For many remote and vulnerable communities within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the province of Sulu, a birth certificate is more than just a document. It is a symbol of hope, belonging, and a future that was once out of reach. This holds true for some 5,100 individuals who received their birth certificates through the efforts of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and its partners.

The first phase of the Japan-funded Initiative for Promoting Digital Birth Registration, an initiative launched in 2024 led by UNHCR in collaboration with UNICEF and project partners, helped vulnerable communities and registered more than 3,500 individuals from priority municipalities and cities which include Marawi City and the municipalities of Masui and Butig in Lanao Del Sur; the municipality of Maluso in Basilan; the municipalities of Talipao, Luuk, and Omar in Sulu; and the municipalities of Languyan and South Ubian in Tawi-Tawi.

“The support from the Government of Japan for the Initiative for Promoting Digital Birth Registration has been a game-changer for our birth registration efforts,” said UNHCR Philippines Head of National Office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo. “Stronger efforts and partnerships made possible through this generous contribution allows our teams to reach the most vulnerable and ensure that no one is left behind.”

This marks a substantial boost in UNHCR’s ongoing efforts to address statelessness which registered around 1,700 individuals in the same year from Zamboanga City, including under the UNHCR-UNICEF Joint Strategy for Addressing Childhood Statelessness the municipalities of Lamitan, Basilan; Indanan, Sulu; and Simunul, Tawi-Tawi.