CFO supports expanded advocacy, youth engagement vs online child abuse

MANILA —The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) reaffirmed its commitment to child protection during the 8th Regular Coordination Meeting of the National Coordination Center Against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM) on March 3, 2026, at the Department of Justice, Manila.


The meeting gathered member agencies and partners to review accomplishments, discuss priority initiatives, and align strategies under the government’s whole-of-nation response against OSAEC and CSAEM.

During the meeting, Emigrant Services Officer Irish Culbengan manifested the CFO’s interest to be part of the NCC Advocacy and Communications Technical Working Group (ADVOCOM TWG), underscoring the Commission’s role in expanding awareness and education initiatives among Filipinos overseas and their families.

Mr. Jans Jerome Bentula of the Office of the Executive Director likewise conveyed his support to Assistant Secretary Michelle Lapuz for the proposed Memorandum of Agreement between the Philippine Sports Commission and the NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM, which seeks to integrate OSAEC and CSAEM awareness into sports and dance programs across local government units. He emphasized that the CFO, through its YouLeaD (Youth Leaders in the Diaspora) Project, stands ready to support the initiative by mobilizing diaspora youth in cultural activities that promote child protection awareness and responsible reporting.

The CFO reaffirmed its strong partnership with the NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM and member agencies, committing to advance collaborative, youth-centered awareness campaigns and preventive efforts to protect Filipino children at home and abroad from online sexual abuse and exploitation.