When it comes to making informed decisions, having the right data on hand is critical. Policy-makers, especially those in government, need to access data that can be used to formulate the most viable solutions. Journalists, researchers, and those in the academe also need a data resource that is both reliable and accurate.
In the Philippines, there is a vast amount of data on children compared to other countries. While there’s a lot of data available, there is also a challenge when it comes to accessing that data as well as ensuring that it is reliable, accurate, and updated. As a global organization, UNICEF is an established source of data on children that is accessed by over three million people.
To ensure that every child in the Philippines is accounted for, UNICEF has launched a new publicly-accessible data portal called The Situation of Children – Philippines. To bring this portal online, UNICEF has partnered with the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and the Philippine Statistics Authority. This portal contains six main sections called dimensions (Survive and Thrive, Learn, Protection, Safe and Sustainable Environment, Equitable Life Opportunities, and Civil and Participation Rights). Each dimension, and sub-dimension has data on important areas such as health, education, child protection systems, disaster risks, child poverty, right to privacy to name a few.
The portal contains over 80 key indicators, 500 data visualizations and more than 400 pages of material. Some of the data extends as far as 1983, with the most recent data covering up to 2023. Along with comprehensive analysis, users can also access key progress, indicators, legislation, policy, equity and risk, and relevant publications.
On the portal, users can access a very recent 2024 document called The Situation Analysis of Children in the Philippines which offers insights derived from an analysis of the latest data and evidence on “the progress as well as challenges in the protection and realization of the rights of children in the country”. Another key document available on the portal is the Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child (LCSFC) which tracks the lives of 5000 Filipino children along with their households and communities. This 15-year study began in 2016 when the children were at age 10. The study will continue until the year 2030 when they reach the age of 24.
In his message to journalists during the launch of the portal last October 21, held at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas, Behzad Noubar, UNICEF Philippines Deputy Representative for Programme said: “We know that data and evidence drive your stories, your stories are more powerful. They speak to your audiences when they’re based on evidence.”
