METRO MANILA — Safer communities and equal opportunities for girls begin with listening to what they need. At Girls Summit 2026, girls and young people brought their recommendations to government leaders and development partners, calling for stronger action on protection, education, health, climate resilience, and economic empowerment.
Organized by Plan International Pilipinas and the Quezon City Government in observance of the International Day of the Girl, the summit carried the theme “Stand with Girls: Building the Future Girls Want.” The event centered on the Girls’ Agenda, a set of recommendations developed by girls and young people to help shape policies and programs affecting their lives.
The agenda identifies four priorities: keeping girls safe from violence, ensuring access to health and support services, helping communities withstand climate-related risks, and expanding access to education and economic opportunities.
“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.”
The summit translated these priorities into five thematic discussions. Participants examined mental health challenges in schools; local government practices addressing 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 need for action is reflected in existing research. 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 involve suspected exploitation material rather than individual children, but they highlight the demands placed on systems tasked with preventing and responding to online abuse.
Climate-related events can also disrupt girls’ access to essential health services and increase other vulnerabilities. Plan International’s global study Change Her Forecast, which surveyed more than 5,000 girls and young women across five countries, found that 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.
The findings reinforce the importance of uninterrupted education during emergencies. Schools can provide essential learning, support networks, and information about rights, health, and available services. Safe, clean, healthy, and enabling school infrastructure is therefore a key part of ensuring girls can continue learning and accessing support.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte highlighted the role of local governments in creating safer environments.
“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.
During the afternoon sessions, girl leaders presented their experiences and recommendations to national and local officials and other stakeholders. Interactive workshops helped participants develop community-based solutions and concrete actions to improve safety in schools, neighborhoods, and online spaces.
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, emphasized that safety must go hand in hand with opportunity.
“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 underscored the value of connecting education with employment. Alisandrea A. Coloma, Senior Manager for Sustainability & Corporate PR at Watsons Philippines, highlighted 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 pathway to employment in Watsons stores.
The summit closed with a collective call for government agencies, civil society, schools, businesses, communities, and families to translate the Girls’ Agenda into meaningful policy and action.
As Plan International Pilipinas marks its 65th year of service in the country, it continues to call on all sectors to #StandWithGirls and help ensure girls have the safety, support, and opportunities to shape their futures.