COTABATO CITY — Two government agencies have fused ranks to push forward a food security program in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Ranking employees of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 12, led by Hajiara L. Pandi and Bangsamoro Labor Minister Muslimin G. Sema, agreed to cooperate in implementing the DSWD’s Walang Gutom Program 2027 in the autonomous region during a dialogue on Tuesday in Cotabato City.
Officials of the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) in BARMM told reporters on Wednesday that they have offices promoting labor sector welfare, employment generation and prevention of child labor that can be aligned with the DSWD-12’s food security thrusts in the autonomous region.
Ms. Pandi said they will connect with the local communities in Cotabato City and other areas in the autonomous region via the MoLE-BARMM and the regional social services ministry.
Launched in July 2024, the Walang Gutom Program 2027, a state food provision initiative is a new DSWD program aimed at decreasing the incidence of hunger among low-income households.
The program, first implemented in administrative regions, provides qualified beneficiaries with periodic P3,000 monetary assistance through an electronic benefit transfer card. — John Felix M. Unson
