President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued an order on the establishment of the Presidential Office for Children Protection (PCOP) on Tuesday, August 6.
Executive Order (EO) No. 67 would ensure the protection of children from abuse and criminal exploitation by strengthening their rights and providing them with special protection. At its core, it seeks to fight against cases that fall under the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
The PCOP also aims to address the grave phenomenon of the growing number of lewd contents online concerning children, so that cases and other threats to the welfare and well-being of Filipino children would be prioritized.
The Presidential Adviser for Child Protection (PACP) will lead the office, under the control and supervision of the Special Assistant to the President. Under the EO, the office is required to oversee government-related policies and groups relative to the protection of children.
“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, and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM), and anti-child trafficking matters,” the EO indicates.
Besides that, the office is also required to curate policies and programs related to the goal of the newly signed order.
The PACP will act as a representative of the Office of the President and shall be a member of several councils that govern the protection of children.
The order would take effect right away upon its publication in the Official Gazette.
