DAVAO CITY, Philippines — While there have been “significant gains” in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), a high-ranking UNICEF official warned that many children in the region are still being left behind by development.
Kyungsun Kim, UNICEF Representative to the Philippines, highlighted these concerns during the 5th Bangsamoro International Development Partners Forum (BIDPF), noting that BARMM continues to lag behind most national social sector indicators.
Key Statistics & Challenges:
- Education: One in three children in the region is unable to attend school, particularly those in remote or impoverished communities.
- Malnutrition: Over one in three children remains chronically malnourished (stunted), which UNICEF warns undermines brain development and lifelong productivity.
- Health: Only 50% of children are fully immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases, leaving the population vulnerable to outbreaks.
- Poverty: Approximately 40% of children live in poverty, with many facing “multidimensional deprivation” based on ethnicity, disability, and income.
Signs of Progress:
Despite the dire statistics, Kim noted that focused investments are yielding results:
- School Enrollment: Increased by 17% since 2023.
- Poverty Reduction: Child poverty has dropped from over 60% in 2019 to roughly 40% today.
- Malnutrition Improvement: Chronic malnutrition fell from 45% in 2015 to 34% in 2023.
The Call to Action
Kim emphasized that for the young BARMM government, investing in children is the “highest return pathway” to achieving economic growth and lasting peace. She urged international and national partners to sustain their collective efforts to ensure Bangsamoro children receive the same opportunities as those in the rest of the Philippines.