Children are the most vulnerable population in the society. In 2015, Unicef and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) conducted the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children in the Philippines. Research shows that eight out of ten children have experienced some form of abuse, whether physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, or psychological. Surprisingly, these abuses are most prevalent in homes where parents and adults are expected to nurture and protect their kids.
It is this very reason why Bantay Bata 163, the child welfare program of ABS-CBN Foundation, and Globe Telecom Inc., have collaborated to make the Bantay Bata 1-6-3 Hotline free and available 24/7 for Globe and TM subscribers. The number #163, once dialed on mobile phones, connects callers to licensed social workers who are ready to receive reports on child abuse and other child-related concerns such as bullying and requests for medical assistance.
“What we want to do is we use the technology that we have. We use the capability to build up and make the Philippines a better place to live in,” said Alberto De Larrazabal, Chief Commercial Officer of Globe Telecom, Inc.
Bantay Bata 163 Program Director Jing Castañeda also reiterated that this collaboration is such an important service. “With this partnership, Globe and TM subscribers can now call our hotline for free, #163. They can call us 24/7. Anytime kailangan nila ng tulong, para sa kanilang mga anak, mga bata… To all of our Kapamilya who want to donate, to report, or to volunteer to Bantay Bata, if you are a Globe or TM subscribers, please call #163,” said Castañeda.
“We are grateful to Globe to be partnering with Bantay Bata 163. We want the children to know na mayroon silang takbuhan, that there is somebody there who’s willing to help them”, Susan Afan added, ABS-CBN Foundation Managing Director.
Hotline 1-6-3 has been in existence since 1997, founded by the late ABS-CBN Foundation chairperson, Gina Lopez.
This child helpline aims to protect children from any form of violence or neglect. As technology advances, saving a child from abuse is just at your fingertips. Just dial #163, free for Globe and TM subscribers.