In the midst of deepening socioeconomic challenges, structural barriers to essential services continue to limit opportunities for the Filipino people. 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 supports FMNSAGs’ transition to civilian life and their access to economic opportunities and government social services. Among these, access to healthcare is one of the most immediate and critical needs.
In partnership with PhilHealth, the SOLIDARITY project helps improve access to essential medical services by providing the legal identity documents required for health assistance programs. This financial protection not only safeguards the health of remote communities but also ensures their recognition in government systems.
More than just a document, legal identity becomes a pathway to inclusion for people living on the margins. Here is a story of hope, unfolded in the province of Maguindanao del Norte:
Noria Agao, 34, a mother of five and farmer from Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur,
recently received her children’s birth certificate through the SOLIDARITY project.
For Noria Agao, tilling land they do not own has long been the family’s only source of livelihood. A mother of five and a member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) from Salman, Ampatuan, she works alongside her husband, a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatant. Together, they farm corn to support the schooling of their four children and provide milk for their youngest.
“Hindi kami masyado nakakalabas sa lugar namin dahil wala kaming maipakitang dokumento sa mga sundalo at pulis bilang identity namin noon.” (We didn’t go out much in our area because we had no documents to show the soldiers and police as our identity back then), Noria described, referring to their situation before obtaining legal identity documents through the SOLIDARITY project.
Without legal documents, their access to opportunities and services was severely limited.
“Itong isa kong anak, medyo nagka-edad na siya bago siya nakapag-eskwela dahil wala syang birth [certificate]. ‘Di ko naman siya mapagawan sa labas kasi ang mahal po ng bayad at wala naman akong mapagkukunan.” (One of my children was already a bit older before being able to go to school because he didn’t have a birth [certificate]. I couldn’t have it processed elsewhere because the fees are expensive, and I had no means to pay for them), Noria added.
From the mountains, Noria and her husband made their way down upon learning that a mobile birth registration would be conducted in their area. Their family requested eight authenticated copies of their birth certificates from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), replacing documents lost over years of conflict and displacement.
With their documents secured, Noria described a renewed sense of confidence.
“Kapag may nag-aaya sa akin na may applyan doon ay tinatanong ko po kung ano yung mga requirements na kailangan doon. So sabi nila, yung birth mo mismo, birth ng mga anak mo at mga IDs ninyo. Sabi ko naman meron kami niyan lahat so agad agad ako na pinapa-xerox.” (Whenever someone invites me to apply for something, I ask what the requirements are. They told me they need my birth certificate, the birth certificates of my children, and our IDs. I said we already have all of those, so I immediately had them photocopied), Noria shared. Finally no longer feeling left out brings them a sense of relief.
Birth certificates are also critical in accessing healthcare. Noria recalled a critical moment in her life when she gave birth to her youngest child at Maguindanao Hospital. Having obtained a copy of her birth certificate, she was able to access PhilHealth services, which significantly eased their hospital expenses—helping not only to protect their finances but also safeguarding both her and her child’s health. PhilHealth offers financial protection against costly medical expenses through subsidized patient care, a service that is especially crucial for families living in far-flung areas like Noria’s. Access to health care is not only a fundamental human right but is also closely linked to legal identity.
Legal identity has also opened new opportunities for the family. Her husband was able to receive rice assistance and a ₱3,000 cash aid linked to his birth registration. With a birth certificate as a requirement, he also secured work as a security guard in Davao.
Their children have likewise benefited. With proper documents, they are now able to attend school and receive assistance whenever programs are provided in their school. They have also successfully applied for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as they seek further financial support beyond farming.
“Sobrang importante po nito dahil wala kang patutunguhan sa buhay kung wala kang birth certificate dahil hindi ka ma-recognize na isang Filipino.” (This is very important because you will have no direction in life without a birth certificate since you will not be recognized as a Filipino), she concluded.
For Noria, true peace in the Bangsamoro lies in unity. Without it, pride and power struggles will continue to fuel conflict.
Noria and her family who received birth certificates from 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.