Children across the country stand to benefit from stronger protection against abuse, violence, and exploitation as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) launched the Local Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy (LCSPP) Document Guide and e-Learning Course, giving local government units (LGUs) practical tools to build safer communities for every child.

Unveiled at the DILG-NAPOLCOM Center in Quezon City in partnership with Council for the Welfare of Children and Stairway Foundation Inc., the initiative supports the administration’s priority to strengthen child protection systems and promote more responsive local governance.

Representing the Department, DILG Assistant Secretary for International Relations Lilian De Leon said the time has come to move beyond fragmented responses and establish lasting systems that truly protect children.

“What’s been missing is a safeguarding system that is localized, institutionalized, and embedded in the way LGUs actually operate, not a checklist, but a system,” she said.

The LCSPP tools provide LGUs with clear guidance on prevention, reporting, referral, case management, and monitoring, helping ensure that child protection measures are not occasional efforts but part of everyday governance.

Through the program, LGUs are expected to strengthen frontline responses, improve coordination among local offices, and create safer environments where children can grow, learn, and thrive free from fear and harm.

During the launch, government officials, development partners, and child representatives signed a pledge of commitment, highlighting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to safeguarding children at the grassroots level.

Among those present were CWC Executive Director, Undersecretary Angelo M. Tapales; Stairway Foundation Inc. Executive Director Lars C. Jorgensen; Carmona City Mayor Dahlia A. Loyola; and SM Cares representative Royston Cabuñag.

The LCSPP reflects a strong partnership among DILG, CWC, and Stairway Foundation Inc., combining policy leadership, technical expertise, and community-based implementation to strengthen safeguarding systems nationwide.

With the nationwide rollout of these tools, the DILG reaffirmed its commitment to child-centered, accountable, and responsive local governance, so that every Filipino child is protected, valued, and given the chance to reach their full potential.