BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi — The Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), through its Tawi-Tawi Provincial Office, resumed the distribution of rice subsidies under the Unlad Pamilyang Bangsamoro Program (UPBP) following the lifting of the election-related disbursement ban. The payouts officially began on May 13, 2025.
A total of 148 beneficiaries from South Ubian received their rice subsidy grants amounting to Php 7,200 each, which covers six months’ worth of assistance at Php 1,200 per month.
“Our office immediately resumed payouts on May 13 in South Ubian after the election ban was lifted,” said MSSD Tawi-Tawi Provincial Development Officer Sharmina Julkarnain.
According to Julkarnain, payouts for other island municipalities have also been scheduled — with Simunul set for May 17 and Sitangkai on May 18. For remote areas such as Turtle Island, the MSSD has already mobilized transport to ensure timely delivery of aid.
The Tawi-Tawi Provincial Office aims to complete payouts to a total of 1,843 UPBP beneficiaries across the province before the end of the semester in June. To ensure an efficient and orderly distribution, para-social workers have been deployed in coordination with the respective Municipal Social Welfare Offices.
The rice subsidy plays a crucial role in helping beneficiary households meet their basic food needs and support their day-to-day living.
MSSD remains committed to reaching families in vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities — not only through financial assistance, but also by guiding them toward long-term self-sufficiency. Bangsamoro social workers conduct monthly monitoring of all participating households under the UPBP to ensure continued support and progress. (Laila Aripin/BIO)
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