An abandoned baby girl covered in ants was found alive next to a villager's house on Christmas Eve.

The newborn still had her umbilical cord attached and was without clothing when she was found by resident Ryan Enorio Lampedario, who heard her crying under a tree in South Cotabato province, the Philippines, on December 24.

Footage shows the youngster lying face down on the ground among scattered dried leaves. She was covered in soil and insects, with the cord attached to a placenta beside her.

She was rushed to the hospital and cleaned while authorities were informed about the incident.

Ryan said: ‘I woke up early in the morning to prepare breakfast when I heard a baby crying outside my house. I was shcoked that it was a little baby. She looked so helpless and fragile.

'I recorded her so I could show where she was found and the condition she was in, then I immediately called my neighbours and the police for help.'

At the hospital, the newborn was given a health check by medics, and the umbilical cord was cut off.

Footage shows the baby girl asleep in the hospital bed with an IV line attached to her right hand after being cleaned off.

Ryan said the police found the baby's family, but the youngster was turned over to the social welfare department during the investigation.

He added: ‘The baby's family and mother were found, but she was taken to the Department of Social Welfare and Development in our province. That's all I know so far.'

Police said the baby would remain in government care while they investigated the incident with the family.