The Office of the Interim Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Government initiated a program entitled “Rice Assistance for BARMM constituents affected by COVID-19”.
His Office handed 16,000 sacks of 50kg rice to the (80) members of parliament. Each MP received 10,000kg of rice equivalent to 200 sacks of 50kg to be distributed to those who belong to the vulnerable sectors or persons who are adversely affected by the crisis caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
On Tuesday, May 12, 2020, the Office of MP Atty. Maisara C. Dandamun-Latiph initially received half of 10,000kg of rice and started repacking them on May 14, 2020. On May 17, the Office received the other half and continued repacking on May 18, 2020. The Office picked-up the sacks rice at Matampay, Lanao del Sur and repacked them at MSU-IPDM, Marawi City.
The staffs of the Office of MP Maisara Dandamun-Latiph repacked the 10,000kg of rice and produced 650 packs of 5kg and 675 packs of 10kg for the Vulnerable and At-Risk Families in Marawi City and Municipalities of Lanao del Sur. The Office has produced a total of 1,325 packs.
The observance of fast during the Holy Month of Ramadhan did not become a hindrance for the Office to finish and fast track repacking. The Office decided to deliver all of the rice packs to the most in need constituents within the Holy Month of Ramadhan. The volunteers from Sugod Islamic Youth Movement (SIYM) of Tugaya lend a hand to finish the repacking.
On Friday, May 15, 2020, the distribution started in the Municipality of Bacolod Kalawi, Lanao del Sur. The Office of MP Atty. Maisara C. Dandamun-Latiph distributed 5kg of rice to the two hundred (200) beneficiaries in the different barangays of Bacolod, Kalawi, Lanao del Sur. Among the recipients of the assistance were single parents, widows, orphans, employees with low income, or works under a condition of “no work, no pay”, and senior citizens. According to the beneficiaries, they are grateful that the assistance of BARMM reached their locality.
On Tuesday, May 19, 2020, the Office of MP Maisara, in coordination with the volunteers from the Municipal Health Office of Marantao and MILF-BIAF, continued the distribution of rice assistance in Marantao, Lanao del Sur. 10kg of rice were distributed to seventy-five (75) beneficiaries which included farmers, drivers, senior citizens, widows, vendors, unemployed, and those workers who depend on an insufficient income or daily wage. The beneficiaries extended their sincerest gratitude for having received the assistance from the Office of MP Atty. Maisara Dandamun-Latiph and the Interim Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim. “Tataros’n iyo so mapiya galb’k (continue the good deeds). Bala-balasan kano o Allah sa da pitatamanan iyan ka Ramadhan pn (May Allah bless you all especially that it’s the Holy Month of Ramadhan),” according to one of the beneficiaries. “Sampay’n ka ki Atty. Maisara so panalamat ami ka da kami mindaraynon (extend our gratitude to Atty. Maisara),” according to a member of MILF-BIAF who also received rice assistance.
On the same day, the Office of MP Maisara continued the distribution of rice assistance in the different barangays of Butig, Lanao del Sur. 10kg of rice were also distributed house-to-house to one hundred (100) beneficiaries which included widows, farmers, drivers, and senior citizens. “Mapiya aya a margas, kapakay pn a i-pitra (the quality of rice is good, it can be used in giving Zakatul Fitr),” according to one of the beneficiaries. “Mala aya a ugop r’kami (this is a great help to us),” according to another recipient of the rice assistance.
On Wednesday, May 20, 2020, another distribution transpired in the municipality of Bubong, Lanao del Sur. 10kg of rice were delivered house-to-house to seventy-five (75) beneficiaries which included widows, farmers, and senior citizens who belong to the Vulnerable and At-Risk Sectors residing in remote barangays. “Balasan kano run o Allah kay miyawma kami niyo saya kay sa kawatan aya na di kami kauma pamumugayan na kataya myauma kami niyo, da kami niyo daraynon kay gya e paganay a makareceived ako sa makapupoon sa BARMM (May Allah reward all of you for reaching out in our area. Due to distance and location, we do not receive relief assistance but you’ve managed to reach out. This is the first time for us to receive assistance from BARMM),” according to one of the beneficiaries.
On the same day, the Office of MP Maisara goes on with the distribution of rice assistance in Taraka, Lanao del Sur. 5kg of rice were handed house-to-house to one hundred (100) beneficiaries which included senior citizens, widows, and farmers who belong to the Vulnerable or At-Risk Sectors. “Panalamat kami ka da kami kalipati a BARMM (we are grateful for not having forgotten by BARMM),” according to one of the beneficiaries. Collectively, they extended their sincerest gratitude to the Office of the Chief Minister and MP Atty. Maisara Dandamun-Latiph for their assistance. The Office also extended its appreciation to the BTA Frontliners staff led by Lainisah Sumpingan and also to the volunteers Fernoisah Merhama and Talib who assisted the staff in order to expedite and successfully implement the program in Buadi Adengen, Brgy. Pitakus.
