METRO MANILA — Schools should be places where girls can learn, feel safe, access support, and prepare for their futures. At Girls Summit 2026, young people and development partners called for stronger action to address the challenges that can prevent girls from thriving, including mental health concerns, online abuse, and unsafe learning environments.
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.” It brought together girls, government leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss how schools and communities can become safer and more inclusive.
The event featured the Girls’ Agenda, a set of recommendations developed by girls and young people that identifies four areas for action: protection from violence, access to health and support services, climate resilience, 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 thematic panel discussions explored the realities girls face. These included mental health challenges in schools; local government practices for addressing Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (CSAEM); climate impacts on sexual and reproductive health and rights; child, early, and forced marriages; and safe, inclusive school infrastructure that supports learner welfare.
The need for safer environments extends beyond school grounds. 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 relate to suspected exploitation material, not individual children, but they demonstrate the demands facing protection systems.
Girls’ wellbeing can also be affected when climate-related events disrupt 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 after 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 underscore the importance of uninterrupted education during times of crisis. Safe, clean, healthy, and enabling schools can help girls continue learning while providing support networks and information about their rights, health, and available services.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte highlighted the responsibility of local governments to protect children and share effective practices.
“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 her welcome remarks.
During the afternoon, girl leaders presented their experiences and recommendations directly to national and local government officials and other stakeholders. Interactive workshops helped participants identify community-based solutions to make schools, neighborhoods, and online spaces safer.
Among the youth advocates who spoke 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.
“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.
The summit also highlighted how business partnerships can help girls pursue education and 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 through free education with partner schools such as Punlaan and a direct employment pathway.
The event concluded with a call for government, civil society, schools, businesses, communities, and families to turn girls’ recommendations into meaningful action.
As Plan International Pilipinas celebrates 65 years of service, it continues to call on all sectors to #StandWithGirls and help ensure every girl can learn in safety and pursue her full potential.
