Another batch of beneficiaries under the Community Empowerment through Food Sufficiency and Environmental Management (CEFSEM) Program of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) in partnership with the United Nations-World Food Programme (UN-WFP) received a total of 355 sacks of rice during the food distribution on December 3 – 5, 2013 at Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao.

The eight hundred thirty (830) beneficiaries are coming from 9 barangays of the said municipality. 56 of those are coming from Brgy. Tambol; 112 from Brgy. Tapayan; 95 from Brgy. Dagurungan; 83 from Brgy. Kirkir; 20 from Brgy. Boliok; 120 from Brgy. Tariken; 121 from Brgy Solon; 115 from Brgy. Namuken; and 108 from Brgy. Macabiso.

The activity is conducted in support to the food sufficiency objective of the program. Beneficiaries received certain kilos of rice after their participation to the series of activities conducted prior to the distribution such as training on values transformation, community development activities like construction of flood-protection dikes and clearing of waterways.

Through this strategy, the communities do not get one benefit only from the program, rather teaching them of good values, care for environment, and becoming resourceful towards their empowerment. The strategy also helps in achieving a smooth conduct of the distribution.

According to Mr. Sammy Tariwasay, Chairman of Brgy. Dagurungan, the distribution is the fastest one they have ever seen and experienced.

“We’ve just finished constructing the allocated 1.2 kilometer flood-protection dike in our barangay last week, and now we are receiving the bags of the rice that the project promised to us”, Mr. Tariwasay said.

One also of the good practices that helped in the success of the activity is the formation of food distribution in each barangay who are tasked to do related activities under the program. They help in crowd control and in ensuring accuracy of food distribution.

The teamwork and cooperation among the BDA staff and volunteers under the program likewise helped in the smooth conduct of activity with the guidance and support from the UN-WFP.