Manila – The Institute for Labor Studies successfully hosted the eighth edition of its Revive &Thrive COVID-19 Webinar Series with a panel of distinguished guests and panelists that collectively came together to advocate for child labor and rights. The event was streamed live via the official ILS Facebook page and published real time via StreamYard last November 6.
Titled “#KeepKidsSafe: Advancing Efforts to Fight Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), the webinar was formally opened by Executive Director Ahmma Charisma Lobrin-Satumba who delivered the opening remarks for the program.
This was followed by an overview and interactive discussion of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) making the public aware that cases of OSAEC is increasing in the Philippines and show how OSAEC is perpetuated by an organized group.
The webinar discussion was divided into a three-part discussion with panelists representing National Government Agencies, Local Government Units, and Civil Service Organization.
Representatives from the NGA included Ms. Maria Consolacion S. Salcedo, Council for the Welfare of Children and Atty. Angela Marie M. De Gracia, from the Office of Cybercrime of the Department of Justice. They discussed their respective agency’s mandate regarding OSAEC and informed the plenary of the various ongoing programs to combat OSAEC.
Ms. Ann Rapunzel Ganzon, Iloilo City Social Welfare and Development Office represented the LGU. She spoke at length regarding the status of OSAEC in their respective jurisdiction and how the current pandemic affected their continuing programs to halt online abuse and exploitation of children. Ms. Ganzon also shared her experience in combatting OSAEC before and during COVID-19.
The CSO was represented by Ms. Wilma T. Bañaga, Child Protection Advisor from Save the Children Philippines. Ms. Bañaga elaborated on their organization’s initiatives to combat OSAEC and how the current pandemic’s challenges affected their ongoing initiatives against OSAEC. She also stressed how partnerships with public and other private organizations can be made feasible during this pandemic to continue the fight against OSAEC.
An open forum followed with members of the plenary asking their questions and posting their comments via Zoom and Facebook as the session was live streamed via the official ILS FB page.
The closing message was delivered by Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) Director Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla, who spoke about the Departments role in combatting OSAEC and informed the public about DOLE’s policy directives on OSAEC.
This edition of the webinar series was hosted by Ms. Arianne Ishreen C. Bucar, Labor and Employment Officer II from the Institute’s Workers Welfare Research Division (WWRD) and Carl Sean E. Pablico, Senior Labor and Employment Officer from the Labor and Social Relations Research Division (LSRRD).
To view the recorded webinar, please click this link: http://ils.dole.gov.ph/revive-and-thrive-covid-19-webinar-series/