MANILA, Philippines – The Japanese government, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), officially turned over vehicles, a motorboat and advocacy kits with the aim of accelerating information dissemination on the importance of birth registration and to bring this closer to the communities, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The handover ceremony was led by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines ENDO Kazuya, together with Tawi–Tawi Governor Hon. Yshmael Sali, Bangsamoro Minister for Social Services and Development (MSSD) Hon. Raissa Jajurie, UNHCR Philippines Officer-in-Charge Atty. Lindsey Atienza, and various stakeholders for “The Project for Promoting Digital Birth Registration of Populations at Risk of Statelessness in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao” in Bongao, Tawi–Tawi on June 16, 2025, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines said in a news release.
According to the Embassy, the project is part of the JPY 858 (approximately USD 5.5 million) grant “to enhance the facilitation of birth registration of vulnerable populations in BARMM.”
The Embassy also mentioned that the UNHCR is implementing the project and has started providing computer servers to “jumpstart” the project until its conclusion in 2026.
“The project aims to benefit 130,000 unregistered individuals in 50 communities in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, with 800,000 more indirectly benefiting in the next 10 years,” the Embassy stated.
With this, Ambassador Endo expressed “greater confidence in realizing human security that accommodates the region’s diverse people.”
