11/02/2026
One Basilan, One Identity: Securing Every Child’s Future through Unified Action
RHU Tabuan-Lasa’s Nutritionist-Dietitian II and Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO)-designate, and concurrent Officer-in-Charge Municipal Health Officer, Edison C. Ballaho, RND, actively participated in the Special Meeting convened by Basilan’s People’s Governor, Hon. Mujiv S. Hataman last February 09, 2026 at the Raayat Hall, People's Capitol, Basilan Government Center, Sta. Clara, Lamitan City. The meeting gathered key stakeholders, including Local Civil Registrars (LCRs), Municipal Health Officers (MHOs), Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Statistics Specialists, and MBHTE Schools Division Superintendents, to address pressing concerns regarding learners enrolled in schools without live birth certificates. This issue has significantly affected students’ academic progression from one grade level to another, prompting a coordinated inter-agency response to safeguard the rights and welfare of Basileño children.
During the discussions, emphasis was placed on the legal requirements for securing birth certificates from the PSA, in close coordination with the respective LCRs of each city and municipality across the province. The participants underscored the importance of timely birth registration and clarified procedures, documentary requirements, and available mechanisms to facilitate late registration. The PSA also presented data on projected eligible population versus actual population counts, highlighting discrepancies that impact not only civil registration records but also the reported performance, target coverage, and resource allocation for health and nutrition programs implemented by city and rural health offices.
Mr. Ballaho contributed insights from the perspective of municipal health and nutrition services, stressing the need for strengthened collaboration among health offices, schools, civil registrars, and community leaders to ensure that no child is left undocumented. Proposed ways forward included intensified information campaigns on birth registration, integration of registration assistance in health and nutrition outreach activities, data reconciliation between agencies, and the conduct of mobile registration services in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to harmonize efforts in addressing these emerging concerns, recognizing that accurate civil registration is fundamental to protecting the well-being, rights, and future of every child in Basilan.