On Thursday, May 21, 2020, another round of rice distribution was conducted in the different barangays of Tugaya, Lanao del Sur. 10kg of rice were given to seventy-five (75) beneficiaries which included solo parents, jobless, low income, asatidz, and senior citizens residing in different barangays. “Panalamatan ami so opisina e si Atty. Maisara sa kiawmaa niyan rkami a mga bangsa niyan sa Tugaya na badn malundo-lundo a omor iyan raks o pamilya niyan, badn pagoman-omani o Allah so riski a ipumbgay niyan ron (We thank the Office of Atty. Maisara for reaching us people in Tugaya, wishing her a long life together with her family and May Allah bless her more)”. According to a recipient from Brgy. Sumbaga Rogong. The Office also extended its appreciation to the BTA Frontliners staff headed by Laarnie B. Racman and also to the volunteers BabyLainie, Nor-fatmah and Allanoden who assisted in order to speed up and fruitfully execute the program in Tugaya, Lanao del Sur.
On the same day, other staffs of the Office continued the rice distribution in the municipality of Lumbatan, Lanao del Sur. 5kg of rice were distributed house-to-house to the fifty (50) beneficiaries which involved widows, farmers, and senior citizens who belong to the helpless residing in remote barangays. The Barangay Chairman Hon. Alimoden Mamacotao Blo extended his sincerest gratitude to MP Atty. Maisara Dandamun-Latiph and Interim Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim for the assistance given to the constituents.
In the afternoon of the same day, the distribution continued to the different barangays in Marawi City. 10kg of rice were distributed house-to-house to one hundred twenty-five (125) beneficiaries which included pedicab drivers, widows, senior citizens, and employees whose salary is based on “no work, no pay”. “Panalamat kami ka miyawma kami a panabang a BARMM (we are thankful because the assistance of BARMM reached us),” according to the beneficiaries. The Office also extended its gratefulness to the BTA Frontliners staff led by Hana Yusoph and Jamael Sarip and to the volunteers who assisted the staff in order to expedite and successfully implement the program in different Barangays of the Marawi City.
The Office extended the distribution to Marawi temporary shelters. 5kg of rice were distributed house-to-house to fifty (50) beneficiaries which included pedicab drivers, widows, senior citizens, PWDs, and unemployed who belong to the vulnerable sectors. The Office extended its gratitude to the BTA Frontliners Staff led by Sittie Joharah M. Pacalundo and her volunteers who supported the implementation of the program.
On Saturday, May 23, 2020, another round of rice distribution reached the different barangays of Tugaya, Lanao del Sur. 5kg of rice were distributed to one hundred twenty-five (125) beneficiaries which included solo-parents, widows, farmers, drivers, senior citizens, and employees whose salary is based on “no work, no pay” who belong to the Vulnerable and At-Risk Sectors. “Phanalamatan ami si Chief Minister Ahod agu so kiyanggulalanan iyan a si Maisara Dandamun-Latiph sa kiyabugi niyan rkami sa pamumugayan a miyakapiya ron a ginawa ami, sa phangnin amin a taman sa dayon na di makapamumugay sa mga tabang ko mga tao a khikarurugunan, na phanalamat kami ron sa dadn a phitatamanan iyan a panalamat, Alhamdulillah (We thank Chief Minister Ahod for providing the rice and Maisara Dandamun-Latiph for distributing us the rice. We are so glad that the help reached us vulnerable. We give endless thanks to both of them, and more especially to Almighty Allah)”, according to one of the beneficiaries. The Office also extended its thankfulness to the BTA Frontliners staff headed by Shanemah Latiph, Samanodin Nasser, and to their volunteers like Lalado Nasser who helped in the prosperous implementation the program.
On Tuesday, May 26, 2020, the rice distribution to the different barangays resumed in Pualas, Lanao del Sur. 10kg of rice were distributed to the seventy-five (75) beneficiaries which encompassed widows, drivers, farmers, and unemployed. The Office extended its indebtedness to the BTA Frontliners staff directed by Jamael M. Sarip and to a community worker volunteer Bayanisa Mutin in making the operation successful.
On Wednesday, May 27, 2020, rice distributed reached the municipality of Masiu, Lanao del Sur. 10kg of rice were distributed to one hundred fifty (120) beneficiaries which included widows, farmers, senior citizens, and unemployed residing in the remote areas of Brgy. Pantao, Brgy. Raya, Brgy. Budi-isa, Brgy. Lakadan at Brgy. Moriatao Bai. The beneficiaries are those who belong to the vulnerable sectors or persons who are adversely affected by the crisis caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Office extended its appreciation to the BTA Frontliners staff directed by Alyssa Sharief and her volunteers who helped in the realization of the implementation.
With the rice assistance given by the Office of Interim Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim, the Office of MP Maisara Dandamun-Latiph have reached a total of 1,325 beneficiaries from the municipalities of Bacolod Kalawi, Marantao, Butig, Bubong, Taraka, Marawi City, Tugaya, Lumbatan, Pualas, and Masiu, Lanao del Sur.
The Office of MP Atty. Maisara Dandamun-Latiph extended its sincerest gratitude to the Interim Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim, MP Dr. Marjanie Macasalong, and all the staffs and the volunteers for tirelessly working even under the heat of the sun to reach the constituents who are experiencing difficulties due to the pandemic.
The Office may not have reached all the vulnerable sectors and at-risk families, but it will continue to reach out to other areas within and outside the Bangsamoro Region.
