The Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as chair of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council, with support from the National Authority for Child Care and in partnership with UNICEF, planned a two-day high-level ASEAN forum on child care reform, UNICEF Philippines said in a press release dated September 24, 2026. The forum, scheduled for September 24–25, was to focus on strengthening family care and child protection systems across the region.

According to the release, the forum aimed to discuss ways to prevent unnecessary family separation, ensure quality family-based care when needed, and achieve safe reunification and lasting support arrangements for children separated from their families due to poverty, disability, migration, family stress, emergencies or limited access to social services. It was also to highlight prevention, early intervention, community-based programmes, case management and a skilled social service workforce.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said residential care should be a temporary measure of last resort, while UNICEF Representative to the Philippines Kyungsun Kim said care reform means making practical support accessible and strengthening systems that protect children. The forum was to support the Philippines' 2026 priority on resilient and empowered families, including efforts to reduce reliance on institutional care.