Including climate crisis and disasters, online harm, and barriers to inclusive quality education, entrepreneurship, and decent employment.
Recently, Plan International Pilipinas and the Quezon City government, through the city’s Gender and Development Council Office, launched a collaborative partnership to champion the rights of girls and young women amid some of today’s most pressing challenges.
The initiative is part of Plan International Pilipinas’ national campaign for the 2025 International Day of the Girl (IDG), #StandWithGirls, which calls for collective action to advance policies, programs, and investments for girls’ future and enable their participation in spaces where decisions around their lives are made.
“Every day, young women across the country are forced to navigate challenges that threaten their safety, silence their voices, and limit their potential,” said Plan International Pilipinas Executive Director Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang.
She added, “By working with the Quezon City Government under the leadership of Mayor Joy Belmonte, a long-time ally in advancing gender-responsive and child-centered governance, we are ensuring that their voices are heard where it matters most. We will keep pushing boundaries until every young Filipina can learn, lead, decide, be resilient and thrive.”
The current Quezon City government has been cementing its reputation with landmark programs that empower and protect girls and young women.
Under its Gender and Development (GAD) framework, the city implements a holistic Cycle of Care for Adolescent Girls, which include menstrual health education through Period Talk for Teens and the Batang Ina Summit for young mothers, while ensuring safe spaces through the Anti-OSAEC ordinance, the QC VAW Centralized Databank, and rescue operations under Task Forces Sampaguita and Magdalena.
The Youth Development Office also expands access to scholarships, skills training, and livelihood through Pangkabuhayang QC, Be Your Own Boss, and the Digital Beauty Academy.
These are complemented by youth engagement programs such as GAD for Youth and M.O.V.E. (Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere).
QC Mayor Joy Belmonte noted, “When girls are safe, educated, and empowered, an entire city rises with them. As long as I am Mayor, our girls will always have an ally, a protector, and a champion in me.”
#STANDWITHGIRLS, GIRLS SUMMIT
The #StandWithGirls campaign reached a major milestone with the Girls Summit last October 30, which brought together more than 400 young women leaders from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The summit served as a platform for girls to present their recommendations through a Girls’ Agenda, which is a list of priority issues they want government, civil society, and the private sector to address.
It also served as the launchpad for the National Girls’ Network, a youth-led coalition that will continue advancing girls’ rights and advocacy beyond the event.
During her welcome address, Mayor Belmonte reaffirmed Quezon City’s ongoing efforts to make policies and programs more responsive to the needs of girls and young women.
Panel discussions throughout the summit explored pressing themes such as online safety, resilience in crises, and economic empowerment. Among the notable speakers were Christian Halaas Lyster, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the Philippines; Rachel Ann Herrera, Commissioner of the Climate Change Commission; and Nimisha Jain, Country Manager of Beiersdorf Philippines, along with other distinguished leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector.
The Girls’ Agenda was also formally received by Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, Executive Director of the Council for the Welfare of Children, and Joseph Ortega, Chairperson of the National Youth Commission.
The Girls Summit builds on a series of nationwide activities for the International Day of the Girl, including youth-led symposiums and Girls Takeovers across the country, with girls taking over the offices of 2nd District Councilor Aly Medalla and 6th District Councilor Ellie Juan.
With 60 years of experience in the country, Plan International Pilipinas is a development and humanitarian organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls.
Through partnerships with communities, the government, and the private sector, its programs in education, youth economic empowerment, health, and child protection tackle the root causes of gender inequality.
Annually, its work reaches over two million children and their families across 5,887 barangays and plays a leading role in responding to disasters and humanitarian crises.