CRC/C/15/Add.259 page 7 Respect for the views of the child 29. The Committee notes that some of the State party’s domestic laws, rules and regulations explicitly respect the consent and views of the child, for example in judicial and administrative proceedings and that the State party has promoted the participation of children, inter alia, through the National Youth Parliament (Republic Act No. 8044) and student councils. Despite these positive steps, the Committee is of the view that children’s right to participation and free expression of their views is still limited in the State party, partly due to traditional attitudes in society. 30. In the light of article 12 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Strengthen its efforts to promote, within the family, schools and other institutions, respect for the views of the child and facilitate their interactive participation in all matters affecting them, inter alia, through children’s and youth councils, forums, parliaments, etc., while paying special attention to vulnerable groups of children; (b) Undertake awareness-raising campaigns on children’s right to be heard and participate by encouraging children and their parents, caregivers and professionals working with and for children to seek and increase children’s opportunities to influence issues concerning them. 31. The Committee notes with appreciation the activities of the child helpline “Bantay Bata 163”, which is an important instrument for children to express their concerns and views and seek help and advice. However, the Committee is concerned at the fact that the helpline is only accessible to children living in the capital region and its expansion to the rural areas of the country lacks core funding. 32. The Committee recommends that the State party support the expansion of “Bantay Bata 163” child helpline by making it nationally accessible and toll-free and providing it with adequate human, technical and financial resources. As regards awareness of the helpline among children, the Committee recommends that the State party include information about the helpline in its child-related programmes. 3. Civil rights and freedoms Birth registration 33. While noting the estimated increase in the birth registration rate and the measures taken by the State party in this respect, including the Unregistered Children Project conducted in collaboration with PLAN International and the National Statistics Office, the Committee remains concerned at the difficulties in ensuring timely birth registration of children, in particular children belonging to religious or other minority groups or indigenous peoples and children living in the remote areas of the country and at the fact that birth registration is not free of charge and not equally accessible to all parents in the entire territory of the State party. The Committee also expresses its concern about the simulation of birth certificates.