Study: 2 of 5 Pinoys age 10 face parental violence

MANILA, Philippines — A study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies found that nearly two in five Filipino children aged 10 reported physical or emotional violence from a parent.

“Home Should Be Safe: How Parental Violence Affects Children’s Education in the Philippines,” authored by Aaron Carlos Manuel, Lyle Daryll Casas and Valerie Gilbert Ulep, said by age 14, children exposed to parental violence were significantly less likely to be enrolled in school, particularly girls.

The authors added that exposure to parental violence at age 10 was associated with lower odds of school enrolment at age 14 among both boys and girls.

The study said the association was stronger among girls when the results were stratified by gender.

The authors said parental violence was also associated with poorer academic performance, although this relationship was not statistically significant.

Among the recommendations of the study is to sustain and scale up multisectoral early intervention programs nationwide that integrate parenting education, school-based violence prevention and community advocacy, with gender-responsive approaches tailored to the distinct needs of boys and girls.

The study was done with support from the Australian government and the United Nations Population Fund.

It noted that the burden is particularly pronounced in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where legal protections and enforcement mechanisms are often weaker.

The authors noted that despite the magnitude of the problem, policy responses in many LMICs remain inadequate.

The study said this is frequently attributed to competing resource demands and a lack of context-specific evidence on effective prevention strategies and mitigation of long-term impacts.

It added that the failure to address this issue carries substantial costs.

According to the authors, worldwide, violence against children imposes a significant economic burden due to losses in health, education and productivity.

The authors said the Philippines confronts particularly acute challenges, citing data where about eight in 10 Filipino children have experienced some form of violence.

The study said more recent data indicate six in 10 children are subjected to violent discipline at home.

The authors added that violence also extends beyond the household, saying nearly three in 10 Filipino learners reported being bullied, citing results from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s “Program for International Student Assessment 2022,” contributing to the country’s continued characterization as the “bullying capital of the world.”

Families are first line of defense

Education Secretary Sonny Angara yesterday said families are the first line of defense against school threats and violence, as he asked parents to be active partners in learner protection, values formation and anti-bullying efforts.

“We cannot solve violence in schools if we only act within the classroom. Home is our first defense,” Angara said.

He said families should take an active role in daily learner life and maintain close communication with school authorities.

“Let’s talk to our children every day, let’s listen to what they are going through and let’s communicate with their teachers and schools. We need to learn to notice red flags and changes in a child’s behavior before it even reaches the point of harm or bullying. Let’s make them feel that they are not alone,” Angara added.

The Department of Education issued DepEd Memorandum 002, s. 2026, or the Kaagapay Program, alongside with the Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) Program under Republic Act 11908 amid increase in school violence.

Angara said the Kaagapay Program equips parent communities with practical tools through capacity-building sessions to identify red flags, manage behavioral issues and directly coordinate with school Child Protection Committees and guidance personnel.

He said DepEd is collaborating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to harmonize the PES modules with the Kaagapay Program, targeting full-scale implementation to tackle root causes of violence, including mental health struggles and online safety risks.

DepEd said it will roll out its program on Strengthening Collaboration of Parents and Teachers on Learner Protection across regions, including the Cordillera Administrative Region, Metro Manila, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4-A, Region 4-B and Region 5.

It said the initiative utilizes session guides developed by the DepEd Bureau of Learner Support Services-Learner Rights and Protection Division in partnership with ChildFund Philippines, Stairway Foundation Inc. and Meta Philippines.