Panayam kay Council for the Welfare of Children Executive Director Usec. Angelo Tapales
Panayam kay Council for the Welfare of Children Executive Director Usec. Angelo Tapales
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00:00 Council for the Welfare of Children accomplishments for 2023 and their plans and programs this year.
00:08 Let's find out together with Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, Executive Director of Council for the Welfare of Children.
00:17 Usec Tapales, good afternoon and welcome to the new Philippines.
00:25 Good afternoon to all of you, to all the viewers of Bagong Pilipinas.
00:31 Of course, to my brother in the DSWD, Usec Edu.
00:35 Sir, good afternoon. And of course, Ma'am Nina, it's always nice to see you.
00:40 Again, good afternoon to all of our viewers today.
00:45 I'm interested in talking to children, especially you, DSWD member, and me as a mother.
00:54 Usec, what are the accomplishments of Council for the Welfare of Children at the end of 2023?
01:03 And what are the challenges that you have overcome from this year?
01:10 Thank you for that question. Actually, this is the start of the year.
01:16 Of course, we have learned our accomplishments.
01:19 Let's start with the easily relatable or the ones that our viewers easily understand.
01:25 The budget utilization rate of Council for the Welfare of Children, or the capacity of an agency to spend the budget given by the government,
01:36 is 90.43 percent, our budget utilization rate.
01:40 Last year, when Usec Edu joined the DSWD, it was only 80 percent.
01:46 In 2021, when we were not there, it was 66 percent.
01:49 So from 66 percent, we increased it to 90.43 percent.
01:56 The seal of child-friendly local governance is the seal given by Council for the Welfare of Children
02:02 in the annual and mandatory child-friendly local governance audit led by DILG.
02:08 We are also proud to report that in 2022, there was a 110 percent increase in the seal of child-friendly local governance.
02:18 From 372 in 2021, it became 782 in 2022.
02:25 So we recognize that we have a long way to go because of the 1,634, if I'm not mistaken, our LGUs.
02:33 But in the quantum leap, it was a 110 percent increase in 2022.
02:39 Another highlight of our 2023 report is the relaunching of the Makabata Helpline 1383, now with the 1383 landline.
02:50 We are relaunching it on October 21, 2023 and we are also happy to announce that we have inked or entered into 23 MOUs or Memorandum of Understandings for 2023
03:04 for our Makabata Helpline.
03:06 We have many partnerships with different NGAs, national government agencies, like the DOJ, DICT, DOLE, NBI, DSWD, PNP,
03:16 and also with the private sector like SM Cares, PLDT and Smart Communications.
03:21 Another highlight of our 2023, the start of our program on radio, Makabata Teleradio.
03:28 This is aired in Radio Pilipinas 3. We executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Broadcasting Service.
03:39 So Mang Nina, Usec Edu, this is Makabata Teleradio. This is the first radio program of CWC in 49 years.
03:47 It's right that it's our 50th anniversary this year, 2024. This is a good mouthpiece for the youth.
03:56 This will ventilate their inner voice. Let's wait for it.
04:02 Every Saturday, 10 to 11 a.m. so for those who want to listen, you can follow the Facebook page of the Council for the Welfare of Children.
04:10 Another thing we want to highlight is our 2023 celebration of National Children's Month.
04:17 It was a big celebration. Many friends of the House of Representatives like Congressman Yeda Romualdez, Speaker Romualdez,
04:28 Congressman Nica Ko of the House of Representatives, Committee on the Welfare of Children, we are always behind that.
04:35 The culmination activity of National Children's Month celebration was won by VP Secretary Inday Sara Duterte of DepEd.
04:43 It's a great event. We held it in a big mall in Taguig, we also partnered through SM Cares.
04:53 Of course, all year round, we have capacity building activities and technical assistance to LGUs so they can be child-friendly.
05:03 We are striving to maintain that high level for a number of LGUs practicing child-friendly practices.
05:11 Of course, we are also in the process of updating the presidential awards for child-friendly municipalities and cities.
05:18 If the DILG wins the Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit, they can compete for another presidential award.
05:26 This is the presidential award for child-friendly municipalities and cities.
05:31 Hopefully, we will be able to have a fresh executive order from the Office of the President updating the awards.
05:40 By 2025, we will launch that again. This is one way for LGUs to practice child-friendly, to roll out child-friendly programs or activities.
05:52 Of course, our legislative agenda, we are pushing that from 2023 and until 2024, we are pushing for the passage of a law for promoting positive parenting.
06:03 It is not prohibited to love, it is prohibited to hurt children in the name of discipline, corporal punishment is prohibited.
06:11 Of course, we want a law addressing adolescent pregnancy. That is very high.
06:16 And of course, creating the Philippine Commission on Children.
06:20 Those are the highlights of our 2023 and 2024 agenda.
06:25 All right. One young man, Yusek Jello. Of course, this CWC is one of our most active agencies, DSWD partner.
06:34 One of your accomplishments, Yusek Jello, is the launching and expansion of the coverage of our Makabata Helpline 1383.
