THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) is distributing rice and food items to at least 500 orphans in Cotabato City and some towns in Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces.

The Bureau of Public Information of Barmm (BPI-Barmm) said it is in line with the continuous coronavirus disease (Covid-19) response of the regional government.

The BPI said each of the orphans, living in different orphanage centers, received 25-kilo sacks of rice and several food items from the Barmm's Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan (Tabang).

Project Tabang is one of the flagship programs of Barmm Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, according to the BPI.

Abdulraof Macacua, Barmm’s executive secretary, said the orphans were selected as beneficiaries because they are one of the “most vulnerable and affected sectors of the society” by the Covid-19 crisis.

Macacua said a total of 150 half sacks of rice and several food items were distributed on Tuesday, October 13, to five orphanage centers in Pikit, North Cotabato.

He said among these centers is the Markaz Tadabbur that houses 40 orphans.

Orphanage head Ustadh Mojahed Pamansag said the orphans came from different places such as Carmen in North Cotabato, while others came from as far as Basilan.

The distribution was made through a partnership with youth organization Al-Jalis As-Salih, Inc.-Cotabato.

The distribution to orphanage centers in Shariff Saydona Mustapha and Shariff Aguak, both in Maguindanao, is set this week. (SunStar Zamboanga)