The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), and other religious groups will conduct a four-day conference to promote and expand safeguarding practices of churches in the Philippines in protecting minors and vulnerable adults from abuse.
The conference, titled ‘National Safeguarding Conference’ will be held from October 20-23, 2025 in Pampanga.
The CBCP said that this event is anchored on a theme of ‘Our Mission of Safeguarding: A Journey of Hope and Compassion,’ which is inspired by the Synod 2024 and the central message of hope for Jubilee 2025.
The conference will be led by CBCP’s Episcopal Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons (PMVP), which is headed by Archbishop Florentino Lavarias.
The CBCP said that the establishment of the office is in line with the directive from the Vatican, emphasizing that ‘it promotes the best practice in safeguarding and assist dioceses in implementing protective measures.’ It will also be spearheaded by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, an advisory body of the Pope in Vatican; Catholic Safeguarding Institute, a non-profit organization that works to provide culture of safety within churches in the Asia Pacific; and the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines, or the national association representing religious leaders.
The CBCP said that the conference is organized ‘to gather the faithful to deepen, strengthen, and widen the response of the Church in the Philippines in the prevention of abuse and in protection of minors and vulnerable adults.’
It added that the purpose ‘is to bring together safeguarding stakeholders within the Church in the Philippines to dialogue, collaborate, and share good practices in the protection of minors and vulnerable adults.’
Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP Commission on Public Affairs, said that the conference will also be attended by church leaders from other countries. The CBCP also said that 213 diocesan delegates are expected to attend the event.
Cases of violence against children and women remain rampant in the country as the Philippine National Police earlier reported that at least 17,600 child abuse cases were reported in 2023. Meanwhile, the Philippine Commission on Women (PWC), citing the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority, said that 17.5% of Filipino women aged 15-49 have experienced any form of physical, mental, sexual, and emotional violence from their intimate partners.
The PWC noted that there were 8,399 reported cases of physical violence, 1,791 on rape, 1,505 on acts of lasciviousness as of 2021.