PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. have been tapped as the exclusive telco partner of the Terre des Hommes Netherlands in Asia and Cebu-based Bidlisiw Foundation Inc. for their Safety for Children and their Rights Online (SCROL) project to combat online child sexual exploitation.
SCROL will debut in the Philippines with Cebu as the initial launch site. Specifically, the program will be implemented in Naga City and in the municipalities of Minglanilla, Bantayan and Sta. Fe.
Outside of the Philippines, SCROL has been making strides in Nepal, Kenya and Cambodia.
“As a technology company and an Internet Service Provider, we recognize the immense responsibility that we need to fulfill to help end any form of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children or OSAEC, especially in the Philippines which has been identified by the United Nations as a global hotspot for these crimes. We aim to support advocacy groups such as Terre des Hommes and Bidlisiw through our services,” said Marylou Gocotano, head of Visayas relations at PLDT and Smart stakeholder management group.
Terre des Hommes Netherlands in Asia is an organization that provides assistance to children, while Bislisiw Foundation is a Philippine social development agency that aids urban poor families.
Both advocacies are geared towards combating sexual exploitation of children, in particular, online child sexual exploitation.
PLDT and Smart have made strides to curtail online abuse of children. Last January, PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group prevented more than 200,000 attempts to access OSAEC materials through the Child Protection Platform.
The PLDT Group has committed to boost the implementation of the SCROL project in the pre-determined areas and participate in the wider fight against OSAEC.
The group said this underscores its long-term commitment to help the country attain UN Sustainable Development Goal #16 that promotes just, peaceful and inclusive societies including the end to abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. – Myla Iglesias
