Birth certificates for Maranaos are free of charge: legal group

LUMBACA TOROS, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur: Issuance of birth certificates to Indigenous Peoples (IP) including Maranaos in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is free of charge. 

This was said in an interview Sunday morning by Mohammad Rayyan Domado of the Mindanao State University Legal Aid Clinic (MSULAC) and the Initiative for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS). 

Asked if applicant for a birth certificate is required to pay to local civil registrar’s office, Domado told Ranao Star Philippines that issuance of birth certificates to Indigenous Peoples (IP) including Maranaos by the office of the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) is free of charge. 

“May batas po ang ARMM, ang Regional Legislative Act No. 39 (RLA No. 39) na nagsasaad na libre ang birth certificate ng mga IPs tulad ng Maranao” (There is a law (RLA No. 39) that says birth certificate is free to IPs like the Maranaos.), Domado said. 

In this concern, he said that his group has already coordinated and partnered with Madam Rawiya Pangadapun, Marawi City civil registrar. 

It is learned that each applicant in the city is required to pay from Php200 to Php500 each. 

Applicants for registration of birth certificates are advised not to pay any amount collected for issuance of birth certificates if they are being asked to. 

MSULAC and IDEALS is committed to help extend legal services to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) or evacuees and other marginalized sectors. 

“As far as the Marawi siege is concerned,” Domado said, “their primary problem is the loss of their legal identity and legal documents and we will help them secure new documents like Identification Cards, Birth Certificates and land documents.” - RSP