LAMBAYONG, SULTAN KUDARAT – As the BARMM Government continues to extend its various services to the Bangsamoros living outside its core territories to make sure that they are not left behind, the Ministry of Social Servies and Development (MSSD) distributed 1,889 sacks of rice to indigent families in Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao Occidental on September 10 – 16, 2021.
Each recipient received 25 kilos of rice. Most of the beneficiaries them were fisherfolks, farmers, elderly as well as ustadz and ustdadjas (Muslim religious teachers).
Six hundred indigent beneficiaries received rice assistance in the province of Davao Occidental wherein 300 in Brgy. Patuco, Sarangani Island and 300 in the barangays of Camalian and Sugal, Jose Abad Santos.
Another 300 sacks of rice were given to indigent senior citizens in Brgy. Pangyan, Glan, Sarangani Province also received sacks of rice.
There were also 989 MNLF combatants and disadvantaged senior citizens in Sultan Kudarat Province received rice assistance in which 300 were in Brgy. Nakan, Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat, 389 were in Brgy. Columbio, Sultan Kudarat, and 300 were in New Cebu, Lambayong.
This extension of social intervention from MSSD is pursuant to Article VI, Section 12 of the R.A. 110541 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) which stipulates the “Assistance to Other Bangsamoro Communities”. This particular provision mandates the Bangsamoro government to ensure the protection of rights, provide assistance, and undertake programs for the economic, social, and cultural development of the Bangsamoro people residing in communities outside the BARMM. (Jidday B. Lucman/MSSD BARMM)