The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is expanding Project SAFE against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children to more communities this year, citing the need to strengthen protection and recovery services for child survivors.
The expansion follows a June 30 coordination meeting with the International Justice Mission, where the DSWD discussed survivor support, child protection mechanisms, and rollout targets for the second semester of 2026.
The DSWD said recent findings from an IJM study showed the urgency of reinforcing safeguards for children. The study found that 41 percent of OSAEC victim-survivors were abused by their own parents, while 42 percent were abused by siblings and other relatives.
IJM also identified poverty, widespread internet access, and the proliferation of child sexual abuse or exploitation materials as among the factors that make the Philippines vulnerable to these crimes.
DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the department is strengthening both prevention and recovery services to protect children from exploitation and provide long-term support to survivors.
“Hindi po nagtatapos ang responsibilidad ng pamahalaan sa pagsasagip sa mga batang biktima ng online sexual abuse at exploitation. Sa pamamagitan ng Project SAFE, tinitiyak po ng ahensya na mabibigyan sila ng tuloy-tuloy na psychosocial interventions, educational assistance, family support at iba pang serbisyong kinakailangan para sila ay makabangon at makapagsimula muli nang ligtas,” Dumlao said Thursday, July 9.
Project SAFE against OSAEC provides a holistic intervention model focused on prevention, protection, healing, family empowerment, safe reintegration, and the prevention of revictimization among child survivors.
As of May 2026, the program has been rolled out in Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao. More than 120 victim-survivors have received therapeutic interventions and educational assistance, while 619 community members have joined advocacy activities on child protection and online safety.
During the meeting, the DSWD’s Social Technology Bureau presented the program’s accomplishments and strategic direction for 2026.
Among the matters discussed were the Framework for Family Engagement, which forms part of the rehabilitation process for survivors and their families; the completion of the Training of Trainers from June 22 to 26; and preparations for the Training on Assessment of Survivors’ Outcomes scheduled on July 14 and 15.
The bureau also outlined the program’s four major components: enhanced advocacy campaigns; strengthened reporting systems and networks of care; healing services, including family engagement sessions and long-term educational assistance; and post-recovery interventions such as alternative child care, supervised independent living, and survivor advocacy through the Philippine Survivor Network.
Partner agencies expressed support for the expansion of Project SAFE against OSAEC in the second half of 2026.
The program is set to expand in Taguig City and Quezon City in Metro Manila; Calamba City in Laguna and Dasmariñas City in Cavite; Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City in Central Visayas; and Iligan City in Lanao del Norte and Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental.
The meeting also produced several commitments, including continued coaching and field mentoring for the initial 31 family engagement trainers, sustained use of the Pathwright E-Library for technical support, and stronger coordination with local government units to speed up survivor assessment and reintegration.
“Kasabay po ng pagbibigay ng intervention sa mga survivor ay pinalalakas din natin ang ating information campaign, reporting mechanisms, at pakikipagtulungan sa mga LGUs at iba pang partners upang maiwasan ang panibagong mga kaso ng OSAEC. Mahalaga po ang sama-samang pagkilos para maprotektahan ang ating mga kabataan,” Dumlao said.
The DSWD said the expansion is aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen child protection systems and ensure that Filipino children grow up in safe and nurturing communities.
“Alinsunod po sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na higit pang palakasin ang proteksyon sa mga kabataan laban sa anumang uri ng pang-aabuso at pagsasamantala, patuloy na palalawakin ng DSWD ang Project SAFE para mas marami pang batang biktima at kanilang mga pamilya ang maabot ng komprehensibong serbisyo at suporta. Hangad po nating tiyakin na walang batang maiiwan at lahat ay mabibigyan ng pagkakataong makabangon at magkaroon ng mas ligtas na kinabukasan,” Dumlao said.