‘Revive child protection committees in schools’

MANILA, Philippines — A veteran legislator from Mindanao is urging the national government to revive what used to be the child protection committees in schools across the country, for purposes of protecting children from all kinds of abuses.

“Where are the Child Protection Committees (CPCs) in schools that are supposed to safeguard learners against potential abuses?” Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel asked, following reports of abuses at the Philippine High School for the Arts.

He recalled that former education secretary Jesli Lapus, who served during the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, ordered the creation of a CPC in every school precisely to assure children of safe spaces for learning.

Under Department Order 42, the Department of Education adopted its Policy and Guidelines on Protecting Children in School from Abuse, Violence, Exploitation, Discrimination, Bullying and Other Forms of Abuse.

Child abuse allegations in PHSA have been referred to the National Bureau of Investigation.

“Every school was mandated to activate a CPC to deal with possible child abuse cases involving victims under 18 years old,” Pimentel recalled.

The six-member CPC is composed of the school head as chairperson; guidance counselor/teacher as vice chairperson; a representative of teachers designated by the faculty club; a representative of parents selected by the Parents-Teachers Association; a representative of students named by the Supreme Student Council; and a community representative assigned by the barangay head, preferably a member of the barangay council for the protection of children.

“If the victim is 18 years old or above, and the case involves possible sexual offenses, then every school is also supposed to have a separate Committee on Decorum and Investigation (COD) under the Sexual Harassment Act of 1995,” Pimentel pointed out.

“The mere visibility of both the CPC and COD in every school is meant to help deter abuses and encourage victims to come forward,” Pimentel said.

In a previous report, PHSA students and graduates complained to VICE World News “of an entrenched culture of sexual, physical and emotional abuse impacting generations of children.”

Besides the NBI investigation, the Senate and the House of Representatives are also set to launch their own inquiries into the VICE World News report.

Opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros and three members of the Makabayan bloc in the House earlier filed the resolutions enabling the separate inquiries.