06:44 Do we have an update on this, Yusek Jello? How are the number of calls we are receiving and how many have we already acted on?
06:54 Yusek Edu, this is a good question. When we launched it, last year we handled 290 cases.
07:04 We received these cases mostly through Facebook Messenger and secondly, from our 1383 landline.
07:11 There are many landlines that are using it. There are many people calling there.
07:15 The third source is through emails.
07:18 Most of the cases that we handle are inquiries. Many are asking what are their rights and what are the violated rights of the children.
07:28 This can be the children themselves, parents, guardians, those who are taking care of the children or even concerned citizens.
07:35 Many are asking. Aside from the inquiries, the bulk of the cases that we handle, not only those we received,
07:43 because some are resolved immediately, but the bulk consists of physical, sexual and psychological abuse.
07:51 There are more women or young women who are calling here or reaching out to Makabata Helpline.
07:59 Mostly, based on our experience, mostly the cases and callers who message us are from NCR, Regions 3 and 4.
08:08 That's why we are in the process of entering into memoranda of understandings with LGUs of NCR.
08:15 We will continue that and we will reach out, we will roll out the Makabata Helpline 1383 here in Region 4, Region 3,
08:23 perhaps one region in Visayas and one in Mindanao.
08:26 We cannot handle all of them because it will entail a lot of budget and manpower.
08:33 But we want to be more strategic and we want to spread it to the whole Philippines.
08:38 That is also the reason why we are promoting the Makabata Helpline every Saturday on Makabata Teleradio on Radyo Pilipinas 3.
08:46 That is what we are doing there.
08:49 Okay. Sir is it possible to have this hotline 24/7 this year to facilitate the response and assistance to the children in need?
09:01 Can we call using a cellphone and how? Do we need to load?
09:07 You can call using a cellphone but you need to load.
09:13 The free call, just make sure you have an internet connection.
09:18 If you go to the Council for the Welfare of Children website, there is a click to call on the upper right-hand corner.
09:27 If you click on that, you will have internet and you can go to Makabata Helpline 1383.
09:33 We are of course in talks with our telephone companies on how to make the cellphone free.
09:39 One thing we are working on is the DICT E-Gov Super App.
09:44 This is a free app launched by the DICT last year.
09:49 With Makabata Helpline, there is a report icon there. If you click report, you type your report, upload a picture, upload a video of a child being hurt or any violation of the child's rights.
10:03 If you click submit, you will go to the Makabata Helpline.
10:07 As long as you have an internet connection, you can reach us.
10:12 Of course, the good thing about the DICT program is that we can avoid prank messages and prank calls because it is very specific on how to download and create an account.
10:27 The account is very peculiar and you can create IDs.
10:31 So we can avoid those that are not important, those that are just for fooling.
10:38 On your question, ma'am Nina, 24/7, we are dreaming of that last year.
10:43 Hopefully, of course, with the help of DSWD through the leadership of our Secretary Rex Gatchalian, of course, Usec M. Villar and Asik Elin Faliar Cuna, our assistant here,
10:53 we will be pushing for the issuance of an executive order from the office of the President recognizing the Makabata Helpline as the focal or apex helpline for children in the Philippines.
11:04 We will also include in that, we can have a plantilia positions so that we will be able to provide 24/7 services to our constituents, the clients, the people of the Philippines.
11:18 Again, as I always say, the Makabata Helpline will not rival any existing helplines or hotlines in the Philippines because it will complement or support what they are already doing.
11:31 That's what we want. We want to interconnect everybody, I mean every helpline or hotline in the Philippines so that wherever the child is calling,
11:41 even if you don't know the solution to your problem, you can call the Makabata Helpline.
11:49 We can solve your problems if it's within our mandate. If it's outside our mandate, we will refer you to the proper government office.
11:57 That's our dream for 2024.
11:59 Alright, Usec Jello, we are here to talk about child abuse.
12:04 You mentioned earlier that you are receiving reports regarding physical, sexual, and emotional abuses of our children.
12:13 How big are the statistics you are recording here, the statistics on child abuse in the closing of 2023 and what actions are we taking to address this?
12:26 Yes. That's right Usec Edwin. For the Makabata Helpline, since we have only 290 cases, it's still low.
12:36 The physical, sexual, and psychological abuse is close to 100, close to half of what we are receiving. That's the aspect, I mean that's the complexion.
12:47 If we talk about reported cases, for example, with the PNP Women and Children Protection Center, this is the one that is reported the most.
12:59 In 2022, they reported 19,131 cases of violence against children and other child rights violations.
13:09 In the 19,000 plus cases, 18,513 are violations of RA 7610, this is what we call our child abuse law, anti-rape law, and acts of lasciviousness.
13:22 The top three are almost 80 percent or 90 percent were received by the PNP WCPC.
13:31 For August 2023 Usec Edwin, 11,287 were received by the WCPC of the Philippine National Police and the same top three are the cases that they are receiving.
