DAVAO CITY – The Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC)-Davao reminded the media, bloggers, and influencers to be cautious in publishing sensitive materials involving children during disasters.

RENEE Boy Binondo, regional coordinator of RSCWC. (Keith Bacongco)

Renee Boy Binondo, regional coordinator of RSCWC,  cited some incidents following the landslide in Barangay Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro on February 6 that involved women and children survivors.

Binondo said that there’s a need for extreme caution when dealing with minors in sensitive situations as it may violate their rights.

He said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and some media institutions have brought up proper guidelines on covering children survivors of disaster.

“While we are glad that there was a child survivor rescued from the landslide, but we would like to remind you that these children suffered trauma,” Binondo said, referring to a vlogger who interviewed the child survivor.

He said that actions that debases, degrades, or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child can be considered child abuse under Republic Act No. 7610.

Binondo reminded the media to seek permission from the minors before posting any content.  

He added that an explicit permission must be obtained from the parents or legal guardians as the unauthorized dissemination of such material on social media could violate the Republic Act 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

“We have good faith in interviewing, taking the stories, telling the public, and helping them but if this is in good faith. But if this will bring harm to the children because once posted online, this will be available until the child has grown up.”

Binondo proposed to conduct a symposium among media and other social media users to prevent similar incidents in the future.  

On February 10, a three-year old girl was rescued from the landslide site.

A video of a responder carrying the girl, who was still covered with soil, went viral on Facebook.

Almost 5,000 persons are still in the evacuation centers in Maco and Mawab after they were forced to evacuate due to the threat of landslides.

The displaced residents are still waiting to be relocated in temporary sites as some of them may never be allowed to return in identified high-risk areas. 

As of 7 p.m. on February 19, the local government of Maco reported that 98 bodies have been retrieved while eight others are still missing.