Over 30,000 farmers and fisherfolk in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), impacted by the recent drought, received P5,000 in financial aid from the region’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR). The financial support aims to alleviate the economic strain caused by the El Niño phenomenon, which has severely affected livelihoods across the region.
In a ceremonial distribution held at the Shariff Kabungsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC) on Monday, September 30, Minister Mohammad Yacob of MAFAR personally distributed checks to the first batch of 270 beneficiaries. The total number of validated beneficiaries includes 30,891 farmers and fisherfolk across the region.
The initiative is part of BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim’s wider efforts to reduce poverty in the region, with a focus on supporting vulnerable sectors, particularly those working in agriculture and fisheries. The assistance is financed through MAFAR’s Quick Response Fund (QRF), a reserve fund under the General Appropriations Act of Bangsamoro 2024, designed to support sectors affected by natural and human-induced calamities.
Minister Yacob highlighted the regional government’s commitment to helping farmers and fisherfolk during difficult times like the ongoing drought. He emphasized that the assistance is not a one-time event but part of a broader mission to uplift these sectors and improve their economic resilience.
“We are here to help ensure that the farmers, fisherfolk, and the agrarian reform sector in BARMM can face these challenges with the support they need,” Yacob said during the event. He also called on beneficiaries to work with the regional government to achieve the shared goal of reducing poverty in the region.
The financial aid recipients come from various provinces and cities within BARMM. The largest number of beneficiaries, 12,947, are from the Special Geographic Area (SGA) and Cotabato City, while 11,694 are from Maguindanao del Sur, and 6,250 from Maguindanao del Norte.
Ronjamin Maulana, MAFAR Maguindanao Provincial Director, who oversees the implementation of the program, expressed optimism that the financial aid will be fully distributed by October 15. He assured that the selection of beneficiaries was conducted through a rigorous validation process to ensure that the assistance reaches those most affected.
One of the recipients, 51-year-old Empa Condi, a farmer from Cotabato City, expressed gratitude for the aid. Condi, who supports a family of nine as a land tenant, shared that the drought had further strained his already limited income. He noted the improvements in his community since the formation of BARMM and thanked the government for its continued support.
The financial aid program highlights the BARMM government’s ongoing efforts to provide immediate relief and long-term support to its farmers and fisherfolk, helping to mitigate the effects of natural disasters on these vital sectors.
