Press Releases
Signing and Exchange of Notes Concerning Grant Aid “The Project for Promoting Digital Birth Registration of Populations at risk of Statelessness in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao” to the Republic of the Philippines
On June 11, in Manila, the capital of the Republic of the Philippines, Mr. ENDO Kazuya, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of the Philippines, and Ms. Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo, Head of National Office, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Philippines, signed and exchanged notes concerning the grant aid project for Promoting Digital Birth Registration of Populations at risk of Statelessness in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (grant provision of 858 million yen).
- The Bangsamoro Muslim Mindanao Autonomous Region in the southern Philippines has fallen behind in socio-economic development due to the effects of the long-standing conflict, and is in a state of serious poverty, particularly among internally displaced persons, former combatants and local ethnic minorities. A particular challenge is the lack of access to basic education, social insurance, and other administrative services for those most in need, due to the lack of progress in birth registration.
- This project provides the equipment necessary for digital birth registration and technical assistance to local government officials responsible for birth registration. It will also conduct awareness-raising activities on birth registration among the population in areas where birth registration is not progressed. Through these supports, it is expected to promote birth registration in the Bangsamoro Muslim Mindanao Autonomous Region, thereby contributing to peace and development in Mindanao through the protection of the fundamental rights of the people in the region and social stabilization.
The Republic of the Philippines has an area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers (approximately 80% of the Japan’s area), a population of about 115.56 million people (2022, World Bank), and a gross national income (GNI) per capita is 3,950 USD (2022, World Bank).