The program includes medical mission like Operation “Tuli” (circumcision) and free medical check-up, and awarding of the P5,000 cash loan assistance under the Self-Employment Assistance–Kaunlaran (SEA-K) program to each of 25 individuals from Barangay Tagudtungan of this island.

DSWD-ARMM Secretary Bai Soraida Biruar said the SEA-K is a DSWD livelihood program that intends to provide financial assistance as capital seed fund to the marginalized communities in the entire region for them to start their own business.

The SEA-K is part of the Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) of the national government to help mitigate hunger in the country, Biruar said.

Maguindanao povincial health officer Dr. Elizabeth Samama led a medical mission treating the hundreds of poor individuals who were also provided free medicine.

Samama said that apart from attending to evacuees of both man-made and natural disasters in the province, her office has also been conducting medical outreach programs in depressed communities of Maguindanao.

ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan stressed during his recent State of the Region Address that basic social services such as health, nutrition, education, infrastructure and other significant development projects are among the major program thrusts of his administration.