Bajaus finally get birth certificates

SOME 287 Sama Bajaus have finally received their birth certificates through the efforts of the Bongao local government in Tawi-Tawi province, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

The Sama Bajaus form one of the State-identified populations at risk of statelessness in the country and because of their itinerant way of living and generations of non-registration among families, they face documentation issues, which in turn puts them at risk of statelessness.

Through the 2019 UNHCR-UNICEF Joint Strategy for Addressing Childhood Statelessness, both UN agencies supported the local government unit Zamboanga City in piloting birth registration for Sama Bajaus. And in 2021, the project expanded to reach Sama Bajaus in Tawi-Tawi following an assessment conducted in 2019 led by the Geneva-based Joint IDP Profiling Services and UNHCR, which found the prevalence of non-registration of birth among respondents in Bongao.

Sama Bajau children and families who are not registered at birth are excluded from the conditional cash transfer program, have limited access to other social services, and become limited in their movement. Most of the Sama Bajaus in Bongao are also internally displaced due to natural disasters, further heightening their level of vulnerability.

The 2019 exercise, which was conducted in collaboration with key government agencies from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, civil society organizations, and other UN agencies. Because they lack awareness on the importance of birth registration, have limited finances, and are unfamiliar about the process, some Sama Bajaus have not been able to register their birth. Cases of multiple birth registration also surfaced as a concern, posing difficulties for the Local Civil Registrar in reconciling its records.

The village of Lamion in Bongao was identified as a pilot community in coordination with key officials of the municipal government. In response to the report’s finding that health workers play a vital role in transmitting health-related information among Sama Bajau communities, the birth registration activities were conducted with the active participation of health workers in Lamion.

Staff from the Bongao LCR and members of U-Report Philippines from Tau-Social Peace Advocate of Real Tawi-Tawian Active Network, KAKASIE, Youth Volunteer Organization and Simunul Youth Guild, Path for Peace and Nutrieskwela Radyo Kasannangan were also trained on birth registration and advocacy ahead of the rollout.

Created by UNICEF, U-Report is a social messaging tool and data collection system to improve adolescent and youth citizen engagement, inform leaders, and foster positive change. The youth volunteers will spearhead the conduct of community-based advocacy on birth registration targeting parents, caregivers, government officials and decision-makers in Bongao.

UNHCR also provided support to the digitization process of the Bongao Local Civil Registry through the provision of ICT equipment and establishment of a database system to address the issue of multiple birth registration.

“We extend our sincerest appreciation to the municipality of Bongao for its leadership and commitment to the birth registration of Sama Bajaus, a population facing double vulnerability since they are also internally displaced in addition to being at risk of statelessness. We also extend our appreciation to partners from the government as well as civil society organizations for the success of this endeavour,” said Maria Ermina Gallardo, Head of National Office of UNHCR Philippines. 

“We will continue to work with partner agencies such as UNICEF to ensure the protection of Sama Bajaus through their access to documentation. Our efforts are in line with the Philippine Development Plan, the National Action Plan to End Statelessness by 2024, and the 2030 Agenda of leaving no one behind,” she added. (Malou Cablinda)