Naga City, Cebu leads with Anti-OSAEC Ordinance as multi-sectoral alliance rises against online child sexual exploitation
In localities across the Philippines, a new kind of battle is being waged. It happens not in the streets or courts, but behind screens and inside homes, where children are supposed to be safe.
This is the insidious reality of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC)—a crime that festers in silence and within familiar spaces. Too often, the perpetrators are those children trust the most: their own parents or close relatives.
In Central Visayas, the numbers are grim. According to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), more than 40 children were rescued from OSAEC cases in Region VII between 2023 and 2024 alone. Even more alarming, the region remains one of the top five hotspots for such crimes in the Philippines.
“It’s really sad but it’s the reality. Economic gyud na problem. With just one picture, with just one video, in a matter of minutes—or seconds—naa na dayon kwarta.” Ligaya Dael, Social Welfare Officer for Children Sector Focal from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), admitted.
(It’s really sad but it’s the reality. It’s truly an economic issue. With just one picture or one video, in a matter of minutes—or seconds—they’re able to get money.)
This chilling reality reveals a dark intersection of poverty and technology, where desperation turns into abuse and children become the currency.
But in Naga City, a different narrative is taking shape. At the heart of this response is the Safety for Children and their Rights OnLine (SCROL) Project implemented by Terre des Hommes Netherlands and Bidlisiw Foundation.
Legislation as a line of defence: Naga City steps up!
In the face of this growing threat, Naga City recently made history as one of the first localities in Cebu Province to pass both the Anti-OSAEC and CSAEM ordinance, while also updating its Children’s Code—a legislative milestone that puts child protection front and centre.
Driving this bold initiative is City Councillor Charmaine Navarro, who is also the Chairperson of the Committee on Children, with vital technical support and expertise from the Center for Initiatives on Developmental Law (CID-Law).
“It’s only right for those of us in positions of authority, especially for me as a City Councillor, to truly work toward protecting children,” Hon. Navarro exclaims.
Through its partnership with the SCROL Project, Naga’s local government gained access to legal expertise, community tools, and orientation sessions that helped barangay officials and community workers fully understand and implement the ordinance.
“Dako gyud kaayong tabang tong part sa SCROL project nga sila gyud ang ni-help gyud nako og himo sa anti-OSAEC nga ordinance. Dili lang sa pagtabang og himo, ilaha pa gyud kong gitabangan para ang mga constituents nako ug mga Barangay Councilors pud nga maoy nagdala sa Barangay Councilors for the Protection of Children (BCPC) nga ma-sweto sad sila pud aning Anti-OSAEC ordinance,” said Hon. Navarro.
(The SCROL Project was truly a big help, especially in assisting me with the drafting of the anti-OSAEC ordinance. They didn’t just help me write it—they also helped me ensure that my constituents and the Barangay Councillors, particularly those handling the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), became well-informed about the ordinance.)
The ordinance outlines clear and practical steps from initial response to victim identification, to reporting to proper authorities and paying the penalties. It’s designed not just as policy, but as a working system for immediate protection and response.
But Naga City’s efforts go beyond the legislative. Through the generous support of the local government, purok (zone) leaders and parental figures were invited to attend a seminar to help them understand the nature of the problem as well as educate them on how to spot red flags.
This localised and parent-focused strategy echoes Dael’s warning: “It is really important for people to be aware that there are increasing cases of OSAEC because when they are not aware, there is a possibility that they may think that this is just normal. When they think that this is just normal, they will always think that the abuse is also normal.”
Across cities like Naga in Cebu, the SCROL Project is proving that through local ordinances and public education. Moreover, it serves as an enlightenment in making parents and children see such illegal transactions for what they really are: exploitation.
Relatively, other LGUs in Cebu Province’s northern trail—Daanbantayan, Santa Fe, and Bantayan—have also enacted similar legislations, reinforcing a province-wide commitment to protecting children.
Collaboration is the lifeline
At the heart of this movement is multi-sectoral collaboration. IACAT, composed of agencies like the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), DSWD, and partner NGOs, brings a multidisciplinary approach—covering medical care, education, legal protection, psychosocial support, and rehabilitation.
“IACAT ensures that the victims of OSAEC are provided with appropriate services and intervention through multidisciplinary teams,” Dael explained. “The government cannot do it alone.”
She added that while government programs are vital, private groups bring in flexibility, resources, and speed that government systems often lack.
This is where organisations like Bidlisiw Foundation and Terre des Hommes Netherlands come in—introducing innovative advocacy, training programs, and community-based solutions that complement government efforts.
While Hon. Navarro humbly described Naga City as “fortunate” to be chosen, their selection reflects more than luck as it underscores the city’s clear dedication to child protection. “Swerte kaayo ang Naga City sa SCROL project. Kami gyud ang napilian. Same mi og goal—maprotektahan ang mga bata,” Hon. Navarro shared.
(Naga City is very fortunate to have been chosen for the SCROL Project. We share the same goal—to protect children.)
While many areas remain under threat, the growing collaboration between IACAT, LGUs, and the SCROL Project is proof that change is not only possible but also gaining momentum. With tech-driven prevention programs being scaled, more LGUs entering partnerships, and child protection ordinances now in place in the City of Naga, Cebu, and the municipalities of Daanbantayan, Santa Fe, and Bantayan, Region 7 is laying the groundwork for a stronger, more unified defence against OSAEC in the years to come.
In communities like Naga City, and through agencies like IACAT, the message is clear: protecting children online is not just a legal duty—it’s a moral one.
The SCROL Project is led by Terre des Hommes Netherlands and Bidlisiw Foundation. It empowers communities through child-centred legislation and education, proving that protecting children from OSAEC is a shared responsibility, not just a mandate.
Author: Bryan G. Fernandez II
