CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — In line with memorandum circular 2011-64 issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), all indigenous people (IP) who are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are advised to avail of the free birth registration covering the current month.

To recall, 4Ps is Government’s poverty alleviation program providing beneficiaries with a monthly stipend which is implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). There are about 142,000 beneficiaries estimated in Central Visayas covering 61 towns and cities.

DSWD-7 regional director Evelyn Macapobre, along with the DILG, National Statistics Office (NSO) 7 officials and the National Commission on Indigenous People launched the free birth registration activity at this city’s Mambaling Sports Complex with Badjao tribe members in the area among the first recipients of said program.

The agency has identified some 131 Badjao families now receiving a monthly stipend from the government and it is estimated that some 790 individuals from these families are without legal documents due to the absence of proper registration.