Pasali forefronts birth registration of Badjao Children

Pasali and other partner agencies' representatives receiving cases of unregistered Badjao children in Bawing, General Santos City.

To promote children’s right to be afforded birth registration for identity and state citizenship- this has been the thrust of Pasali Philippines Foundation in piloting the First On-site Delayed Birth Registration of 180 school-age Badjao children in Bawing, General Santos City on June 11, 2014.

In partnership with the local officials of the barangay, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and National Statistics Office (NSO), Pasali staff visited the Badjao Communities and provided Certificate of Omnibus to unregistered children. The said document will certify clients’ indigence and thus freed them from financial charges in processing late registration of birth from.

The NGO’s initiative in steering the event was brought about by the multi-sectoral convention for the Strengthening of Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) last March 25, 2014. Sharing common social responsibility, the foundation collaborated with the concerned Government Agencies in the provision of necessary aid to the service communities.

Hon. Jerry Jugarap, Punong Barangay, opened during the BCPC conference that the issue continues to hinder educational opportunities for Badjao children who lack registration to Local Civil Registrar since birth certificate is the first school requirement upon enrolment. Mr. Edgardo Raro, principal of Bawing Elementary School, also added that the lack of pertinent document in school like the birth certificate would hamper the child from pursuing his education until high school.

Furthermore, Hon. Jugarap also stressed that the lack of official identity remains to be the reason why the supposed Badjao recipients cannot avail the cash grants from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) of the DSWD Office.

After the half-day activity, Badjao communities uttered gratitude and appreciation for the joint efforts of the involved Government Agencies and Pasali in reaching out for the protection of the children’s fundamental rights as citizens of the state. The Badjao people are now confident that their children were provided widened opportunities in the delivery of state services.