THE PHILIPPINE Normal University Gabriela Youth chapter has expressed serious concern over reports of several confessions from PNU students engaging in online pornography and sex trade just to keep their hope of finishing a degree course alive.

Some lady learners have reportedly admitted on their University Freedom Wall posts to have engaged in illicit cybersex acts, including the sale of their nude photographs.

A report by The POST has earlier quoted those lady students who’ve succumbed to material temptation as having said that “ang pangarap naming makatapos ng pag-aaral sa kabila ng matinding kahirapan ng aming pamilya ang siyang nagbigay ng lakas ng loob para akuin ang  isang ‘kapit sa patalim’ na desisyon.”

As an expression of deep concern, the Gabriela Youth PNU chapter said “bumuhos ang mga pahayag ng pagdamay at pagtulong para sa mga estudyante sa nasabing paskil, subalit ito ay isa pa lamang sa napakaraming naratibo ngayon ng mga kabataang sumasandig sa kahit anong porma upang matugunan ang pangangailangan para sa online o remote class.”

The group also mourned for the ineptitude of the young lady learners to protect themselves from cyber predators who capitalize on the financial weakness of their victims. “The present economic difficulties as a result of the Covid19 pandemic, compounded by the health restrictive protocols and community quarantine have reportedly worsened the chances of Filipino families to have their children continue with their schooling.

“Ang ganitong kalagayan ng kabataang kababaihan sa lipunan ay pinalala ng pagbubukas ng klase sa ilalim ng palpak at pabayang pagtugon ng pamahaalan sa pandemya,” the youth group explained.

It stressed that educational institutions should immediately address the lack of guidelines for safety and child protection, with students more vulnerable to sexual exploitations as classes shift to distance learning.

“Nakikiisa ang PNU Gabriela Youth sa pagpapaigting ng kampanya para proteksiyunan ang mga kabataan laban sa karahasan at pang-aabuso, at sa pagkalap ng suporta para sa mga vulnerable at nangangailangan,” the youth group added..

Raymond Basillo, Alliance of Concerned Teachers secretary general, said the blind spot in the DepEd’s plans is particularly alarming given that the Philippines is regarded as a global hotspot for online sexual exploitation of children.

“In the history of our country, we have never facilitated online learning for so many students. It’s a situation where we’ll have children as young as six exposed to the vulnerabilities of the online world, so there must be some serious and long conversations around as to what preventive measures are actually in place,” Basilio said.

Dr. Minda Valencia, PNU’s Center of Gender and Development head, and Dr. Minerva Atanacio, IPHERDS faculty member, have promised to attend to the reported incidents and to seek solutions on the burdens of the students.