Indigenous people enjoy free birth registration
Roxas City -- More members of the indigenous people in Capiz town have now their certificates of live birth.
Mrs. Edalie Segundera, Teacher-In-Charge of Tamulalod Elementary School in Dumarao, Capiz disclosed that the initiative of the local government of said town came after more IP children are enrolling in said school without the birth certificate, which is one of the primary requirements for grade I enrollees.
According to her, the issue of the lack of birth certificates among IP pupils has called the attention of the Parents, Teachers and Community Association (PTCA) of their school, headed by Rogelio Soliman.
The persistence of Segundera to address the problem prodded Mayor Heracleo Benjamin to launch the free birth registration for the "ati" in his town. In addition, the "atis" who were qualified to vote have been registered.
About eight IP marriages were also solemnized by Mayor Benjamin and been issued the necessary legal documents ease the compliance of other requirements of their children for school and employment purposes.
Segundera said that last school year they have about 30 IP children enrolled in grades one to six.
She emphasized that before the free birth registration of IPs, they had problems on complying with the requirements especially during division and provincial athletic competitions, where some of their athletes are IP children.
Meanwhile, IP Chief Captain Salvador Escula expressed thanks to the local government of Dumarao and the school officials for equally recognizing and accepting them.
Escula had also been grateful to the mayor and other officials for providing them their needed help especially on the aspects of health, education and other social services.
The members of the IPs at Mount Tag-ao, barangay Tamulalod, Dumarao reaches some 17 households, posting a total population of about 200. Of said number, more than 70 of them are registered voters, about 30 are elementary school children and more than 30 are below five years old.
Some of the IPs in the said area are already professionals like registered midwife, public school teacher, sea-based overseas worker and religious leaders.
(PIA)