By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — More than 1,900 beneficiaries are set to receive nutritional support as the Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUn) Program officially launched its feeding activities on Tuesday in Barangay Matarling, Lantawan, Basilan.
The program’s rollout brought smiles to children and mothers as nutrition services were delivered to communities identified as vulnerable to malnutrition. The initiative forms part of the Bangsamoro government’s continuing efforts to improve health and nutrition outcomes among children and pregnant and lactating women across the region.
Representatives from the BangUn National, Regional, and Provincial Program Management Offices attended the launch alongside partner agencies and stakeholders to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the program. Participating agencies included the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education–TESDA (MBHTE-TESDA), Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).
As part of the program’s complementary interventions, MAFAR distributed vegetable seeds, corn seeds, and fertilizers to validated beneficiaries experiencing malnutrition. The agency also committed to providing additional assistance following the completion of beneficiary revalidation activities.
Officials said the BangUn Program is designed not only to address immediate nutritional needs but also to strengthen household food security through agricultural support and community-based interventions.
Of the estimated 1,900 beneficiaries in the Municipality of Lantawan, around 1,700 are children, while 200 are pregnant and lactating women residing in various target barangays. The beneficiaries will receive sustained nutritional support under the program as part of broader efforts to combat malnutrition in the Bangsamoro region.
The BangUn Program continues to underscore the importance of collaborative action among government agencies and local stakeholders in ensuring that vulnerable communities receive essential nutrition and development services.
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