ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Ministry of Social Services and Development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao disclosed that the agency is exempted from the educational cash dole out of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
MSSD Minister Raissa Herradura Jajurie stressed that residents living in the five provinces and two component cities of BARMM are not included in the present educational dole out of the Social Welfare department, adding that the MSSD is a separate agency and has its own program that addresses the needs of students belonging to poor families.
Jajurie said that MSSD launched Angat Bangsamoro: Kabataan Tungo sa Karunungan Program in 2020 and no more than two qualified children per family may apply to avail educational dole-out program of the MSSD.
Under the program, a student from kindergarten to elementary may avail yearly of P2,000 while Junior High School students have P3,000 and Senior High School with P3,000. Those taking Vocational-Technology Courses can avail of P10,000 per course and P10,000 for college students.
The MSSD minister said that poor families located in the BARMM areas can avail themselves of the ABaKa educational financial aid and privileges offered by the ministry, adding that the families interested in avail of the program can visit the Municipal Social Welfare Officers of their municipality for evaluation and validation.
Meanwhile, despite the challenges, the payout for the DSWD Educational Assistance pushed through in various locations in this city on Saturday with an initial of 355 students receiving the cash aid that reached a total of P1,077,000.
Of the total 355 beneficiaries, 68 were elementary students, 45 high school students; 49 senior high school students and 193 college students all from Zamboanga City.