The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Davao Region (DSWD Field Office 11) has launched two groundbreaking activities for the 2025 National Children's Month celebration, marking a significant step forward in child protection efforts across Southern Mindanao.
First-Ever Children and Youth Summit
Jovelyn M. Trajano, Children Focal Person of DSWD-Davao, revealed that the inaugural Children and Youth Summit occurred on November 22, 2025 at the Ritz Hotel in Davao City. The event gathered 65 youth delegates representing diverse sectors of society served by DSWD programs.
The participants included beneficiaries from various backgrounds: Pantawid Pamilya recipients, members of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP), child laborers, trafficking victim-survivors, and children in conflict with the law (CICL). This diverse representation ensured that multiple voices from vulnerable sectors were heard during the discussions.
Combating Online Sexual Exploitation
This year's summit focused on the critical theme "Osaec-CSAEM Wakasan; Kaligtasan at Karapatan ng Bata Ipaglaban," highlighting the urgent need to address Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (CSAEM).
"We will highlight the stories of our cases — CICL, child laborer, trafficking victim survivor," Trajano emphasized, underscoring the importance of real-life narratives in driving meaningful change and awareness about these pressing issues affecting Filipino children.
Cinemakabata: Stories Through Film
The second major initiative, Cinemakabata, is scheduled for November 28, 2025 at SM Cinema. This pioneering program will showcase short films based on actual case stories handled by the DSWD agency, providing a creative platform for advocacy through cinematic storytelling.
The film showcase will be open to media partners, with reserved seating arrangements to support journalists and media professionals in amplifying child protection messages and covering the agency's various interventions and success stories.
Through these dual approaches of summit discussions and creative film presentations, DSWD-Davao aims to foster broader community awareness and inspire collaborative action for children's welfare throughout the Davao Region. The combination of direct youth engagement and artistic expression represents a comprehensive strategy to advance child rights and protection in the digital age.
