Assessment on the Capacity of Local Government Units in Implementing the Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11930 and a Cost Study of Implementing an Anti-OSAEC Program

Authors

• Ma. Divina Gracia Roldan, De La Salle University
• Ador R. Torneo, De La Salle University
• Maria Caridad Tarroja, De La Salle University
• Marites M. Tiongco, De La Salle University
• Ma. Ella C. Oplas, De La Salle University

File Type

Project Document

Publication Date

2025

Description

This study assessed the capacity of selected local government units (LGUs) to implement Republic Act No. 11930, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. It examined four dimensions of local capacity: legal, administrative, relational, and fiscal. It also assessed the costs and investments required to implement and sustain local anti-OSAEC programs.

The study employed a mixed-method approach in Manila, Dasmariñas City in Cavite, and Llorente in Eastern Samar. The qualitative component comprised 15 key informant interviews and 10 focus group discussions with representatives from the city and municipal governments and selected barangays. The quantitative component analyzed financial data from the participating LGUs covering 2014 to 2024.

The findings showed that Manila and Dasmariñas City had localized the law through city ordinances, while only Barangay Sampaloc IV among the participating barangays had enacted an anti-OSAEC ordinance. Awareness of the law’s implementing rules remained limited among some local government personnel. City governments demonstrated greater administrative and relational capacity than municipalities and barangays, which generally had fewer resources despite serving as the frontlines of implementation. Funding for child-protection and OSAEC-related activities commonly came from allocations for local councils for the protection of children or Gender and Development programs.

The study recommended strengthening information dissemination, building local capacity to draft and implement ordinances, aligning local policies with the national law, involving children and communities in program development, systematizing inter-agency coordination, integrating technology into child protection, and improving program planning, budgeting, and resource mobilization.

About the Project

The study was conducted by the Social Development Research Center of De La Salle University with funding from Plan International Pilipinas Foundation, Inc. It formed part of Plan International Pilipinas’ broader child-protection initiative, Uniting Against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children. The research was led by Dr. Ma. Divina Gracia Roldan, together with Co-Investigators Dr. Ador R. Torneo, Dr. Maria Caridad H. Tarroja, Dr. Marites M. Tiongco, and Ma. Ella C. Oplas. The team was supported by Research Project Coordinator Arrianne Louisse Fajardo.

The project assessed the legal, administrative, relational, and fiscal capacities of selected LGUs in Manila, Dasmariñas City, and Llorente to implement Republic Act No. 11930. It generated evidence and recommendations to strengthen local policies, institutional coordination, program planning, financing, and community-based responses to OSAEC.

Recommended Citation

Roldan, M. D. G., Torneo, A. R., Tarroja, M. C. H., Tiongco, M. M., & Oplas, M. E. C. (2025). An assessment on the capacity of local government units in implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 11930 and a cost study of implementing an anti-OSAEC program [Final report]. De La Salle University–Social Development Research Center.