A newborn boy who was abandoned in a rubbish bin next to a hospital is now recovering with nurses in the Philippines.

The infant was found crying in a black rubbish bag by hospital staff in Maguindanao del Sur province, early Tuesday morning.

Shocked nurses of Buluan District Hospital said they were inside the building when they heard cat-like cries coming from the hospital's waste disposal area.

When they went to investigate, they were horrified to find the naked baby boy dumped among piles of discarded cans and food containers.

Footage shows hospital workers carefully lifting the filth-covered child from the rubbish, his umbilical cord still attached. He was taken to a medical tent for first aid before being admitted to the neonatal ward for treatment.

Authorities said the boy's mother was later found nearby, allegedly in a dazed state.

In a statement, Buluan town vice mayor King Mangudadatu said the infant, who was named Baby Sulaiman, will continue being monitored at the hospital.

He said: 'By the grace of Allah (SWT), we were able to rescue him immediately and provide him with immediate care, milk, diapers, and all his needs.'

'Currently, Baby Sulaiman is in the custody of the Buluan District Hospital, while the investigation is underway. We will interview the parents to understand the real reason behind this incident.'

Baby abandonment remains common in the Philippines, where widespread poverty, poor family planning and inadequate sex education lead to high cases of unwanted pregnancies. Access to contraception and reproductive healthcare is also limited in the deeply Catholic country.