Sa pangangalaga sa kanila, pinangangalagaan din natin ang kinabukasan ng ating lalawigan.”

Provincial data reflected both progress and continuing strain. Child stunting dropped from 10.86 percent in 2024 to 9.8 percent in 2025, and infant and under-five survival rates remained better than national targets. But maternal mortality stood at 106.64 per 100,000 live births, prompting the province to prepare targeted interventions for high-risk municipalities next year.

Child-protection indicators also showed improvement. Recorded child-abuse cases fell to 385 from 420 the previous year, while child-labor incidents declined from 120 to 85. Officials credited intensified rescue operations, stronger coordination with Women and Children Protection Units, and expanded developmental assessments—including screenings for autism and other delays—as key factors in the decline.

A major segment of the program honored municipalities that passed child-friendly governance assessments. Ten LGUs were recognized for strengthening early-childhood care, daycare services and community-based protection—achievements that also enhance their eligibility for the national Seal of Good Local Governance. The province said it plans to involve more towns and cities next year as it expands its children’s conventions and recognition programs.

Governor Tan reminded the audience that families remain the first line of defense. She urged parents to stay engaged, informed and proactive—emphasizing that effective protection begins at home and is strengthened by the vigilance of entire communities. The Provincial Council for the Protection of Children echoed this message, stressing that collective action is essential to confronting digital-age threats.

“Ang tema online sexual abuse or exploitation of children or child sexual abuse or exploitation material, wakasan,” Tan said. “Kaligtasan at karapatan ng bata, ipaglaban. Sama-sama nating protektahan ang mga bata laban sa anumang pang-abuso, lalo na po sa panahon ngayon sa online.”

One of the province’s key tools is the Makabata Helpline (1383), a 24/7 national hotline for reporting abuse and exploitation. While the province did not release call-volume data, officials described the service as an increasingly vital response platform for children seeking help. Tan urged local councils, schools and parents to strengthen digital literacy efforts so children are better protected against online predators.

Throughout the ceremony, officials emphasized that meaningful protection cannot rely on policy alone. Parents, schools and communities must work together to identify risks early, confront exploitation, and create spaces where children feel secure and supported.

Quezon’s Provincial Children’s Month closed on a unified call to action: to transform empathy into measurable change and ensure that every child in the province grows up with dignity, security and the freedom to shape their future.