13:44 That's why we executed an MOU with the PNP WCPC so we can refer cases to them quickly.
13:53 We need to monitor this. We want to create awareness this 2024. We want to inform our countrymen that they can file a complaint.
14:04 We also want to assure the public that there will be of course certainty of punishment. That is what deters the criminality.
14:15 If they know that someone will file a complaint against you, they will be punished if they do. That's what we want to tell our countrymen.
14:25 Of course, aside from that, we are also pushing for the positive parenting bill. I hope that will become a law.
14:32 What I'm saying about Usec Edwin is that this was reported by the PNP. Many were not reported or many were reported by other government agencies.
14:42 But the elephant in the room here, most of the violence against children is unreported because it is in the complexion of corporal punishment.
14:53 This is the pain of the children in the name of discipline. We need to pass a law to stop this.
15:01 For those who are not familiar, I as a parent, positive parenting is also a trend. Mindful parenting. Sometimes it is easier to say it, but it is harder to do it.
15:14 We will say it, Usec, we grew up, we were defeated, we are okay. We are okay.
15:22 What is the particular that you want to remove, Usec, and change this kind of parenting?
15:32 If we look at the pending bills before the House of Representatives and the Senate, they are not proposing any new penalties here.
15:43 All the penalties are provided by existing laws, starting with RA 7610, our child abuse law.
15:51 What positive parenting bills are providing is an alternative. We know that it's really difficult.
15:58 Perhaps it's wrong to say it, but the easiest way to discipline a child is to spank or hurt the child.
16:06 Some people are thinking it's wrong. But what we want to communicate to the public is that there is a better way.
16:14 This better way might be more complicated because to be honest, like you, Mam Nina, I have a 7-year-old child and I always say this,
16:22 he always tests my commitment to the positive parenting bills because you know, that's the most annoying age.
16:29 That's why if you read the law, it might not have any effect, the psychological violence or physical violence that you do to the child,
16:39 but there's a chance. It's always 50-50. It might have an effect.
16:46 In one seminar, someone mentioned to me, because someone asked me the same question, I'm okay, nothing happened to me.
16:54 I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse. I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse.
17:00 I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse. I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse.
17:06 I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse. I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse.
17:11 I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse. I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse.
17:17 I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse. I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse.
17:24 I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse. I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse.
17:31 I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse. I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse.
17:36 I'm okay. I'm not a victim of child abuse.
17:39 What I keep in mind, Yusek and Edo, is that when you get angry at your child,
17:49 is it coming out of love or is it coming out of anger?
17:55 Is it coming from your hate for that person or love?
18:00 Because when it comes to love, you cannot hurt them.
18:03 I think that also applies to your relationships with others in the family, not just your children.
18:10 It's easy to say it's hard to do, but if you ask yourself, you pause, you breathe and say,
18:17 "Is this discipline coming out of love or out of anger?"
18:21 Don't be angry at that.
18:23 Anyway, we've become mommy-nina.
18:26 I hope that this has helped.
18:28 You're not mommy-nina, you're right.
18:30 Lastly, what are your priorities for this year to stop child sexual abuse and exploitation in the country?
18:41 Who can you help for this?
18:44 The contribution and responsibility of local governments in this matter is even greater.
18:50 You're right, mommy-nina and Yusek and Edo.
18:54 This is a very important issue because in online sexual abuse or actual sexual abuse of children,
19:02 the Philippines is one of the highest incidence.
19:05 I'm not saying that the Filipinos are evil.
19:07 Of course, that's not true.
19:09 But the Filipino youth are the favorite victims of those who violate the law.
19:16 That's why we are monitoring that.
19:18 For 2024, of course, we will cooperate more closely with the PNP and the NBI,
19:25 Women and Children Protection Center in particular.
19:27 Of course, we also have a special committee on the special protection of children,
19:34 shared by the DOJ and DSWD.
19:36 We are doing a lot for the violence against children,
19:41 including sexual abuse.
19:43 We will curb that if not totally eliminate it.
19:46 We have a national coordinating council on OSAIC and CISAEM,
19:50 which is on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
19:53 This was created in 2022 because we have a new law on online sexual abuse and exploitation.
20:00 The Council for the Welfare of Children is actively participating in the activities,
20:06 the meetings and the brainstorming that's going on currently,
20:09 being led by the NCC-OSAIC under DOJ.
20:13 We want to lay out the programs to reduce online sexual abuse.
20:23 Of course, more partnership with the private sector.
20:26 We have a new threat although it is not yet in the Philippines,
20:30 online sexual abuse through artificial intelligence.
20:34 It is in other countries and we are monitoring the entry to the Philippines.
20:38 We were flagged by a big telecom company that is an emerging threat to our youth.
20:44 We will monitor it.
20:46 For the trial, of course, the Makabata Helpline 1383 is available.
20:51 As long as it's a child, we will take care of it.
20:53 All right. Thank you very much for your time Undersecretary Angelo Tapales,
21:01 Executive Director of the Council for the Welfare of Children.
21:06 Thank you very much for watching.