METRO MANILA — As Plan International Pilipinas marks 65 years of service in the country, the organization is renewing its call for stronger action to ensure every girl can live safely, access quality education, and pursue equal opportunities to learn, lead, and thrive.
The message took center stage at Girls Summit 2026, organized by Plan International Pilipinas and the Quezon City Government in observance of the International Day of the Girl. Guided by the theme “Stand with Girls: Building the Future Girls Want,” the summit brought girls, government leaders, and development partners together to address issues affecting young people across the Philippines.
The event placed the Girls’ Agenda at the forefront of discussions. Developed by girls and young people themselves, the agenda calls for stronger protection from violence, access to health and support services, greater community resilience to climate-related risks, and expanded 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. “They already know what kind of future they want and deserve. Our role is to listen, support, and act alongside them.”
Five panel discussions explored how these priorities intersect with girls’ daily experiences. Topics included mental health challenges in schools, local government approaches to combating Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (CSAEM), climate-related impacts on sexual and reproductive health and rights, child, early, and forced marriages, and safe, inclusive school infrastructure.
The discussions highlighted the importance of addressing risks both online and offline. 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. The reports concern suspected exploitation material, not individual children, and reflect the scale of the challenge facing child protection systems.
The effects of climate-related events were also examined through Plan International’s global study Change Her Forecast, which surveyed more than 5,000 girls and young women across five countries. Seventy-six percent 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, especially during crises, and of safe, clean, healthy, and enabling school environments that provide learning, support networks, and information about rights and essential services.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte emphasized the responsibility of local governments to protect girls and share effective practices with other communities.
“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,” she said.
Girl leaders also presented their experiences and recommendations to national and local officials and stakeholders. Among them was Bea Marie A. Vicente, 22, an elected Sangguniang Kabataan member of Barangay Tanza 1 in Navotas City and a youth advocate of Plan International Pilipinas, who called for reliable safety systems and equal opportunities for girls to learn, lead, and earn a decent living.
Business partners highlighted practical ways to support girls’ futures. Alisandrea A. Coloma, Senior Manager for Sustainability & Corporate PR at Watsons Philippines, discussed the company’s Pharmacy Assistant’s Apprenticeship Program, which has supported young girls since 2023 through free education with partner schools such as Punlaan and a direct employment pathway in Watsons stores.
Interactive workshops enabled participants to develop community-based solutions for safer schools, neighborhoods, and online spaces. The summit concluded with a call for government, civil society, schools, businesses, communities, and families to turn girls’ aspirations into meaningful policy and action.
As it celebrates its 65th year in the Philippines, Plan International Pilipinas continues to urge all sectors to #StandWithGirls and help build a future in which girls are protected, heard, and empowered to reach their full potential.