Rollout of socio-economic program continues in priority MILF communities

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Jan. 23 (PIA) ---The rollout of socio-economic program designed to address the needs of Moro combatants and internally displaced persons continues to move forward in poverty-stricken communities throughout Mindanao.

Dr. Bashary Abdul Latiph of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Task Force Sajahatra told Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in an interview over PIA’s Ozor ka, Ranao! radio program that some of the identified recipients under the Sajahatra Bangsamoro are now enjoying the benefits of the program.

Latiph said Sajahatra Bangsamoro which means ‘Peace Bangsamoro” is a development program intended to uplift the health, education and livelihood conditions of Bangsamoro communities.

The program, he said, focuses on the provision of immediate-impact and quick gestation social services to priority MILF communities and other targeted individual-beneficiaries.

It is jointly implemented by the MILF and GPH through the Task Force Sajahatra and Task Force on Bangsamoro Development, respectively.

Latiph said the program covers provision of health insurance to 11,000 beneficiaries through PhilHealth and upgrading of community-based health centers and services in 10 identified areas through the Department of Health (DOH) under its health component.

He said it also covers provision of 535 college scholarships through CHED, provision of community-based techvoc training to 1,030 beneficiaries through TESDA, and financial assistance to 50 madaris (madrasah schools) through the Department of Education (DepEd) under the education component, while the livelihood component included 11,000 beneficiaries to the cash-for-work program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), among others.

Latiph, who chaired the health committee of the Task Force Sajahatra, said Ranao region got 1,200 beneficiaries for the health insurance and two health centers to be set-up in Butig in Lanao del Sur and Munai in Lanao del Norte.

He also clarified that the health insurance was given to both Muslims and non-Muslims in the two Lanao provinces. (APB/PIA-10)