Metro Manila, Philippines— President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued an executive order creating an office to address rising online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC).
Executive Order 67, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on behalf of the president, will create a Presidential Office for Child Protection (POCP), which will be headed by a presidential adviser.
No word yet from the Presidential Communications Office on who will lead the new office.
“The POCP shall monitor and harmonize government thrusts, policies, and programs relative to the protection of children and the promotion of their welfare, with special focus on anti-OSAEC, anti-CSAEM (child sexual abuse or exploitation materials), and anti-child trafficking matters,” the EO stated.
The new office is expected to submit policy recommendations to the president, as well as implementation of presidential directives or priority programs and projects regarding the welfare and protection of children.
POCP will also promote harmonization of policies and programs and make sure that there will be no duplication of tasks.
It will also coordinate with other government agencies such as the Council for the Welfare of Children and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
The Justice Department said in April that there have been at least 200 convictions since the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children Act took effect in 2022.
