A total of 22,000 children and pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are expected to benefit from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUn) Program in 2026.

DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the Department’s Field Office 12 (Soccsksargen) has already started BangUn’s 180-Day Nutrition Services in several identified priority areas in BARMM on April 28.

These include Malidegao and Nabalawag in the Special Geographic Area (SGA); Shariff Aguak and Datu Anggal Midtimbang in Maguindanao del Sur; and Datu Blah Sinsuat and Sultan Mastura in Maguindanao del Norte.

Dumlao said the DSWD’s Field Office 10 (Northern Mindanao) will also start implementing the BangUn program in the province of Lanao del Sur on May 20; and the Field Office 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) in the provinces of Tawi-Tawi and Basilan in June.

Dumlao said this initiative is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to end hunger and malnutrition among Filipino families.

“Walang bata, magulang, o sinumang Pilipino ang dapat nakararanas na matulog ng kumakalam ang sikmura. ‘Yan po ang direktiba ng ating Pangulo sa DSWD at sa iba pang ahensya ng ating gobyerno. Kaya mayroon po tayong BangUn upang tugunan ang malnutrisyon sa BARMM (No child, parent or any Filipino should experience sleeping with an empty stomach. That is the President’s directive to the DSWD and other government agencies. That’s why we have the BangUn to address malnutrition in BARMM),” Dumlao said in a news release Thursday.

The BangUn is a DSWD nutrition program that aims to reduce vulnerabilities among malnourished children aged 0-12 and provides health support to PLWs at risk due to extreme poverty and environmental and human-induced disasters.

“The program seeks to improve the nutritional status of children identified as underweight, severely underweight, thin, and pregnant and lactating women who are at risk and undernourished. It also empowers parents or guardians to achieve food security and good health for their families and build resilient communities by facilitating their access to nutrition-support programs,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.

Under the program, beneficiaries are being monitored through weight and height measurements, health check-ups, deworming and provision of micronutrient supplementation.

Nutrition Education and Advocacy, such as nutrition literacy classes, responsible parenthood sessions and nutrition and health-related events are also being conducted.

“We are also providing livelihood skills training, psychosocial interventions, and other initiatives to build resilience in the community,” Dumlao said. (PNA)