THE Ministry of Social Services and Development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MSSD-BARMM) launched Tuesday, October 26, 2021, the new Unlad Pamilyang Bangsamoro (UPB) program in Tawi-Tawi.

The UPB program is aimed to help uplift the living condition of at least five percent of the poor families across Barmm.

Balinda Adil, Tawi-Tawi provincial Social Welfare Office chief, said they have identified 664 families from the 11 towns in the province as target beneficiaries of the UPB.

“The MSSD will put them under case-managed families, who can receive interventions and become immediate recipients of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Bangsamoro Sagip Kabuhayan (BSK), and other MSSD assistance in order to uplift their lives and status of well-being,” Adil said.

She said the identified beneficiaries are composed of non-members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and 4Ps members who are “graduating” from the program due to lack of eligible children aged Zero to 18 years old.

She said they are each entitled to receive P15,000 livelihood seed capital, skills training, 25-kilo rice monthly subsidy and medical assistance during emergencies.

She said 411 of the 664 identified families have already received Tuesday, October 26, their P15,000 seed capital each to jumpstart a livelihood activity.

MSSD Deputy Minister Arced Abdukahal witnessed the launching of the UPB program and payout to the first batch recipients. (SunStar Zamboanga)