Press Releases

In the last National Baseline Survey on Violence Against Children (VAC) conducted in 2016, eight (8) out of (10) Filipino children experienced abuse in their lifetime.1 This translates to 80% of Filipinos who grow up experiencing adverse childhood experiences that can ultimately affect their health, development, and future contribution to society including their contribution to economy through future employment or entrepreneurship.

More than that, according to Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC-Asia), Violence Against Children costs on health and health risk behavior outcomes amount to 209 billion USD or nearly 2% of the region's GDP.2 In a recent study of Ordanza (2025), he mentioned that for the estimated cases from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD), the total estimated cost of Violence Against Women and Children amounts to PhP 2 Billion pesos and PhP 383 million pesos, respectively. However, underreporting of cases are prevalent and Ordanza, using the prevalence rates from the National Demographic Survey (NDHS), estimated the total cost to PhP 1.3 trillion or 5.39% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.3

Given these, we can see the clear effect of violence against children not only on individuals or their families, but also on the economy and the future of our society. Reactive programs that respond to the needs the victims-survivors of abuse are not enough to address the concerns. There must be systematic ways to prevent abuse from happening in the first place so that the cost of response would be lower, and future contributions of these children for the good of society will be maximized.

Through the Child Safe Philippines project, ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.’s Bantay Bata 163 seeks to support and capacitate schools and communities in strengthening their child protection systems. This includes capacity building in terms of creating policies, protocols and programs related to child protection which remains a gap in many communities in the Philippines.

Since 2022, through partnerships with School Division Offices, local governments, companies and donors, Bantay Bata 163 has already capacitated 68 schools and 27 barangays. BB 163 has also continually monitored their implementation of their plans and protocols ensuring that these systems continue to prevent and respond to child protection concerns. The program seeks to expand its reach in the coming years to create sustainable and systematic change to combat Violence Against Children where the children are.

In the end, one can see that Violence Against Children affects each of us directly and indirectly. Therefore, each one also has a role to play to ensure that every child is protected, as it also protects the future of our families, communities, and even businesses. As they say, “Child protection is everyone’s responsibility.” We each have a role to play to make our world safer for each child.

To know more about ABS-CBN Foundation’s Child Safe Philippines project, please reach out to Claro Bonilla and/or Sherwin Hinlo who serve as the Foundation’s representatives in ECCP.