PLDT, Smart support telco industry’s commitment to strengthen child online protection efforts

• Representatives from PCTO member companies convened at the National Summit on Child Online Protection and Responsible Digital Industry Engagement, headed by PCTO Chairman Enrico delos Reyes. (Photo courtesy of TdH NL)

PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. have reaffirmed their support for industry-wide efforts to combat online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), backing the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunication Operators’ (PCTO) commitment to work with the government in strengthening child online protection.

The commitment was highlighted during the recently concluded National Summit on Child Online Protection and Responsible Digital Industry Engagement, which brought together government agencies, telecommunications companies, internet service providers, content platforms, youth representatives, and civil society organizations to discuss strategies for protecting children in digital spaces.

The summit focused on strengthening collaboration in implementing Republic Act 11930, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act, and promoting a safer online environment for Filipino children.

PCTO Chairman Enrico delos Reyes underscored the telecommunications sector’s responsibility in addressing online child abuse, noting that while digital technologies continue to drive connectivity and innovation, the internet can also be misused to exploit children.

“As these things happen, we at PCTO are not bystanders. We carry all these with great sorrow and with great concern, and with an even greater resolve to act,” delos Reyes said during the summit.

PLDT and Smart, both members of the PCTO, participated in the discussions through their Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel de Dios, who highlighted the group’s child protection initiatives, technology-driven safeguards, and community engagement programs aimed at preventing and responding to OSAEC cases.

According to PLDT and Smart, the group has blocked more than 2.1 million URLs linked to online sexual abuse and exploitation of children from June 2021 to March 2026. From January to March 2026 alone, the companies said they prevented over 208,000 attempts to access child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM).

The companies also continue to work with government agencies in the investigation and prosecution of OSAEC-related cases and support child protection reporting mechanisms, including the Council for the Welfare of Children’s MAKABATA Helpline 1383.

Vergel de Dios said PLDT and Smart are expanding their child protection efforts across various business units while increasing engagement with young people to better understand their concerns and experiences online.

“We aim to use our brands and our services to amplify our efforts and deliver our message on child protection even more strongly,” she said.

PLDT and Smart also cited consultations conducted with children in partnership with Terre des Hommes Netherlands and other child rights organizations. The consultations identified cybersecurity and data privacy among the issues that young people consider most important in their online experiences.

The summit also featured recommendations from the youth sector through Project CONEC’s Youth Advisory Group. In response, Smart Senior Manager for Regulatory Affairs Atty. Kenneth Reganon reaffirmed the company’s commitment to ensuring children’s participation in developing online safety initiatives.

“We commit to always recognize the agency of children and the youth in shaping and co-creating solutions that impact them. Children’s participation will continue to be at the heart of our efforts, and we look forward to working with our esteemed child rights partners to realize this,” Reganon said.

PLDT and Smart said they will continue working with the PCTO and other stakeholders in legislative discussions, public consultations, and multi-sectoral initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s response to online child exploitation and abuse.

These engagements, the companies noted, have contributed to the passage of key laws, including Republic Act 11930 and Republic Act 11862, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022.