In the midst of deepening socioeconomic challenges, structural barriers to essential services continue to limit opportunities for many Filipinos. The marginalized, vulnerable, and those without legal recognition—often living in geographically isolated and conflict-affected areas—are left behind.
The Strengthening Legal Identity to Advance Rights and Inclusivity (SOLIDARITY) Project, supported by Misereor and implemented by IDEALS (Initiatives for Dialogue and Alternative Legal Services), provides free birth registration assistance to Former Members of Non-State Armed Groups (FMNSAGs), their families, and conflict-affected communities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The project addresses the risk of statelessness caused by intergenerational non-registration of birth, years of prolonged mobility, and other sociopolitical barriers to civil registration.
By strengthening legal identity, the project expands access to socioeconomic opportunities and supports communities in their transition to civilian life, including Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) combatants. With the MNLF’s active support, combatants and their families are better able to navigate the shift from armed struggle to peaceful civic life. Securing legal documents allows them to claim their rights as Filipino citizens, while also advancing their movement’s broader vision of sustainable peace and inclusive social development.
More than just a document, legal identity becomes a gateway to recognition, rights, and everyday life for people living on the margins. Here is a story of hope, unfolded in the province of Maguindanao del Norte:
Harris Abedin, 63, from Brgy. Montay, Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte, is a longtime member of the MNLF community who recently received his birth certificate through the SOLIDARITY project.
Back then, a birth certificate was not considered necessary. This is how Harris Abedin, a 63-year-old 6th MA Commander of the MNLF, began his story.
At 14, Harris first held a gun and committed himself to the Moro struggle in southern Philippines. “Lahat ng ating mga kilos, mga Moro, ay tinatago. Hindi pa tayo masyado nakaka-legal, hindi pa masyado nakakalabas.” (All our actions as Moro people had to remain hidden. We were not yet legal, we could not freely go out), he said.
For their safety, they avoided identification documents which could expose them. In the 1970s and 1980s, legal identity was seen as a risk rather than a right.
“Medyo peaceful na yung area natin kasi andyan na yung kasunduan.” (Our area is somewhat peaceful now because the agreement is already in place), Harris shared, referring to the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the Philippine government and the MNLF.
With peace efforts underway, MNLF combatants gradually reintegrated into society through the MNLF Transformation Program. Yet this transition brought new challenges: without birth certificates, many struggled with job applications, school enrollment, and even access to government social services.
Change came through Harris’ son, Joher Abedin, who was a student intern at IDEALS. He informed their family about a mobile birth registration activity in their community. Barangay Montay, Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte, is a 2-hour drive away from Cotabato City and 30-minute boat ride along the Tamontaka river basin.
The Montay Local Government Unit (LGU), including the barangays and MNLF camp commanders, fully supported the implementation of the project and even availed themselves of the services offered. For them, the project initiative is an important step in their transformation process.
The Abedin family requested a total of 23 birth registration applications, seven Certificates of Live Birth (COLBs) and 16 Security Papers (SecPas), through the SOLIDARITY project. These documents soon made a tangible difference to their lives.
The distributed documents were eventually used for their children’s school enrollment, driver’s license renewal, and even for fixing issues with their cash card. Significantly, the family was able to apply to the Food Stamp Program (FSP) or the “Walang Gutom Program” of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which provides financial aid and job support among the Filipinos to address involuntary hunger, malnutrition, and stunting.
Upon receiving his documents, Harris was finally able to register as a senior citizen and now enjoys the benefits. Meanwhile, Joher secured a scholarship from the MNLF through the transformation efforts supported by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU). Through the program, Joher receives a semestral stipend that helps ease his family’s burden in paying for his school expenses.
“Para sa akin kasi gusto lahat ng anak ko at pati ako ay makapag-rehistro kasi pag may mga programa o services sa gobyerno ‘yan ang kailangan nila na requirements. At isa rin sa katunayan na tayo ay Pilipino.” (For me, I want all my children and even myself to be registered because when there are government programs or services, that is one of the requirements. It is also proof that we are Filipinos), Harris concluded.
With his strong value for peace and Filipino identity, Harris expresses trust in the government and social institutions to help maintain peace in the region.
Harris Abedin and his wife, holding six birth certificate copies availed through the SOLIDARITY Project.
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The Strengthening Legal Identity to Advance Rights and Inclusivity (SOLIDARITY) Project is supported by Misereor and implemented by IDEALS (Initiatives for Dialogue and Alternative Legal Services). This initiative supports communities to have strengthened legal identity and access to socioeconomic services to Former Members of Non-State Armed Groups (FMNSAGs), their families, and conflict-affected communities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The project provides free birth registration to identified communities, linking them to government services such as PhilHealth and educational assistance, while also assisting former combatants with amnesty applications to support their reintegration and access to socioeconomic benefits. As of this writing, the project has successfully registered 4,739 individuals under Misereor’s support.