PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) team up with advocacy groups Terre des Hommes Netherlands in Asia and Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc. to help build CyberSmart local government units and law enforcement agencies through awareness campaigns to help them effectively implement Republic Act 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act.
“PLDT and Smart provide connectivity services that link all of us and help make our lives easier. However, the same technology is being exploited by criminals and some of them take advantage of children. As an internet service provider (ISP), we recognize our responsibility to contribute to the bigger fight against OSAEC and CSAEM. Partnerships such as this give us an avenue to strengthen our linkages and allow us to contribute to making the internet a safer place for everyone, especially our children,” said Marylou Gocotano, PLDT and Smart Stakeholder Management Visayas Relations Head.
To deepen collaborations, PLDT and Smart talked about ISP’s roles and limitations in child-cyberprotection. Aligning with the Group’s CyberSmart program, PLDT and Smart also shared tips on internet safety, and discussed ongoing Anti-OSAEC efforts.
“PLDT and Smart’s involvement in the training on the basics of internet provided a great foundation for our participants to better understand the new Anti-OSAEC and CSAEM law. This is important because the fight against OSAEC is online, and so the frontline service providers and responders are expected to have online presence as well. We have to constantly evolve and change our ways of raising the awareness. With the help of PLDT and SMART, participants were able to gather their gears and prepare themselves for this new age of advocacy,” said Judith Pulvera, Advocacy Officer of Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc.
The 2-day learning sessions are part of the implementation of the SCROL Project (Safety For Children and Their Rights Online) Project by Terre des Hommes Netherlands in Asia, and the Cebu-based Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc., to help combat online child sexual exploitation in the Philippines. PLDT and Smart are the only telco partners in the rollout of this program.
The PLDT Group pledges its full commitment to boost the implementation of the SCROL project in the pre-determined areas in the country and participate in the wider fight against OSAEC.
This initiative highlights the Goup’s long-term commitment to help the country attain UNSDG #16 that promotes just, peaceful and inclusive societies including the end to abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
