Four priorities identified by 400 girl advocates could help shape the agenda of incoming Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Barangay leaders as communities prepare for the upcoming elections and celebrate Linggo ng Kabataan.
Plan International Pilipinas is encouraging future local leaders to translate the Girls’ Agenda into policies and programs that respond to the realities faced by children and young people.
Created through the participation of 400 girl advocates, the four-point blueprint centers on safety, resilience in crisis, health, and education and economic empowerment.
The initiative comes as Filipino children and adolescents continue to face significant challenges.
One in four Filipino adolescents nationwide falls behind academically by age 18. In 2024, more than 10,600 adolescent mothers were recorded, with pregnancies increasing among girls under 15. Child labor exceeded half a million in 2025, while nearly 20% of internet-using children aged 12 to 17 have experienced grave online sexual abuse and exploitation (OSAEC).
These concerns underscore the need for local leadership that understands and responds to young people’s experiences.
Plan International Pilipinas has been working with communities and young advocates to strengthen that leadership. Since 2025, the organization has reached 2.83 million people, protected over 740,000 individuals through violence prevention programs, and trained more than 14,000 child protection advocates.
“The Girls’ Agenda came directly from young people, mostly girls, who told us where the gaps are,” said Twyla Raros David, Country Program Manager for Gender and Child Rights. “Training incoming SK and Barangay leaders to carry that agenda into their own communities is how we turn those numbers around, one barangay at a time.”
A recent example of youth leadership was seen in Samar during SIRAK Day on August 11. Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara joined an estimated 1,000 youth leaders as they marked the fifth anniversary of the Sirak Kabataan movement.
Similar youth-led initiatives are being implemented throughout the Visayas and Mindanao.
In Samar, youth advocacy panels and peer educators are creating opportunities for young people to engage in community issues. In Cotabato City, mental health programs are being implemented through Plan International Pilipinas’ Global Youth Ambassador program.
The organization’s Youth Advisory Panel gives young advocates opportunities to influence community decisions. Youth Peer Educators and Youth Reporters train high school students on OSAEC, SOGIESC, child rights, mental health, and leadership, allowing them to support and counsel their peers. Meanwhile, the Girls’ Challenge Grants Group equips girls from vulnerable communities to create solutions to problems in their own localities.
Working with local governments, schools, and communities, these programs aim to ensure that young people have a meaningful role in shaping policies that affect them.
This Linggo ng Kabataan, Plan International Pilipinas is asking incoming SK and Barangay leaders to take the next step: turn the Girls’ Agenda into concrete local ordinances and programs.
The initiative is aligned with the United Nations’ 2026 International Youth Day theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” highlighting the common hopes of young people for safety, health, and opportunity despite differences in where they live.
To support Plan International Pilipinas’ programs and help ensure that every girl has the resources to learn, lead, decide, and thrive, visit their official website or email [email protected].