THE Ministry of Social Services and Development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MSSD-Barmm) on Wednesday, September 30, launched the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) Seed Capital Fund for microenterprises affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Lawyer Raisa Jajurie, MSSD minister, said the program initially benefited 47 small business owners from North Kabuntalan, Maguindanao. Each received P15,000 cash assistance.
Jajurie said the beneficiaries, who were chosen after scrutiny, will use the capital fund to start or expand their small businesses.
After receiving the grant, Jajurie said the beneficiaries will be closely monitored to ensure that they will properly use the money given them.
SLP is one of the national-funded social protection programs implemented by the MSSD in the Barmm. It seeks to improve the socio-economic well-being of poor, vulnerable and marginalized communities.
For this year, Jajurie said they are targeting to give P15,000 to 7,557 beneficiaries all over the region.
Maguindanao has a total of 1,510 beneficiaries, Lanao del Sur A and B each have 981, Basilan with 1,147, Sulu with 1,359, Tawi-Tawi with 1,147, and North Cotabato with 432 beneficiaries.
Jajurie said they will continue to conduct a series of granting seed capital funds in the coming weeks to complete its target beneficiaries before the year ends. (SunStar Zamboanga)