TACLOBAN CITY – The Regional Sub-committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) Eastern Visayas introduced Makabata Helpline numbers against child rights violations during the 31st National Children’s Month kick-off celebration at the Robinsons North Tacloban on Monday, Nov. 6.

Any person may directly report either through phone or telephone calls, emails, and social media platforms for any concern or violation of child rights through the helpline numbers and email below:

Helpline Number: 1383

Smart:                 09193541383

Globe:                 09158022375

Email:                  makabatahelpline@cwc.gov.ph

The Helpline Officer, also a licensed social worker, will collect and validate the report from the Makabata Helpline to determine what appropriate service must be extended to the caller or referring party.

The Makabata Helpline conforms with Republic Act 11188, providing special protection to children in situations of armed conflict from all forms of abuse, violence, neglect, cruelty, discrimination, and other conditions prejudicial to their development, taking into consideration their gender, cultural, ethnic, and religious background.

Based on the Women and Child Protection Unit (WCPU) statistics during the COVID-19 lockdown, 6,621 cases of sexual abuse and exploitation of children were reported in 2020; 8,367 cases in 2021; and 8,948 cases in 2022.

In addition, the helpline received 250 reports via texts, calls, emails, and chats from its first launch on Nov. 3, 2022 to October 2023. Of these numbers, 142 cases were considered closed, 47 are pending with limited traction, and 61 are ongoing cases.

The nature of services includes inquiry calls or messages about the helpline’s services, referral calls or messages that need to be coordinated or directed to the appropriate agency for the necessary intervention, and emergency calls or messages that need immediate assistance in a life-threatening situation.

According to the Council for the Welfare of Children, no child deserves to be silenced, abused, or exploited, and the Makabata Helpline ensures that they have someone to report to.

Various national government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private organizations formed partnerships with this Makabata Helpline through a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure its full implementation in protecting and fulfilling the rights of every Filipino child.

Monet R. Tacuyo, a SOS Children's Village Tacloban care provider, expressed her positive impression of the Makabata Helpline.

“The Makabata Helpline is nice because children can easily call for help against child abuse. This is a big help to them,” Tacuyo said in dialect.

Police Brigadier General Owen S. Andarino, from the Police Regional Office 8, expressed his commitment to recognizing the inherent obligation to support inclusive and responsive programs for children’s health, safety, and security.

“Ang PNP ay inyong kakampi at katuwang upang maprotektahan ang ating kabataan sa mga pang-aabuso sa pamamagitan ng inyong maagap na pagsumbong at kooperasyon,” PBGen. Andarino said.

A total of 40 children from the Misericordia Children Center Inc., and SOS Children's Village Tacloban attended the event and, in participation of the national government agency and non-government organization partners. (LDL/AAC/PIA Leyte)