The Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) led by MSSD Minister Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie conducted a mission in Mapun and Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi from 1-9 July 2022.
Minister Raissa was joined by other members of the Bangsamoro Parliament – Minister Atty. Ubaida Pacasem, CPA of the Ministry of Finance, and Budget and Management (MFBM); Office of MP Anna Tarhata Basman, who also serves as Assistant Cabinet Secretary; MP Marjanie S. Mimbantas Macasalong, PhD of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission; and MP Suharto Mastura Ambolodto.
During the mission, MSSD distributed the grants for the beneficiaries of its various flagship programs:
𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 or the social pension for persons with disabilities (PWDs), aimed to protect them from abuse, neglect, or abandonment;
𝗞𝘂𝗽𝗸𝗼𝗽 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, which provides subsidies for orphaned children for them to have better conditions in life by addressing their basic needs for food, clothing, good health, and education;
𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼: 𝗞𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗼 𝘀𝗮 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻 (𝗔𝗕𝗮𝗞𝗮), which provides financial aid for indigent students to cover school-related expenses such as school supplies, books, school projects, internet/data load, and other related expenses.
MSSD also distributed hygiene kits, dignity kits, and water kits with water purifying tablets, for vulnerable sectors in the two island municipalities.
The Ministry also handed out assistive devices for PWDs, and outdoor play equipment for learners in the day care centers.
MSSD also supported the COVID-19 vaccination drive of the Tawi-Tawi Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) by handing out 10 kg of rice for the residents who received their vaccines.
The activity was done with the support of the local government units of Mapun and Turtle Islands, the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, Marine Battalion Landing Team 12 (MBLT 12), 2nd Marine Brigade and the officers and crew of CPC 390, CPC 393, LC 298, and MPAC.
The island municipality of Mapun is situated at the western part of the Mindanao Peninsula. Mapun is approximately 163 miles northwest of Bongao, the provincial capital of Tawi-Tawi. It is 220 miles west to Zamboanga City and only 69 miles north of Sandakan in Sabah. Mapun is reached by boat during good weather. There is no regular schedule for sea transportation; availability of transport facilities depends on the weather, volume of cargo and number of passengers. (source: https://municipalityofmapun.tripod.com/id1.html)
Turtle Islands is part of the Sulu Archipelago which is composed of approximately 400 islands of varying shapes and sizes. It is located at the southwestern tip of the Philippines. It was proclaimed as Wildlife Sanctuary under Proclamation No. 171 on August 26, 1999 and identified as Extremely High (EH) for biodiversity conservation. It is the only major nesting habitat of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the ASEAN region. (source: https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6008/). Access to the Turtle Islands is difficult, as there are no regular means of transportation to the area.
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