THE Ministry of Social Services and Development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MSSD-Barmm), through the Bangsamoro Sagip Kabuhayan (BSK) program, has granted P15,000 financial assistance each to eight blind massage therapists Thursday, August 18, in Cotabato City.

The recipients of the financial assistance were referred to the MSSD by Barmm Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun and were validated by MSSD’s Older Persons and Persons with Disability Welfare Program (OPPWDWP).

The BSK program intends to alleviate the living conditions of Barmm residents who are adversely affected by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, through the provision of seed capital or additional capital to start up their businesses.

Four of the eight beneficiaries were men while the other four were women. They are residents of Cotabato City, Maguindanao, and Special Geographic Area (SGA).

Lawyer Raissa Jajurie, MSSD minister, said that the beneficiaries are planning to combine the financial assistance they received so they can set up their own massage clinic.

One of the eight beneficiaries, Akmad Dimanalao, 50, thanked the Barmm government for extending financial assistance to persons with disabilities like them.

Dimanalao, a resident of Limbo village in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, earned his National Competency (NC II) certificate as a massage therapist in 2003 through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda). (SunStar Zamboanga)