(Photo from MOLE-BARMM)
The Ministry of Labor and Employment in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOLE-BARMM) provided seed money to eight community-based organizations to fund income-generating projects, a labor official said Friday.
“The livelihood assistance was aimed at strengthening rural enterprises,” MOLE-BARMM Minister Muslimin Sema said in a statement.
The aid was distributed under the Bangsamoro Rural Employment through Entrepreneurial Development (BREED) program during a ceremonial event at the MOLE regional office.
Recipient groups include farmers, women, and youth associations involved in food production from the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Talitay, Guindulungan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, and South Upi.
Each association received PHP50,000 to enhance production capacity, improve product development, and create additional income opportunities for their members.
Sema said the initiative is designed to create sustainable rural enterprises that benefit communities across the Bangsamoro region.
The program is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN), represented by Helen Rojas, as part of multi-stakeholder partnerships promoting inclusive rural development.
“Through the BREED program, MOLE continues to support small-scale enterprises in creating decent work and contributing to inclusive economic growth,” Sema added.
Officials said the program focuses on underserved areas, providing economic opportunities for communities often left out of mainstream development.
MOLE-BARMM emphasized that the intervention seeks to empower local communities, encourage entrepreneurship, and foster self-reliance among farmers, women, and youth groups.