The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) highlighted the importance of preventive measures in addressing cases of violence against children (VAC) during the Talakayang Makabata press conference on Friday (October 18).

“Prevention is one of the keys to really ensure that our children are protected para hindi po sila ma-aabuse. Isa nga po diyan yung pagpapalakas ng kapasidad ng mga magulang para alagaan yung kanilang mga anak, para maintindihan po yung complexities of childhood and of adolescence nang sa gayon ay matugunan po nila yung mga pangangailangan ng kanilang mga anak at ma-prevent from any forms of abuse and exploitation,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWD’s spokesperson, said during the press conference held at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Conference Room in Diliman, Quezon City.

The DSWD official cited that one of the Department’s programs to capacitate parents is the Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) Program which was institutionalized under Republic Act (RA) No. 11908 in 2022.

The PES Program assists parents and parent-substitutes by providing them with knowledge and skills on parenting to be able to respond to parental duties and responsibilities on the areas of early childhood development, behavior management of younger and older children, husband-wife relationships, prevention of child abuse, health care, and other challenges of parenting.

“I’d like to mention that one specific module in the PES is ‘Keeping your child safe from abuse.’ So, sa pamamagitan po niyan, nababahaginan po natin ng impormasyon ang mga magulang…At the same time, natuturuan natin sila kung papaano ba magabayan yung kanilang mga anak na ma-address nga yung mga specific issues na kinakaharap nila. In so doing, ma-prevent yung mga pagsasagawa ng anumang uri ng pang-aabuso sa mga bata,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao explained.

Aside from PES, the DSWD also capacitates the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in family development sessions (FDS) on how to strengthen family ties, which is fundamental in providing an enabling environment for children to grow and reach their full potential.

In terms of rehabilitation and recovery for victim-survivors of abuse, the DSWD provides packages of interventions in its centers and residential care facilities (CRCFs) for children in need of special protection. Among the interventions provided are psychosocial care; psychosocial counseling; referral to medico-legal examinations; legal and paralegal assistance; and psychological/ psychiatric test.

The DSWD also implements the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP) which is a comprehensive program that ensures adequate recovery and reintegration services are provided to victim-survivors of trafficking.

Joining Asst. Secretary Dumlao as panelist in the Talakayang Makabata were Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) Executive Director Undersecretary Angelo Tapales; National Youth Commission (NYC) commissioner-at-large Asst. Secretary Michelle Mae Gonzales; P/Major Meriel Editha Reyes of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Women and Children Protection Center Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Division Assistant Chief; and Tanya Criscita Manalo, child representative from the regional sub-committee for the welfare of children in Calabarzon

The Talakayang Makabata is a media forum leading to the 32nd National Children’s Month celebration in November, with the theme: Break the Prevalence, End the Violence: Protecting Children, Creating a Safe Philippines! #

Tagalog Version

‘Talakayang Makabata,’ tugon ng DSWD laban sa karahasan sa mga bata

Inihayag ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)ang pagbibigay kahalagahan sa pagkakaroon ng mga preventive measures upang labanan ang karahasan sa mga bata.

Sa ginanap na Talakayang Makabata press conference nitong Biyernes (October 18) sa Philippine Information Agency (PIA) sinabi ni DSWD Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, “prevention is one of the keys to really ensure that our children are protected para hindi po sila ma-aabuse. Isa nga po diyan yung pagpapalakas ng kapasidad ng mga magulang para alagaan yung kanilang mga anak, para maintindihan po yung complexities of childhood and of adolescence nang sa gayon ay matugunan po nila yung mga pangangailangan ng kanilang mga anak at ma-prevent from any forms of abuse and exploitation.”

Ayon sa kanya, kabilang sa mga programa ng DSWD ang Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) Program na naisabatas noong 2022 batay sa Republic Act (RA) No. 11908.

Ang PES Program ay naglalayong asistehan o tulungan ang mga magulang at parent-substitutes sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng kaalaman sa pagpapalaki ng bata. Ipinapakita din dito ang tamang gabay sa pagiging isang mabuting magulang, kaakibat ang responsibilidad na nakasalalay dito. Tinitignan din rito ang early childhood development, behavior management of younger and older children, husband-wife relationships, prevention of child abuse, health care, at iba pang challenges bilang magulang.

“I’d like to mention that one specific module in the PES is ‘Keeping your child safe from abuse.’ So, sa pamamagitan po niyan, nababahaginan po natin ng impormasyon ang mga magulang…At the same time, natuturuan natin sila kung papaano ba magabayan yung kanilang mga anak na ma-address nga yung mga specific issues na kinakaharap nila. In so doing, ma-prevent yung mga pagsasagawa ng anumang uri ng pang-aabuso sa mga bata,” paliwanag ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao.

Bukod naman sa PES, nakapaloob din sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) na kailangang ang mga beneficiaries ng programa ay lumalahok sa family development sessions (FDS. Layon nito na mapagtibay ang family ties,na isa sa mga katangian ng mabuting pagpapalaki sa mga bata.

Samantala, nagbibigay din ang DSWD ng mga intervention hinggil sa rehabilitation at recovery para naman sa mga naging biktima ng panga-abuso. Ang mga ito ay kinakalinga sa DSWD centers and residential care facilities (CRCFs) for children in need of special protection. Kabilang sa mga tulong na ibinibigay dito ay ang psychosocial care; psychosocial counseling; referral to medico-legal examinations; legal and paralegal assistance; at psychological/ psychiatric test.

Bukod dito, nagbibigay din ang ahensya ng Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP). Ito ay isang komprehensibong programa na tumitiyak sa victim-survivors na mabibigyan ito ng tama at sapat na pagkalinga.

Kabilang sa mga dumalo ay sina Asst. Secretary Dumlao; Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) Executive Director Undersecretary Angelo Tapales; National Youth Commission (NYC) commissioner-at-large Asst. Secretary Michelle Mae Gonzales; P/Major Meriel Editha Reyes ng Philippine National Police (PNP)-Women and Children Protection Center Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Division Assistant Chief; at Tanya Criscita Manalo, child representative mula sa regional sub-committee for the welfare of children sa Calabarzon

Ang Talakayang Makabata ay isang media forum para sa nalalapit na ika- 32 National Children’s Month celebration ngayong November. Ito ay may temang Break the Prevalence, End the Violence: Protecting Children, Creating a Safe Philippines! #