"Our children are the hope of our motherland," or so we say.
These words remain hollow when children are brought into a world that denies them dignity. In recent weeks, news of child commodification has been reported across the Philippines; infants have been sold through informal networks, often by parents driven by extreme circumstance.¹ In the same month that observes “National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation”, these cases stands as an unsettling eye-opener.
Established through Presidential Proclamation No. 731 and observed in the second week of February, the observance also known as "Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Week” (CSAAW) calls for a collective action in safeguarding children through education and inclusive policies.² However, a problematic gap persists: while perpetrators are condemned and victims are guided towards healing, far less attention is provided in addressing conditions that force children to vulnerability. As such, our advocacies should also prevent tragedies before they happen.
Since 2024, Philippine authorities have documented a surge in cases of individuals selling infants online, most recently this February when parents in Bulacan were arrested after trying to sell their 12‑day‑old baby.³ The Commission of Human Rights (CHR) notes that poverty is the most common reason of these actions.⁴ While such conducts are crimes under Republic Act No. 9208, No. 10364 and No. 11642,⁵⁶⁷ reported cases only represent the surface of the situation. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) uncovers undocumented cases annually as they rescue thousands of victims through their ‘Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons’ (RRPTP).⁸ Despite existing advocacies, the problem continues because its root causes remain unaddressed: poverty, inadequate social support, stigmatized sex education, and limited reproductive autonomy.
Research shows that when families lack universal access to healthcare, livelihood support and proper reproductive information, people are forced into survival-based mechanisms that compromises bodily autonomy, leaving children more vulnerable to exploitation and coercion.⁹ When these crises are met with judgement rather than understanding, parents are driven to desperate choices and children are put into heightened risks. As such, reproductive justice is indispensable for child protection as a preventive framework; providing individuals the bodily right of autonomy is as important as socially supporting people. Studies note that the consideration of these conditions allow children to be born into stable environments¹⁰ by prioritizing systems that enable families to thrive. Our society should be committed to distributing justice and bodily autonomy regardless of privilege.
The Philippines is constitutionally tasked to protect the sanctity of family life, equally protecting both the mother and unborn child, as stipulated in Article 2, Section 12 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.¹¹ In pursuit of this, the government has implemented family planning programs and sexual health initiatives, yet significant gaps still exist as over 10 million Filipinos still have unmet reproductive needs.¹² Additionally, abortion also remains criminalized, forcing women to unsafe, illegal methods to escape unintended pregnancies. Research shows that the pregnancy termination rate of the Philippines is nearly 13%, comparable to the 13.3% global average in 2023,¹³ with cases of pregnancy termination decreasing as wealth and educational attainment rise, but increases as family size grows.¹⁴ Globally, The World Health Organization (WHO) noted how adolescents aged 15 to 19 in low and middle-income countries face an estimated 21 million pregnancies each year, 50% being unintended and of the half, 55% end in abortion.¹⁵ This shows how circumstances shape decisions, and should be addressed to not force women are into danger.
Critics may argue that abstinence, family planning and adoption suffice as solutions. However, such arguments does not fully account contraceptive failure, unequal welfare support and victims of sexual violence. Survivors, especially children, should not be forced to carry the burden of abuse inflicted upon them. Adoption may be viable for some, but for adolescents, pregnancy means dropping out of school, comprising their future and enduring lifelong stigma. While abortion is far from being accepted since there are laws to uphold, it must be noted as means for providing options so that families are ready for parenthood and not burdened, especially sexual abuse survivors and minors. Nevertheless, women should not be shamed for exercising bodily autonomy and reproductive health, nor should they be forced into danger. We should be open to developments that ensure that the determinants exposing children to exploitation and abuse are abolished, not reinforced.
Advocating for reproductive justice does not negate the importance of accountability; parents must still be held responsible and apprehended for cases such as children commodification. Reproductive justice does not forsake the value of life, rather, it asserts that life should be considered not only by birth but also by dignity; children should be born in a world that supports their liberty. The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) notes that globally, countries have have seen declines in unintended pregnancies after expanding access to reproductive healthcare and strengthened sex education, but more action is needed to resolve the problem.¹⁶ The observance of CSAAW is not limited to raise awareness but also to discuss solutions; prevention, by definition, is safeguarding and guiding our people away from exploitation and sexual abuse. As such, regardless of varying insights, may we all move forward in solidarity to protect the future of our motherland.
In being proud of advocating for life, we should not ignore systems that deny stability, safety and dignity. In an evolving society, traditions should be paired with inclusive solutions—including "taboos". If our mission is to protect the next generation, then tragedies should be prevented before they happen.Until we also recognize that reproductive rights are child rights, our generation will still risk being vulnerable. Preventing child sexual abuse and exploitation starts with reproductive justice; universal healthcare, social support, and comprehensive sex education programs are essential defenses against infant commodification. We should empower families with informed choices, equip children to assert boundaries, and unite Filipinos in collective courage to confront the unsettling. Anything less is complicit.
Written by Judge David P. Asuncion, Insight PH
Judge David P. Asuncion, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
