PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved the establishment of a one-stop system for reporting incidents of child rights’ violations.
Executive Order 79, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Dec. 6, establishes the Mahalin at Kalingain ating mga Bata (MAKABATA) Program and institutionalizes the MAKABATA Helpline 1383.
The program will establish a one-stop system for addressing and monitoring all issues and concerns of children in need of special protection (CNSPs), with components including reporting; rescue and relief; rehabilitation; and reintegration.
The EO defines CNSPs as persons below 18 years old or those 18 years old and over but are unable to fully take care of themselves because of physical or mental disability or conditions, and are vulnerable to, or are victims of abuse, neglect, exploitation, cruelty, discrimination, violence, and other similar circumstances, including but not limited to child labor, online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), child sexual abuse or exploitation of materials (CSAEM), child trafficking, and other circumstances which gravely threaten or endanger a child’s survival and normal development.
CNSPs also refer to children in conflict with the law, children living in alternative care, and children living with human immunodeficiency virus.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will lead the implementation of the MAKABATA program. The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) will serve as the overall coordinating and monitoring body for the implementation of the MAKABATA Program.
EO 79 directs the institutionalization of the existing MAKABATA Helpline 1383, a dedicated hotline number for the program operating round the clock.
“All concerns received through any of the communication platforms of the MAKABATA Helpline 1383 shall be immediately acted upon or referred, directly or indirectly, to concerned government agencies and instrumentalities, including LGUs and private sector partners, for appropriate action and/or intervention,” the EO reads.
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