The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) social services arm is eyeing to distribute cash assistance to 7,557 small businesses in the region within the year.

Ministry of Social Services and Development chief Raissa Jajurie said this during Wednesday’s launching of the Sustainable Livelihood Program – Seed Capital Fund (SLP-SCF) in Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao.

While in Kabuntalan, the MSSD minister dispensed PHP15,000 each to 47 selected small business owners.

“The beneficiaries would be strictly monitored by the MSSD as to the dispensation of their assistance involving their respective businesses,” Jajurie told reporters.

Bai Sabal, a local convenience store owner who is one of the SLP-SCF beneficiaries, said she will use the money to buy additional goods for her store based on the request of her neighbors.

“I will only purchase items that are important and needed at the moment,” she said in the dialect.

Jajurie said they will soon expand the distribution of grants to other areas with Maguindanao having a total of 1,510 beneficiaries, Sulu (1,359); Basilan (1,147); Tawi-Tawi (1,147); Lanao del Sur A and B with 981 each, and the 63 villages in North Cotabato (432).

The SLP-SCF, a national government-funded social protection program implemented by the MSSD in the region, targets to improve the socio-economic situation of small enterprises affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. (PNA)