24 November 2023 – SITANGKAI, TAWI-TAWI. Philippine Statistics Authority Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PSA BARMM) has undertaken an extraordinary mission in collaboration with the Philippine Navy, Jade Badjao Learning Center, Inc. (JBLCI) in the underprivileged Badjao community residing in Panggungan Island and Panitayan Floating Village in Tawi-Tawi. This two-day collective effort has yielded significant results, with the successful registration of 384 Badjaos through the PhilSys Birth Registration Assistant Project (PBRAP), accompanied by 190 National ID registrations and on-site issuance of 38 EPhil IDs in Panggungan Island.

Panggungan Island, a part of the Municipality of Sitangkai in Tawi-Tawi, stands as the lone Philippine Island among the group of islands situated in Tungku Bay, Sabah Malaysia, while Panitayan is the last floating village in the southernmost frontier. Predominantly inhabited by the Badjao community, the residents of Panggungan Island and Panitayan have faced security and economic challenges, including limited access to essential government services, no legal identities, and no identification documentation.

The collaborative effort between the PSABARMM, Philippine Navy, JBLCI, sought to address these challenges head-on, delivering transformative services directly to the community. Through PBRAP initiative, 384 Badjao individuals have now been officially registered, and through the Philippine National ID system, 190 were registered, and 38 were issued on-site EPhil IDs, ensuring that members of the Badjao community in Pangungan Island now possess a recognized and government-sanctioned form of identification, providing them with a vital gateway to various government services and programs.

This achievement is an initial step towards saturating PSA access to every Badjao in the region and an important step towards enhancing the social inclusion and overall well-being of the residents, particularly the Badjao communities, opening up opportunities for education, healthcare, and employment. PSA-BARMM, on its part, is committed to leaving no community behind, and the efforts in Panggungan Island and Panitayan floating village are manifestations of their dedication to reaching the farthest corners of BARMM.

The initiative of PSA-BARMM to collaborate with stakeholders who share similar advocacy has not only registered individuals but has also provided them with a tangible means of identification, empowering them to access the services they need. The success underscores the impact of collaborative efforts on underserved communities, emphasizing the need to extend government services to all Filipinos, irrespective of location.

PSA-BARMM is dedicated to inclusivity, planning an accessible access window on the island to provide not only Panggungan Island and Panitayan residents but also other island and floating communities with equitable access to PSA services, contributing to BARMM's journey towards inclusive growth.

ENGR. AKAN G TULA

OIC-Regional Director