PRESIDENT Marcos led the distribution of over P3.4 billion worth of assistance to beneficiaries to in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as part of the national and regional governments’ efforts to ensure nationwide inclusive development.
The Chief Eexecutive said the rollout of the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang (BBM) Program and the Bangsamoro Government Convergence Program aims ‘to foster mutual trust and shared responsibility between the national and BARMM government.’
At least a thousand people benefitted from the programs.
‘The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the National Government of the Republic of the Philippines are advancing a shared vision of a more peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive Philippines, guided by the belief that the strength of our nation rests on the well-being and the dignity of every Filipino,’ Marcos said in his speech at the event held at Camp Brig. Gen. Gonzalo Siongco, the headquarters of the Army’s Sixth Infantry ‘Kampilan’ Division, in Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, on Wednesday.
Among those who attended the event, were BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, Bangsamoro Transition Authority Speaker Mohammad Yacob, and BARMM Ministry of the Interior and Local Government Minister Jordan Bayam.
Under the Bangsamoro Government Convergence Program, the Bangsamoro government released P2.9 billion, to make essential services within its jurisdiction more accessible.
Of the said amount from the Bangsamoro Government, P100 million came from its MILG for the disaster relief and recovery initiatives of the local governments (LGU) of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi.
Other BARMM ministries that participated in the distribution event are those of Labor and Employment, that released P150 million for the Bangsamoro Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (BTupad) assistance and P15.7 million Reintegration Program for Balik Bangsamoro Hanap Trabaho program; of Trade, Investments and Tourism, that distributed P64 million for the tourism parks; and of Human Settlements and Development that gave P38.8 million for 50 resettlement housing units.
The BARMM-Unified Program Management Office came out with P1 billion worth of livelihood and socioeconomic assistance for former combatants of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (Biaf) and Bangsamoro Islamic Women Auxiliary Brigade (Biwab), as well as widows of war, and orphans of war.
BARMM’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications released P18.7 million for its Pantawid Pasada Fuel Subsidy cash cards; the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education released P883 million worth of learners’ kits, teachers’ kits, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training scholarship training allowances;
The Ministry of Science and Technology distributed P14.9 million worth of Science and Technology (SandT) educational grants and cash assistance to Mujahideen Assistance for Science Education (Mase) and Professional Assistance for Science Education (Pase) grantees; and the Ministry of Social Services and Development provided P687 million worth of financial subsidies and emergency assistance to indigent Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), individuals in crisis situations, and orphan children.
The Ministry of Health turned over P5 million worth of Operation Centers (Opcens) were turned over to the MOH-Special Geographics Area, and P16.4 million worth of Transitional Development Impact Fund 2026 Tulong Medical Assistance was released to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) and Iranon District Hospital (IDH); the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs distributed PP175,000 in financial assistance to tribesmen affected by disasters; the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (Mafar) released PP2 million worth of portable solar water pumps, boat engines, Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (Cloas), Emancipation Patents (EPs), and rice and corn combined harvesters; and Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources also awarded land titles valued at P150,000 to qualified Bangsamoro beneficiaries.
The BARMM government also released P3 million worth of food packages, medical services, and livelihood assistance from its Project Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan (Tabang) was provided to vulnerable Bangsamoro individuals, families, patients, and emergency-affected communities.
For its part, the national government, disbursed P433 million from Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF) of the Office of the President to support the priority projects of the LGUs of Cotabato City, Lanao del Sur; Tawi-Tawi; Maguindanao del Sur; Maguindanao del Norte; and Basilan under the BBM program.
Barangay beneficiaries of the BBM program each get P200,000 with P100,000 of that amount to be used to for educational assistance, and the other half for key priority initiatives of the barangay.
Marcos said from April 8 to July 17, the government distributed almost P7 billion to 34,800 barangays nationwide.
‘Moving forward, this Administration remains steadfast in pursuing reforms that enhance the quality of life of every Filipino, strengthen the foundations of our economy, and to ensure that no community is left behind,’ he said.