DICT prioritizes Cordova in anti-cyberporn program

CEBU, Philippines — Cordova town in Cebu is identified by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) as one of its priority areas for its program on anti-online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC).

The agency plans to collaborate with significant stakeholders in areas with high incidence of child pornography that will engage the community and local authorities in order to address the cyber-related problem.

Genalyn Macalinao, policy head of DICT Cybersecurity Bureau, said the department eyes to strengthen its programs, including the objective that seeks to curb online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC).

"There will be several events that will take place across the country targeting places that have been identified with high OSEC cases. One of which is here in Cordova, Cebu. It’s in the pipeline already," she told reporters during the CyberCon Asia 2018 press conference on August 16.

CyberCon Asia was a two-day conference-workshop and exhibition that tackled various issues about the cyber world, including cybersecurity. It served as avenue where leaders can interact and collaborate and discuss on how they can defend themselves from threats and digital crimes.

Macalinao said the planned event in Cordova will be a forum or hours of discussion with law enforcement agencies, including other important officials.

"The target is we get down to the grassroot level so we will be mostly working with the local municipality," she said.

The tentative date is set either on October or November.

Macalinao said the DICT is already in close coordination with law enforcement units in mapping out its course of actions, including the formulation of policies, which is one of the main roles of the department.

Perpetrators, even parents themselves, exploit children even the very young ones. They produce pornographic videos, illicit photographs, and live sex shows for customers mostly foreigners in exchange for money.

This crime has been rampant especially with easy access to internet. (FREEMAN)