MANILA – The National Coordinating Center Against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM) has intensified its nationwide awareness and prevention efforts as the Philippines marks Safer Internet Day 2026, emphasizing shared responsibility in keeping children safe.

In a Monday interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM Officer-in-Charge and Executive Director Barbara Mae Flores said this year’s theme, “Ako, Ikaw, Tayo Konektado at Protektado Laban sa OSAEC at CSAEM” (We Are All Connected and Protected against OSAEC and CSAEM), underscores the need for collective action amid digital connectivity.

“So, the internet is here to stay. Hindi na naman natin pwedeng tanggalin iyong internet. So, we are all connected, not just within the Philippines but even with people or society outside the country,” Flores said. “So, ang goal talaga natin is to make the internet safe for everybody, especially for our children.”

Flores noted that the effectiveness of government campaigns against OSAEC and CSAEM is partly measured through increased reporting. She cited that while studies show high numbers of victims, official reports remain low, and expressed hope that awareness of OSAEC and CSAEM would eventually match that of other forms of abuse.

The government recently launched the Philippine Strategic Action Plan Against OSAEC-CSAEM in December 2025, outlining multi-sectoral programs to prevent and respond to online child exploitation.

“Balak din namin to engage more iyong mga learning institutions para matuto po iyong ating mga guro paano ba ma-identify iyong mga red flags,” Flores said.
(We also plan to engage more with learning institutions so that our teachers can learn how to identify red flags.)

She stressed that parents and caregivers must be trained to become digitally literate and vigilant.
“Ang role talaga ng family and also ng school is bantayan iyong ating mga kabataan,” she said.
(The real roles of the family, and also of the school, is to look after and watch over our youth.)

The agency is also pushing for amendments to Republic Act 11930, or the Anti-OSAEC and CSAEM Act, to hold technology platforms and the financial sector more accountable.

“Magkaroon ng mas [higit na] responsibilidad ang mga technology platforms … para maiwasan iyong paggamit ng platform nila to facilitate OSAEC and CSAEM,” Flores said.
(Technology platforms should have greater responsibility to prevent the misuse of their platforms to facilitate OSAEC and CSAEM.)

For Safer Internet Day 2026, NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM partnered with the Department of Education for a nationwide learner-focused campaign on online safety, and with local government units through the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Stairway Foundation to train village officials in spotting red flags and raising community awareness.

Flores noted that low reporting and stigma remain major challenges in addressing OSAEC and CSAEM cases. She urged that victims should not feel ashamed.

“Hindi dapat iyong biktima ang nahihiya kung hindi iyong mga perpetrators,” she said.
(The victims should not be the ones who feel ashamed, but rather the perpetrators.)

She also reminded the public to exercise caution online.
“Iwasan din natin ilagay online iyong mga personal information natin. Too much information online is also very dangerous. Think before you click,” Flores said.