Belmonte outlines QC plans to end child labor, abuses before int’l body

Mayor Joy Belmonte joins a panel discussion on prevention of child labor and child abuse.

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has laid out the local government’s plan to stop child labor and other forms of abuses among minors in the city during an international conference.

In a speech before the International Public Sharing Conference for the Asean and other countries in Asia organized by World Vision, Belmonte urged the international community to regulate social media platforms, which has aggravated online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).

In her city, the chief executive presented numerous grassroots programs to end abuses to children.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte speaks before the International Public Sharing Conference for the Asean and other countries in Asia.

“These are Zero Child Labor Action Plan, strengthening the Barangay council for the Protection of Children, establishment of Task force Sampaguita and Magdalena and creation of a Child Labor Prevention and Elimination program (CPLEP) section in the Public Employment Service Office or PESO,” Belmonte said.

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The International Conference was organized by World Vision, the Department of Labor and Employment and the National Council Against Child Labor. Belmonte attended the event with QC Councilor Egay Yap , foreign representatives from Asean, officials of national government and civic society organizations.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte explains various anti-child abuse campaigns in the city.

In November 2023, the Quezon City government has joined forces with the Mission Alliance Philippines (MAP), the Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse (CPTCSA), the Philippine Children’s Ministries Network (PCMN), Plan International Pilipinas, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila to respond to the alarming rise in numbers of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) cases in the Philippines.

Foreign participants attend the international conference organized by the World Vision.

“Combating child abuse and exploitation has been a challenge for the government, especially with the emergence of technology. We, the Quezon City Government, are grateful for this partnership led by Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Christian Lyster. Together, we can minimize the cases of, if not end, Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and protect our youth,” Belmonte said.