The upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Barangay elections offer an opportunity for communities to strengthen local policies addressing the needs of children and young people, according to Plan International Pilipinas.
The girl and child rights organization is calling on incoming local leaders to prioritize health, education, gender equality, and child protection and translate young people’s priorities into concrete ordinances and community programs.
The call comes during Linggo ng Kabataan, amid continuing challenges facing Filipino youth.
One in four Filipino adolescents nationwide falls behind academically by age 18. More than 10,600 adolescent mothers were recorded in 2024, with pregnancies rising among girls under 15. Child labor reached over half a million in 2025, and nearly 20% of internet-using children aged 12 to 17 have faced grave online sexual abuse and exploitation (OSAEC).
Plan International Pilipinas is advocating for youth participation as part of the response.
The organization’s Girls’ Agenda provides a framework for action. Developed with 400 girl advocates, the four-point blueprint focuses on safety, resilience in crisis, health, and education and economic empowerment.
“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.”
The organization has reached 2.83 million people since 2025, protected over 740,000 individuals through violence prevention programs, and trained more than 14,000 child protection advocates.
Its youth programs are also creating practical avenues for young people to participate in local decision-making.
The Youth Advisory Panel empowers young advocates to influence community decisions. Youth Peer Educators and Youth Reporters train high school students on OSAEC, SOGIESC, child rights, mental health, and leadership, enabling them to counsel their peers. The Girls’ Challenge Grants Group equips girls from vulnerable communities to develop their own solutions to local problems.
These initiatives are being implemented across the Visayas and Mindanao. In Samar, youth advocacy panels and peer educators are supporting youth engagement, while Cotabato City is implementing mental health initiatives through Plan International Pilipinas’ Global Youth Ambassador program.
The organization’s work was also highlighted during SIRAK Day in Samar on August 11, where Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara joined an estimated 1,000 youth leaders in marking the fifth anniversary of the Sirak Kabataan movement.
As new SK and Barangay leaders prepare to take on their roles, Plan International Pilipinas is urging them to ensure young people have a meaningful place in local governance.
The effort echoes the United Nations’ 2026 International Youth Day theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” recognizing the shared aspirations of youth for safety, health, and opportunity.
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].