Cash aid, livelihood support give vulnerable Bangsamoro families a fresh start

COTABATO CITY (July 23)  — For Amor Latip, 50, the P20,000 cash assistance she received is more than financial aid—it is a chance to start over after 11 years of working away from her family.

Latip, a resident of Barangay Bagua I, is among the vulnerable Bangsamoro residents who received cash aid, livelihood assistance, healthcare services and agricultural support as the National Government–Bangsamoro Government Convergence Program brought essential services closer to communities on Wednesday.

After years of working overseas, Latip plans to use the assistance from the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) to establish a livelihood and help meet her family’s daily needs.

“The financial assistance will help me start a livelihood and provide for my family’s daily needs. It is not easy to work abroad, specially when you have to leave your children behind,” she said.

Her story reflects the goal of the convergence program—to bring government assistance directly to people who need it most.

Among those served were low-income families, transport drivers, farmers, women, former overseas workers, former combatants, youth, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other priority groups.

Beneficiaries received social welfare assistance, livelihood capitalization, healthcare services and agricultural support through programs jointly implemented by Bangsamoro ministries, offices and agencies (BMOAs) and national government agencies.

For farmers still recovering from weather-related losses, the assistance came in another form.

Amer Ali, a farmer from Datu Odin Sinsuat, received agricultural seedlings through Project Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan (TABANG).

Ali said the seedlings would help farmers recover from crop losses caused by severe weather, including the recent impact of Typhoon Inday.

“This is a massive help for us from BARMM, especially since a recent typhoon Inday just hit and destroyed some of our crops,” he said.

Bringing government closer

Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua said the convergence program reflects the Bangsamoro Government’s commitment to people-centered governance by making public services more accessible to communities.

“Sa BARMM Government, we prioritize public service; we prioritize our people. Sa BARMM Government, inuuna natin ang serbisyo publiko, at uunahin natin ang kapakanan ng bawat Bangsamoro,” Macacua said.

He urged BARMM ministries to make public service more purposeful and responsive to the needs of the region’s people.

“I enjoin all the ministries in the BARMM government to serve with a purpose, to serve with a heart, and to prioritize the welfare of our beloved Bangsamoro people,” he added.

Anchored on the theme “Mas Matatag na Bangsamoro Tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas,” the convergence program brings national and Bangsamoro government agencies together to deliver services in one setting.

For beneficiaries like Latip, however, the impact is deeply personal.

After years of leaving home to work abroad, she now hopes the assistance will allow her to build a livelihood closer to her family.

For her and other beneficiaries, the government services brought to their doorstep offer not just immediate help—but a chance to rebuild, earn a living and move forward.