METRO MANILA — Girls across the Philippines are calling for stronger action to protect their safety, expand their opportunities, and ensure their voices help shape the decisions that affect their futures.
This was the message at Girls Summit 2026, organized by Plan International Pilipinas and the Quezon City Government in observance of the International Day of the Girl. Under the theme “Stand with Girls: Building the Future Girls Want,” the summit brought together young people, government leaders, development partners, and other stakeholders to discuss solutions to challenges affecting girls, including school safety, online abuse, mental health, and climate-related risks.
At the center of the discussions was the Girls’ Agenda, a set of recommendations developed by girls and young people themselves. It identifies four priorities for action: protecting girls from violence, ensuring access to health and support services, building communities that are more resilient to climate-related risks, and expanding opportunities for education and economic empowerment.
“Girls are not merely beneficiaries of development. They are leaders, innovators, advocates, and changemakers,” said Cathy Seco, Program Director at Plan International Pilipinas, in her keynote message. “They already know what kind of future they want and deserve. Our role is to listen, support, and act alongside them.”
Five thematic panel discussions examined how these priorities affect girls’ daily lives. Topics included mental health challenges in schools; local government practices for combating Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (CSAEM); the effects of climate-related events on sexual and reproductive health and rights; child, early, and forced marriages; and safe, inclusive school infrastructure that supports learner welfare.
The discussions reflected the scale of the challenges facing girls. A 2020 Plan International study found that seven in 10 girls and young women in the Philippines had experienced online harassment. In 2024, the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received more than 1.7 million CyberTipline reports from the Philippines. These reports concern suspected exploitation material and do not represent a count of individual children, but they underscore the demands placed on local protection systems.
Climate-related disruptions also threaten girls’ access to essential services and education. In Plan International’s global study Change Her Forecast, which surveyed more than 5,000 girls and young women across five countries, 76% said girls and young women in their communities struggled to access at least one sexual or reproductive health service following climate-related events. Thirty-six percent reported seeing more girls marry or enter a union before age 18, while 33% reported more unintended pregnancies.
These findings reinforce the importance of uninterrupted education, particularly during crises. Schools can provide learning, support networks, and information on rights, health, and available services. Safe, clean, healthy, and enabling school infrastructure is therefore an essential part of protecting girls.
“A city is only as strong as the safety it gives its girls at home, in school, and online. Quezon City has taken steps to protect children from abuse and exploitation, and we are ready to share what works so other local governments can do the same,” said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte during her welcome remarks.
In the afternoon, girl leaders presented their experiences and recommendations to national and local government officials and other stakeholders. Interactive workshops also enabled participants to develop community-based solutions and concrete actions to make schools, neighborhoods, and online spaces safer for girls.
Among the young advocates who spoke was Bea Marie A. Vicente, 22, an elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) member of Barangay Tanza 1 in Navotas City and a youth advocate of Plan International Pilipinas.
“Girls should feel safe at school, at home, and online. I want our leaders to make safety a real commitment, with systems that work, so that girls know where to go and who will help. When girls are safe, we can reach our full potential, but only if we have the same opportunities as everyone else to learn, lead, and earn a decent living,” Vicente said.
Business partners also highlighted the importance of connecting education with employment. Alisandrea A. Coloma, Senior Manager for Sustainability & Corporate PR at Watsons Philippines, cited the company’s Pharmacy Assistant’s Apprenticeship Program, which has supported young girls since 2023.
“Watsons Philippines has been supporting young girls through the Pharmacy Assistant’s Apprenticeship Program since 2023. We believe that every girl can do great things when given the opportunity, and through the apprenticeship, we are able to pave a way for girls to receive free education with our partner schools like Punlaan, with a direct path to employment in our stores. So many of our alumni now thrive in their careers with Watsons. This is the path we want to open to many more young girls,” Coloma said.
The summit ended with a collective call for government agencies, civil society organizations, schools, businesses, communities, and families to turn girls’ recommendations into meaningful policies and action.
As Plan International Pilipinas marks 65 years of service in the country, the organization continues to urge all sectors to #StandWithGirls and help create lasting change and equal opportunities for every girl.