The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) announced that the number of child-friendly local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines has nearly tripled—from 372 in 2022 to 1,091 in 2025.

According to the article by GMA, “One of the factors in the increase in “child-friendly” localities is the implementation of ordinances dealing with online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).”

Atty. Nelisa Guevara-Garcia, Director of Capacity Development at IJM Philippines affirms that “the accelerated increase in child-friendly LGUs is a result of strong local governance empowered by legal frameworks.”

The accelerated increase in child-friendly LGUs is a result of strong local governance empowered by legal frameworks.

“The passage of anti-OSAEC ordinances laid the foundation for systemic protection for children. We applaud the Department of the Interior and Local Government and our LGU partners for embracing this mandate and translating it into real results for the beneficiaries, who are the children.” Atty. Guevara-Garcia continued.

CWC Executive Director Angelo Tapales, who made the announcement, explained what a child-friendly LGU looks like: “So, ngayon po since may directive ang Pangulo, iyan po ay nakasama na doon sa 2025 guidelines and LGUs now are really mandated to have OSAEC ordinances, have OSAEC-trained people. Para kapag may nagsumbong pong bata at mga magulang and of course iyong mga referral mechanisms po nila kailangan mayroon sila at iyan po kasi tsini-check na doon sa audit,” said Tapales.

(So, now since there is a directive from the President, that has been included in the 2025 guidelines and LGUs now are really mandated to have OSAEC ordinances, have OSAEC-trained people. So that when a child and the parents report something, and of course their referral mechanisms, they need to have them, and that is what is being checked in the audit.) Source: GMA News

As a committed partner in the fight against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), IJM Philippines has worked closely with LGUs across the country to pass and implement anti-OSAEC ordinances. See related article. These ordinances have become a cornerstone of the Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA), a mandatory annual assessment led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ensure that LGUs uphold the rights and welfare of children.

DILG circulars, circulated in 2024, were also instrumental. See related article

“Local governments are the first line of defense against trafficking, particularly OSAEC, which often occurs inside homes,” says Atty. Samson Inocencio, National Director of IJM Philippines, who was recognized as a 2024 TIP Hero by the US State Department, the highest honor given to anti-trafficking work by the United States State Department. “IJM commends LGUs that have passed anti-OSAEC ordinances and institutionalized programs for long-term impact. These efforts are essential to ending impunity, preventing the normalization of abuse, and encouraging community reporting of this crime.”

IJM commends LGUs that have passed anti-OSAEC ordinances and institutionalized programs for long-term impact. These efforts are essential to ending impunity, preventing the normalization of abuse, and encouraging community reporting of this crime.

IJM has worked with local governments, providing technical assistance in drafting and refining local legislation aligned with national directives on OSAEC. IJM continues to provide capacity building for local officials, social workers, and law enforcement in responding to cases of online exploitation. IJM is also working closely with local governments to strengthen OSAEC community reporting mechanisms.

Three years after the anti-OSAEC law was passed and the collaborations that followed, the wave of local support from local governments in the movement against OSAEC continues to grow.

The inclusion of OSAEC-related indicators in the 2025 Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit guidelines—mandating LGUs to have ordinances, trained personnel, and referral systems—underscores the importance of sustained advocacy and partnership in embedding child protection into the very fabric of local governance.

This is one of many wins, and IJM congratulates the CWC and the 1,091 child-friendly LGUs, and the other LGUs who are on their way there. There are a total 1642 LGUs in the Philippines.

While the increase of child-friendly LGUs is a big leap forward, the work continues. IJM Philippines remains committed to walking alongside our national government, local government units and communities, and in collaboration with the financial and tech sector to advance protection, towards the end of OSAEC.