This article explores the child protection actors, processes and child maltreatment issues in a regional Local Government Unit in the Philippines. Utilising a qualitative case study design, it engages with 14 young people with histories of child maltreatment and 13 key child protection actors, exploring their views and experiences of child protection actions, processes and outcomes. The findings highlight informal community-based actors, including neighbours, family, friends and non-government organisations in initial responses to child maltreatment, compared to formal child protection actors, who respond to severe maltreatment utilising a legal framework. Actors are constrained by limited government capacity and community reach, revealing misalignment between formal child protection activities and breadth of risks for children. Non-government organisations assist child protection efforts through the provision of residential care. Policy recommendations include strengthening relationships between formal actors and communities, expanding early intervention activities, and developing the capacity of community-based child protection actors.

中文翻译：

---

菲律宾的地方儿童保护：针对儿童的行为者、流程和主要风险的案例研究

本文探讨了菲律宾地区地方政府部门的儿童保护行为者、流程和虐待儿童问题。利用定性案例研究设计，它与 14 名有虐待儿童历史的年轻人和 13 名主要儿童保护行为者进行接触，探讨他们对儿童保护行动、过程和结果的看法和经验。与利用法律框架应对严重虐待的正式儿童保护行为者相比，调查结果突出了非正式的社区行为者，包括邻居、家人、朋友和非政府组织对虐待儿童的初步反应。行动者受到有限的政府能力和社区影响力的限制，揭示了正式的儿童保护活动与儿童风险的广度之间的错位。非政府组织通过提供住宿照顾来协助儿童保护工作。政策建议包括加强正式行动者与社区之间的关系、扩大早期干预活动以及发展社区儿童保护行动者的能力。