We've been working in the Philippines since 1981, running programmes in humanitarian response, health and nutrition, education, and children's rights and protection.
Updated June 2026
Why children in the Philippines need our help
The Philippines is ranked the world's most disaster-prone country. Around 33.6% of its population are children - which means when disaster strikes, children bear the heaviest burden.
Typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and flooding hit the country regularly and often in rapid succession. In late 2025, two deadly typhoons - Kalmaegi and Fung-wong - battered the country within a single week, killing around 200 people including babies and children, displacing an estimated 470,000 children, and forcing school suspensions across the country. Families that had not yet recovered from the September 2025 earthquake in Cebu - which measured 6.9 in magnitude and destroyed or damaged 72,000 homes - found themselves displaced once again.
Then on Monday 8 June 2026, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani province in southern Mindanao - the strongest to hit the country since 1990. Tsunami waves hit nearby coasts and schools were closed across the region on what was due to be the first day of the school year, affecting an estimated 3.2 million students.
Save the Children is preparing to respond.
After the 2025 Tropical Storm Wipha, Tin*, 10, misses going to school and seeing her classmates. “Instead of studying, I’m playing here at our school,” she said, when their school in Caloocan City was turned into an evacuation centre in 2025. She said she feels sad whenever it rains, afraid their area will flood again.
Tin (10) holds eggs laid by hens on her sustainable farm
How we're helping
When disasters hit, our teams move fast. After the September 2025 Cebu earthquake, our staff and volunteers loaded hygiene kits and emergency supplies onto trucks and began distributing them within days. In Bogo City, our team checked on children in hospitals and communities, many of whom were sheltering in open spaces or makeshift tents because their homes were unsafe.
When flooding driven by Tropical Storm Wipha hit communities in Cavite Province, our staff waded through floodwaters to reach families and carry out rapid assessments. We distributed hygiene kits to 184 families, each containing towels, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, laundry soap, nail cutters, a pail, a dipper and sanitary pads - essentials for preventing disease in flood-affected areas.
After the 2025 flooding in Caloocan City forced schools to become evacuation centres, we distributed back-to-school kits to help children like 10-year-old Tin* feel prepared and confident to return to class. "Instead of studying, I'm playing here at our school," Tin said. She said she feels sad whenever it rains, afraid their area will flood again.
Beyond emergencies, we also work on longer-term issues. In Quezon province, we've been supporting egg farming families by providing chickens, training to build climate-resilient coops and guidance on selling and cooking eggs. As a result, families are earning more and children are getting the nutrition they need to thrive.
We also work with adolescents on sexual and reproductive health, helping young people access the information and services they need to stay healthy and make informed decisions about their lives.
Frequently asked questions
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Does Save the Children work in the Philippines?
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Yes. Save the Children has been working in the Philippines since 1981. We run programmes in humanitarian response, health and nutrition, education, and children's rights and protection. When disasters strike, our teams respond rapidly to reach children and families with emergency supplies, clean water, hygiene kits and psychosocial support.
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How is Save the Children responding to the Philippines earthquake in June 2026?
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A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Mindanao on Monday 8 June 2026 - the strongest to hit the Philippines since 1990. At least 19 people were killed and more than 200 injured. Save the Children is preparing to respond. We have experience of rapid earthquake response in the Philippines, including the Cebu earthquake in September 2025, when our teams distributed hygiene kits and carried out community assessments within days of the disaster.
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Why is the Philippines so vulnerable to natural disasters?
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The Philippines sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and lies in a major typhoon belt. It is ranked the world's most disaster-prone country by the WorldRisk Report, facing earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and flooding throughout the year. Climate change is intensifying typhoon strength, compounding the risks for children and families.
*Name changed to protect identity
