Children are among the most vulnerable

population groups in society. In 2015,

31.4 percent of children belong to poor

families. Hence, there is really a need to
look after their survival and living
conditions, health and education as their
rights, welfare and development are at
the core of the country’s social
development goals.
Some of the issues that children
in the Philippines are still facing
are the following: child
abuse, violence, exploitation,
poverty, and displacement due
to armed conflict.

Almost ten percent of the estimated 39

million Filipinos ages 6 to 24 years old were out-of-school
children and youth (OSCY), according to the results of
the 2016 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS). In
said report, OSCY refers to family members 6 to 14
years old who are not attending formal school ; and family
members 15 to 24 years old who are currently out of
school, not gainfully employed, and have not finished
college or post-secondary course.
Research shows that children who don’t start school at the
right age are more likely to have learning difficulties, to
repeat or drop out. The factors that affect participation in
early education include poverty gender
; ,
ethnicity, low level of awareness of the value of early
childhood education; disabilities; long distance
from school; threats of dislocation among informal settlers, and
exposure to conflict and natural disasters; and urban
challenges.

Deaths among children below 5 remain highest in

the poorest sectors of society, in rural areas, and among
families with low educational status. The inequities in
child and maternal health are most profound in
geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas of the
country but are also to be found in urban settings where areas
populated by informal settlers are on the rise.

17% of births are not officially registered

in the Philippines.  The country has made some
progress on this issue.  However, not all children are
able to benefit from these improvements. Indeed, most
Muslim and indigenous children still lack an official
identity. This leads to great difficulties for such
individuals because, owing to their
official nonexistence in the eyes of society, they will be
unable to enjoy their rights.
Under-nutrition in the Philippines remains a serious problem.
The damage to health, physical growth and brain
development of children affected by chronic under-nutrition
—stunting in the first two years—is often irreversible,
impairing them for life and leaving them with lower chances
of finishing school and becoming highly-productive adults.
Eight in 10 children and young people in the
Philippines have experienced some form of violence
in their lifetime that usually begins at home.
Impacts include mental and physical health disorders,
anxiety, depression and health-risk behaviors including
smoking, alcoholism, drug abuse and engagement in high
risk sexual activity.