Drumming up the mantra “Basta Bata, Tayo ang Bahala”, the Regional Sub-committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) has launched the MAKABATA Helpline in Davao Region.
The launch was made timely during the awarding of the acrylic Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance (SCFLG) on December 2 with the 23 local government units (LGUs).
Some local chief executives personally attended the event to receive the child-friendly award with their respective social welfare development officers together with the provincial and municipal local government operations officers of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
They pledged their commitment to support the MAKABATA Helpline paving the way for children even in far flung areas to access assistance for their protection, preservation of their rights, and access to child services.
“O kung gusto lang nila may makakausap lang (Or even if they just need someone to talk to),” said RSCWC Regional Coordinator Renee Boy Binondo.
MAKABATA Helpline and how it works
Just what is MAKABATA Helpline and how does it work?
As its acronym applies, MAKABATA means Mahalin at Kalingain ang Ating mga BATA. It primarily aims to develop a mechanism that will provide quick response, monitoring, and feedback through calls, emails and various social media platforms.
In his presentation, Binondo said the MAKABATA Helpline is anchored on Republic Act 11188 otherwise known as “An Act Providing for the Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict (CSAC).
It has become part of the system of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) as Section 27 of RA11188 mandates the monitoring and reporting task of CWC, together with the Inter-agency Committee on Children in Situations of Armed Conflict. It is also tasked to maintain a database on CSAC children.
CWC launched the MAKABATA Helpline at the national level on November 2, 2022 in the presence of non-government organizations and national government agencies NGOs. Through it, CWC envisions to strengthen the coordination between and among stakeholders including the various existing hotlines, and helplines in delivering child services to protect and fulfill the rights of every Filipino child.
Binondo explained that CWC had leveled up its measures to provide children an easy access to assistance from abuse as it noted still high incidence of the child abuse cases.
Need for more helplines
The Women and Child Protection Unit (WCPU) of the Philippine General Hospital reported that the child abuse cases in 2020 reached 6,621 cases, Binondo said.
Such cases take an uptick to a total of 8,367 in 2021, while in 2022, reported children subjected to abuse reached 8,948.
The MAKABATA Helpline is made accessible by dialing 1383 in phones and telephones, providing access to all children, their parents and even adolescents with varied needs relating to their rights to protection, participation, development and survival.
All types of child and adolescent abuse can be reported such as physical abuse, verbal, sexual, emotional; exploitation, neglect, discrimination and all other grave child right violations identified in the Republic Act 11188.
At the national level, anybody with child and adolescent concerns can dial the MAKABATA Helpline Number 1383, call the Smart number 09193541383 or call the Globeline number 0915-802-2375. They can also email at [email protected]. Through these communication lines, they can either inquire, ask for emergency response or be referred to aligned concerned agencies of the national or local government.
Binondo explained that RSCWC has yet to officially clinch a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with regional-based telecommunications companies, but confident of telecom’s support, knowing the nature of the advocacy that the MAKABATA Helpline spouses –for the welfare of the children.
Amplified relevance
In an interview, 16-year-old Davao Region Child Representative Rhoniel Salucot cited the MAKABATA Helpline as very helpful in reaching out to his fellow children especially those in far flung areas to provide them equal access to services and emergency response.
“Napakalaking tulong nito lalo sa mga kabataaan na naninirahan sa mga malalayong lugar (This is of immense help for the children living in far-flung areas),” he said, adding that it is very accessible; mapapadali ang pagrespondi sa kanila (responding them would be made easy).
In a separate radio program of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) XI Davao del Norte, Binondo viewed the MAKABATA Helpline as an add-on facility to help the abused children.
“We strive hard; we innovate things na paunsa pa maka offer ug access sa kadtong maulaw mahadlok mag report og layo ang police station, layo ang barangay nga mo report (We innovate things how to offer access <for help> for those who are still ashamed and afraid to report, and those far from the police station, far from the barangay <center> to report),” Binondo said.
He believed that the MAKABATA Helpline would work even in far flung areas. With just a “Piso” wifi, children and anyone needing help for children can reach the CWC through the MAKABATA Helpline.
As LGU monitors
On the other hand, Binondo envisioned the MAKABATA Helpline in Davao Region as a tool for local government units to monitor child abuse cases.
Child Protection Program coordinator Lanie Guinit of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) is optimistic about mainstreaming the Makabata Helpline at the provincial level.
She said such a helpline for children can be tied up with the existing Dial 911 system of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO).
Guinit revealed that the Dial 911 personnel of Davao del Norte go beyond dealing with, and attending to man-made and natural calamities.
“Ang atong 911 personnel are trained pud sila ng Provincial Health Office nato on how to respond kung naay mga calls na related to abuse, actually children and youth sa siya and women. (Our 911 personnel are trained by the Provincial Health Office how to respond to calls related to abuse of children, youth, and Women),” she said.
Guinit was optimistic that such a helpline would easily be connected and streamed with the Davao del Norte Dial 911 customized by the PDRRMO not just for emergency response but also for responding to cases of abuse. (JBG/JMDA/PIA Davao del Norte)
