32,246 PWDs, 31 centenarians, receive financial aid from BARMM in 2023

COTABATO CITY — At least 32,246 persons with disability received an initial P6,000 grant each from the Bangsamoro region’s Ministry of Social Services and Development in 2023.

The ministry is now targeting to reach out to more potential beneficiaries this year.

Local executives in the six provinces and three cities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, among them mayors in Basilan and in Maguindanao del Norte, told reporters on Sunday that the MSSD-BARMM had also provided last year 35,113 marginalized families with livelihood support and skills training and educational subsidy via its Unlad Pamilyang Bangsamoro Program.

“We shall help expand these programs in our province, as planned by the MSSD, via technical and manpower support from our local government units,” Basilan Gov. Hadjiman Salliman said on Sunday.

Forty-six-year-old Maranaw PWD, Monder Sarmin Akil, whose lower limbs are deformed since birth, said that he is thankful for the MSSD-BARMM’s subsidy and is looking forward to the expansion of the program in far-flung areas in Lanao del Sur.   

“We supported the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and now we are benefiting from the BARMM government, created as a result of that peace process,” another PWD, Mursiba Salik Ansar, an ethnic Maguindanaon, said in Filipino.

Yearend reports obtained from the provincial offices of the MSSD-BARMM indicate that the ministry had also responded to requests for emergency assistance by 216,028 residents in the region in 2023, mostly channeled through local government units.

Jidday Buat Lucman, a senior staff of MSSD-BARMM’s regional information and communications office, said on Sunday that their minister, Raissa Jajurie, is thankful to the LGU officials in the Bangsamoro region for helping oversee the implementation of their projects for their needy constituents.

“We are confident that MSSD-BARMM can serve more people in 2024 with their support,” Lucman said.

Lucman said a total of 31 centenarians in different parts of BARMM also received P100,000 each from MSSD-BARMM from in dole out activities from January to December 2023.