Food aid program caters to 900 families in Lanao Sur

COTABATO CITY – As part of the effort to address issues besetting poor families in the region, about 900 family-beneficiaries in Lanao del Sur received on Wednesday their two-month food and nutrition assistance from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (ARMM) regional government.  

Through the Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development for Growth and Empowerment (ARMM-BRIDGE) “Apat na Dapat” program, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said the regional government is providing supplementary food support targeting all 7,000 family-beneficiaries in the ARMM for 2018.  

Hataman said the ARMM government earmarked a total of PHP2.9 billion for the program that combats poverty and uplifts the living condition of the poorest households by providing basic needs, such as food, livelihood training, water and sanitation, shelter, and electricity.  

He reiterated that the absence of one of the basic needs poses risks to a family.

The program, he said, seeks to ensure that the beneficiary-families are able to sustain their food needs through livelihood assistance and training and other income-generating activities.  

On Wednesday, food distribution in Lanao del Sur was simultaneously held in the municipalities of Picong, Balabagan, Madamba, Lumba-Bayabao, Balindong, Saguiaran, Mulondo, Butig, and Ditsaan-Ramain.

The distribution in the municipalities of Piagapo, Lumbaca Unayan, Lumbayanague, Bubong Ramain, Kapai, Ganassi, Madalum, Masiu, Kapatagan, and Marawi City in the city of Marawi will be held in the coming weeks, the governor said.  

The distributed food items per family included two sacks of good quality rice, fresh eggs, beans, powdered milk, cooking oil, iodized salt, brown sugar, and coffee. Hygiene kits including bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and toothbrush were also distributed to each family.  

David Ali, ARMM BRIDGE project manager, noted that inadequate food is one of the factors why there are families considered as "poorest of the poor".

“That is why we are giving food support because this program was designed by our nutritionist for the nutrition requirement needed by each family,” Ali said, adding that they also measure the children-beneficiaries’ weight and height every month.  

An orientation on basic nutrition was also conducted by ARMM-BRIDGE’s nutritionist and staff to educate parents on proper hygiene and nutrition to help reduce the risk of malnutrition, especially among children.  

So far, the ARMM has delivered food aid in the provinces of Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi, and Lanao del Sur. Similar activities are set for the provinces of Basilan and Sulu in the succeeding months. (By Sheila Mae Dela Cruz/Bureau of Public Information - ARMM)