Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has urged the public to report to the Department of Labor and Employment any maltreatment of young Filipinos whose parents are working abroad.
He announced this as the DOLE Hotline 1349 was launched to address issues on child abuse. The service is available 24/7.
“I am asking the public that if they witness or suspect that the child of an OFW is being abused, they should call our Hotline 1349 so we can ensure the safety of the child,” Bello said in a statement.
Bello noted that children left behind by OFW parents are prone to abuses as outlined in UNICEF’s National Baseline Survey on Violence Against Children: Philippines.
Calls received by the special hotline number will be validated and investigated by DOLE, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Justice.
“We have to protect these children. One way of protecting them is to report this to our Hotline 1349. We will investigate, and if necessary, rescue the child. Mahirap kasi na ang pinagtitiwalaan mo na mag-aalaga sa anak mo ay iyon pa ang mag-aabuso sa mga bata (It is unacceptable that the very people to whom OFWs entrust their children, would be the ones to abuse them),” Bello added.
He said the hotline is in line with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte for government agencies to ensure that queries and concerns of the public are immediately acted upon.