DSWD starts IP free birth registration

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has launched the free birth registration for indigenous peoples (IPs) that would pave the way for their inclusion in the social protection programs of the government.

DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo recently signed a memorandum of agreement with concerned government agencies during a ceremony held at the DSWD central office in Quezon City last week.

The inter-agency national indigenous peoples birth registration project will ensure that all IPs will have birth certificates.

Aside from Tulfo, the agreement was signed by representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The project will be implemented nationwide to increase civil registration in marginalized communities, particularly those in the indigenous cultural communities (ICCs), Muslim-Filipinos and the poor.

“This project will not only include the IPs in the national registry of birth, but will tap them in building and fostering relationships between their communities and the government,” Tulfo said.