An exciting new partnership is giving victimised children what they need most: a voice.

Destiny Rescue Pilipinas, Inc., an operational arm of Destiny Rescue (an organisation whose rescue work in Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines Child Rescue helps fund), and Makabata Helpline of the Council For The Welfare Of Children (CWC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on May 26, 2023, at the CWC Headquarters in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

This ceremonial signing represents a collective commitment to collaborate by combining efforts, resources, networks and expertise to safeguard children from perpetrators and ensure justice for the offenders.

Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, executive director of CWC, expressed his excitement that the Makabata Helpline and Destiny Rescue “will forge a formidable alliance to protect the rights and well-being of the most vulnerable members of our society—the children who fall victim to the unspeakable horror that is child sex trafficking.”

Empowering the voiceless

It can be extremely difficult for exploited children to find a safe way to reach out for help. Makabata Helpline addresses that problem.

This hotline service empowers children to safely report any abuse or violence happening to them or their peers. The helpline provides quick responses, monitoring and feedback from reports received through calls, e-mails and various social media platforms.

Destiny Rescue’s Country Manager in the Philippines Alwin Laysico acknowledged the lack of safe communication channels for children.

“We want to be able to reach out to the community and help them reach out to us,” Alwin said. “I think that that’s one massive missing piece—not only in the Philippines, but around the world: how they can reach out. So, what [the Makataba Helpline is] doing, we want to support and help in any way we can.”

Concerned adults can also protect children in their community by reporting through the Makabata Helpline. Services and interventions include but are not limited to psychosocial remediation, counseling, temporary shelter, legal assistance, etc. 

The Makabata Helpline cements the assertion of CWC that “no child deserves to be silenced, abused or exploited.”

A potent partnership

The Makabata Helpline will refer reports of commercially trafficked children to our agents. Our team can then verify the report and eventually rescue the trafficked children. We’ll also work with local law enforcement agencies to locate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators. This partnership emboldens Destiny Rescue’s vision to rescue kids from sex trafficking and exploitation and help them stay free.

Connect and Report

If you or someone you know lives in the Philippines, see the following information below: