Officials in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have joined hands to provide cash aid and livelihood training to a group of widowed women in Maguindanao.

In an interview Tuesday, Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) parliament member Susana Anayatin said PHP20,000 cash assistance was given to each of the 50 widows under the Widows of War (WOW) project during the distribution in Datu Piang, Maguindanao on Monday.

The project by the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism (MTIT) led by Minister Abuamri Taddik and MTIT director-general Rosslaini Sinarimbo, aims to empower widows with technical skills in entrepreneurship and financial assistance to jump-start small businesses.

Before the distribution of the livelihood package, the Enterprise and Trade Development Division of MTIT organized an entrepreneurship seminar to equip them with basic business management skills.

“I am glad we have this project that capacitates the vulnerable sector,” Anayatin said, adding the project chose the war widows because of the hardship they have gone through.

“These women have carried their children during the armed conflict in the past, they have been fleeing conflict situations, moving from one place to another to avoid war,” she said.

Anayatin said she can relate to the hardship that the widows have gone through since she was once a “bakwit” (evacuee) when armed conflict erupted in the early 1970s in Maguindanao, during which she lost her father in the ensuing hostilities.

“I am happy we have projects like this one, our widows are trained and given enough amount to start a small business,” she said.

Monera Utto, 53, one of the widow-beneficiaries, said she would put up a neighborhood sundry store to support her family and children. (PNA)