DAVAO CITY – Cotabato City student who were identified to receive the educational assistance through the Ministry of Social Services and Development’s (MSSD) Angat Bangsamoro: Kabataan Tungo sa Karunungan (ABaKa) program got their money on Sunday.
Some 189 student beneficiaries who comprised the first batch received the one-time assistance amounting to Php10,000 each during the ceremonial distribution led by MSSD Minister Atty. Raissa Jajurie at the ministry’s regional office in Cotabato City.
In her message, Minang Nagamora, the focal person of the MSSD family and community welfare program said “We hope that through the ABaKa program, the beneficiaries will continue going to school despite the difficulties they are experiencing.”
“This is one of the Ministry’s social protection programs, which encourages the Bangsamoro youth to become productive members of the society,” she added.
Qualified beneficiaries at the kindergarten and elementary level will receive Php2,000 each, Php3,000 for junior and senior high school students, Php10,000 for technical-vocational courses, and Php10,000 for college students.
Each of the beneficiary has undergone rigorous validation and evaluation by designated social workers.
Naila Macacua, a working student who is enrolled at Cotabato State University thank the government saying the MSSD ABaKa program will will her in her school needs.
The MSSD has targeted a total of 1,382 elementary, high school, and college student beneficiaries in Cotabato City for school year 2022. The payout for the remaining beneficiaries in the city will continue on the next following days.-with report from BARMM-BPI