DSWD-12 livelihood aid benefits 1.5K BARMM indigent families

By Edwin Fernandez

**NO BARRIER.** Department of Social Welfare and Development–Soccsksargen (DSWD-12) Director Loreto Cabaya (with mic) assures residents of the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) that DSWD recognizes no boundary in bringing the government services closer to the people. Cabaya led Monday (Feb. 13, 2023) the distribution of PHP300,000 each to three BARMM Sustainable Livelihood Associations in North Cotabato province. (Photo courtesy of DSWD-12)

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato: At least 1,500 families have benefited from the livelihood grants intended for Sustainable Livelihood Associations (SLA), an official said Tuesday.

DSWD-Soccsksargen (DSWD-12) Director Loreto Cabaya led Monday the distribution of SLA grants in the villages of North Cotabato province that joined the expanded Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) four years ago.

In a statement, Cabaya said the BARMM SLAs in Aleosan and Midsayap towns in North Cotabato got PHP300,000 each. The three SLAs have an estimated 1,500 indigent families as members.

They are beneficiaries of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA), a peace and development framework in conflict-vulnerable and armed-conflict areas that are now part of BARMM and called Special Geographic Area (SGA-BARMM).

The distribution of livelihood aid coincided with the opening of the Special Geographic Area and Development Authority (SGADA-BARMM) in Midsayap.

SGADA Administrator Butch Malang lauded the DSWD-12 for the financial assistance.

“We recognize no boundary, disaster or no disaster as long as government services reach the people in need,” Cabaya said.

The distribution of aid for SLAs came two days after the DSWD-12 partnered with the Philippine Carabao Center of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), the National Dairy Authority, and local government units for a 120-day milk feeding program.

The program will benefit more than 4,000 children and women in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, North Cotabato and Sarangani.

The milk feeding program is expected to benefit at least 1,594 undernourished children and 2,592 undernourished women earlier identified to be under the program. The USM Philippine Carabao center will supply the milk for the program, according to DSWD-12. (PNA)