Minister for Economic Affairs Yokota Naobumi attended the handover ceremony for vehicles, seed grants, and advocacy materials under “The Project for Promoting Digital Birth Registration of Populations at Risk of Statelessness in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)”.
The event was held at the Ministry for Social Services and Development (MSSD) Grounds in Cotabato City, with key officials from the MSSD, Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA–BARMM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Philippines, and UNICEF Philippines in attendance.
The Government of Japan provided a JPY 858 million (approximately USD 5.5 million) grant to support birth registration for Sama Bajaus, unregistered children affected by armed conflict, former combatants, and their families in BARMM.
Implemented by UNHCR over 30 months, the project is expected to directly benefit 130,000 unregistered individuals, while an additional 800,000 are projected to benefit indirectly over the next decade.
As part of the initiative, seven mobile birth registration caravan vehicles were handed over to the MSSD. Additionally, advocacy kits were distributed to youth advocates from Lanao del Sur, who will lead community awareness campaigns on birth registration.
Marking the 70th Anniversary of Friendship between Japan and the Philippines in 2026, Minister Yokota expressed hope that the project would strengthen the bond between the two nations, especially in BARMM. He emphasized, “As we move forward, let us continue to work hand in hand to ensure that no Bangsamoro man, woman, nor child is left behind on the journey toward peace and progress.”