COTABATO CITY – First batch of qualified student beneficiaries from this city were able to receive Sunday, Sept. 11, their educational assistance through the Ministry of Social Services and Development’s (MSSD) Angat Bangsamoro: Kabataan Tungo sa Karunungan (ABaKa) program.
MSSD Minister Atty. Raissa Jajurie led the ceremonial distribution at the ministry’s regional office here for the initial 189 college students who each received a one-time financial assistance of Php10,000.00.
“We hope that through the ABaKa program, the beneficiaries will continue going to school despite the difficulties they are experiencing,” said Minang Nagamora, focal person of MSSD’s Family and Community Welfare Program.
“This is one of the Ministry’s social protection programs, which encourages the Bangsamoro youth to become productive members of the society,” she added.
Qualified beneficiaries at the kindergarten and elementary level will receive Php2,000 each, Php3,000 for junior and senior high school students, Php10,000 for technical-vocational courses, and Php10,000 for college students.
Each of the beneficiary has undergone rigorous validation and evaluation by designated social workers.
[Read related article: MSSD’s education assistance strictly based on scoring system, Jajurie clarifies]
“As a working student, nagpapasalamat ako sa MSSD ABaKa program dahil malaking tulong po ang naibigay nila sa amin. Salamat po,” said Naila Macacua, a beneficiary from Cotabato State University.
MSSD has targeted a total of 1,382 elementary, high school, and college student beneficiaries in Cotabato City for 2022. The payout for the remaining beneficiaries in the city will continue on the next following days. (Johanie Mae Kusain/BIO)
