The Philippines comprise a vast island nation in Southeast Asia. This archipelago of more than 7,000 islands boasts sandy beaches, towering mountains and volcanoes, tropical rainforests and an incredible wealth of natural resources and biodiversity. Humans have called these islands home for thousands of years, predating historic records.
Today, the Philippines incorporate a staggering number of languages, ethnic groups, religions and cultures. Despite its status as an emerging market, however, nearly half of all Filipinos still earn less than $2 a day. Adequate sanitation, access to healthcare and access to potable water are still daily challenges in this widely underdeveloped country, which is also prone to typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Despite its status as an emerging market, however, nearly half of all Filipinos still earn less than $2 a day.
Facts about the Philippines
– The Republic of the Philippines is the world’s second-largest archipelago, made up of over 7,100 islands
– The country is divided into three key geographical areas
– Filipino and English are the official languages
– Manila is the capital, and Quezon City is the largest city
– The Philippine Peso is the official currency
– The population is 106,512,074 (2018 est.)
Facts about poverty in the Philippines
- The unemployment rate is 21.6%, and the poverty rate is 5.4% (2018 est.)
- Rural areas in the Philippines show a poverty rate of 36 percent
- Poverty in the Philippines is more persistent than in other countries in Southeast Asia
- Contributors to the poverty rate include vulnerability to shocks and natural disasters, an underdeveloped agricultural sector, high population growth and moderate economic growth
- Most poor families have minimal access to health and education services
- Many families are surviving on less than $2 a day, making it extremely difficult to rise out of poverty and find affordable housing
Where we work in the Philippines
In the Philippines, we affiliate with five affiliated sites: Fortune’s Children Center
in Marikina City, Pinagpala Children’s Center in Tagaytay City, the Visayans Community Center at Bliss in Tacloban, Leyte, the Santo Nino Center in Tacloban, Leyte, and the Cangumbang Center in Tacloban, Leyte.
Read more about our affiliated projects
Expanding Opportunities in the Philippines
How you can help children in the Philippines
You can help a child living in poverty in the Philippines in a few different ways. One way is through our child sponsorship program. Sponsorship provides an underprivileged child with basic and education-related necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare, school supplies, and school tuition payments.
This vital support allows impoverished, vulnerable children to develop to their full potential — physically, emotionally and socially. Sponsors positively impact the lives of the children they sponsor through their knowledge that someone cares about their well-being. This gives children in need hope, which is powerful.
Our policy has always been to consider the needs of each sponsored child on an individual basis. We work closely with our volunteer coordinators at our project sites in the Phillipines who are familiar with each individual circumstance and the needs of every child in their care. Sponsorship donations are sent to our projects — orphanages, homes, community centers and schools — at the beginning of each month in the form of subsidy stipends. Our on-site volunteer coordinators use those funds to purchase items for children in our program, to ensure that they have what they need to do their very best and succeed in school.
SPONSOR A CHILD IN THE PHILIPPINES
You can also help children in the Philippines by donating to one of our special funds. Our special funds offer a variety of giving options for sponsors who wish to further their support, as well as for donors who wish to make a difference without making a commitment. In the past, thanks to donations to our Hope In Action Fund and our International Feeding Program, we have been able to support our projects in the Philippines beyond sponsorship.
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