MSSD Rolls Out Final Wave of Payout Programs Ahead of BARMM Election Campaign Period
COTABATO CITY (September 2, 2025) — Ahead of the BARMM election official campaign period for the first BARMM Parliamentary Elections on August 28, 2025, the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), in collaboration with the BARMM-Marawi Rehabilitation Program (MRP), conducted its final payout for 366 internally displaced persons (IDPs) under the Financial Assistance for Non-Kathanor Program.
Each validated beneficiary received ₱5,000 in financial assistance, aimed at supporting displaced families not included in the initial Kathanor biometric profiling. This support comes as a vital boost for families still working to rebuild their lives eight years after the Marawi Siege.
This distribution marks the last government aid release before the temporary ban on public spending and programs imposed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) during the campaign period.
Starting August 28, all social welfare and development projects across the Bangsamoro region will be temporarily suspended, pending the issuance of a Certificate of Exemption from COMELEC. During this time, giving donations, hiring new government employees, increasing the salaries of employees, using public funds, and other activities prohibited under election laws are prohibited.
The MSSD assures the public that once the exemption is granted, payouts will resume, including continued aid under both the Financial Assistance for Non-Kathanor Program and the Bangsamoro Sagip Kabuhayan Program (BSKP).
Over 1,100 Families in Lanao del Sur Receive Rice Subsidy
In a separate initiative, 1,190 beneficiaries of the Unlad Pamilyang Bangsamoro Program from 20 municipalities in Lanao del Sur received rice subsidies from the MSSD from August 21 to August 26.
Each household received ₱9,000 worth of rice assistance, aimed at strengthening food security and alleviating the economic burden faced by low-income families in the region.
The Unlad Pamilyang Bangsamoro Program is one of MSSD’s flagship poverty alleviation programs, focusing on providing essential support to vulnerable families in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The rice subsidy is a key component of the program, ensuring that no Bangsamoro family goes hungry.
Capacity Building for Child Development Workers in Maguindanao del Sur
Meanwhile, the MSSD conducted a four-day capacity development training for 30 Child Development Workers (CDWs) and Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP) workers from various municipalities in Maguindanao del Sur.
Held from August 22 to August 25, at Pagana Kutawato Restaurant in Cotabato City, the training aimed to enhance the skills of early childhood service providers for the improved implementation of the National Early Learning Curriculum and effective use of Learning Resource Packages. It also prepared participants for the transition of Day Care Centers into Child Development Centers.
Topics covered during the training included Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) concepts and frameworks, brain development, child growth and development, infant-toddler early learning, and session planning. The training also featured workshops and demonstration teaching, allowing participants to apply their learning in simulated teaching scenarios. (Tu Alid Alfonso, BMN/BangsamoroToday)
