Facts and figures about children in the Philippines:

The Philippines, its government and its people, hold a common vision for the Filipino children: to be actively participating in community life and nation-building as he/she is able to fully realize and utilize his/her own potentials for development as well as capable of self-expression consistent with the rights of others as he/she is protected from all forms of abuse and exploitation. More importantly, he/she is god-loving and proud of being a Filipino, reared in the context of his/her cultural heritage. Children are regarded as the country's most important asset being the same adults who will carry on into the future the work of building a just and humane society. Thus, the State put premium on providing the Filipino children with education, healthy family life and all other services necessary for their full growth and development.

It might be of interest to know that:

• Children (aged 0-17) comprise approximately 31.7 million or 47 percent of the total Philippine population of 68 million (31.7 million, 1995).
• An estimated 2.9 million children are in especially difficult circumstances. This includes children who are:
  • victims of child abuse (maltreatment of a child, habitual or not, which may include)
    • physical abuse (child battering)
    • psychological/emotional abuse
    • sexual abuse
    • sexual exploitation
    • neglect
    • child labor
    • child trafficking
  • victims of armed conflict
  • in conflict with the law (youth offenders/delinquents)
  • victims of natural disasters
  • children of indigenous cultural communities
  • street children
  • children with disabilities
  • drugs/substance abuse

• RELEVANT NATIONAL POLICIES ON CHILDREN

  Philippine Child and Youth Welfare Code (Presidential Decree No. 603) creating the National Council for the Welfare of Children, imposing penalties against parents who cause or encourage their children to lead a dissolute and immoral life and encourages the establishment of local councils for the protection of children.

  Republic Act No. 7610 better known as the Special Protection of Children Against All Forms of Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. Enlarges the coverage/definition of prostitution and imposes stiffer penalties to perpetrators.

  Republic Act No. 7658 otherwise known as the anti-child labor law amending RA 7610 limiting the age of employment to minimum15 years old.

  The Revised Penal Code of the Philippines which penalizes kidnapping, failure to return a minor, inducing a minor to abandon his home, corruption of minors, white slave trade, rape and acts of lasciviousness

  The Family Code of the Philippines which divests on parents of thier parental authority if they subject or allow their child to be subjected to sexual abuse or suspends parental authority to if they give their child consenting orders or allow their child to be subjected to acts of lasciviousness.

  Republic Act No.8043 or the Inter-Country Adoption Law that protects children being adopted by foreigners from commercial sexual exploitation

  Republic Act No. 7659 imposing death penalty on certain heinous crimes in instances of kidnapping and rape.

  Executive Order No. 56 authorizing the Department of Social Welfare and Development to take protective custody of child prostitutes and sexually abused children

  Executive Order No. 275 (a special order issued by the President) creating a Special Committee for the Protection of Children Against All Forms of Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination headed by the Philippine Department of Justice

  Presidential Proclamation No. 267 declaring the month of October as National Children's Month giving special emphasis on the role of children in community life and nation-building. Relevant and child-focused activities are conducted annually highlighting children's issues and concerns: child rights vis a vis responsibilities, child protection from abuse and exploitation, etc.

  Proclamation No. 759 declaring the fourth week of March as Protection and Gender-Fair Tratment of the Girl Child Week and mandating the Council for the Welfare of Children to come up with a National Development Plan for the Filipino Girl Children.

  A recent Executive Order was issued creating a separate Children's Sector under the Social Reform Agenda of the government pushing for the representation of children in all cultural, social, political structures of the country and mandating concerned agencies with a National Children Development Plan.

  Republic Act No. 6972 which calls for the establishment of Day Care Centers in every barangay being a structure to help ensure the total development of children.

  The President of the Philippines recently approved the establishment of a Social Development Fund for Children. The project is seen as a strategy to ensure that adequate resources are allocated to children's programs. A 5 million peso-seed fund was released for the purpose. The Project aims to raise a total of 50 million pesos in a five-year period (and maintain the fund at that level) to be used for mobilization/fund-raising purposes, capacity building of stakeholders, rehabilitation and setting up of more centers for children (when necessary), support fund to NGOs' and local government units' projects for children.

  CHILD LABOR SITUATION:

  Child labor in the Philippines is the illegal employment of children:

  1) below fifteen years old except in public entertainment and if child is working under the direct supervision of parents. Work permits, however, have to be secured from the Department of Labor and Employment;

  2) below 18 years old in hazardous and exploitative work.

  A 1995 survey revealed: 22.4 million Filipino children between ages 5-17; 3.7 million has worked for the past 12 months; 2.85 million worked for the past week, largely boys; 64% in agriculture; 2.2 million exposed in hazardous environment. Many of the girls who have worked are working away from home.

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  TG Magazine / The Students Commission
  © 1997 le magazine TG / la Commission des étudiants