For a very long time, residents of Mindanao, particularly children, have felt the impact of living under militant control and being cut off from basic services like education and healthcare. The Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUn) Program aims to address this by providing a nutrition program that will ensure all children in Mindanao have access to proper food, education and medical care.
Also Read: DSWD Emergency Shelter Assistance
In this blog post, we will take a look at what this initiative involves, and what this looks like from the ground. If this is something you are interested in, keep on reading to know more.
What is the DSWD Bangsamoro Umpungan Sa Nutrisyon (BangUn) Program?
BangUN oversees initiatives to keep children from going hungry in Mindanao’s Muslim majority (BARMM). Its goals are to save malnourished children’s lives, improve the nutrition of underweight or severely underweight children, provide parents more control over their family’s food and health, and increase community access to nutrition-support programs.
Nutrition Direct Services, Nutrition Education and Advocacy, and Resilient Community Development are all provided by BangUN (i.e., food-for-work, livelihood capital, cash-for-work, production of indigenous food for children, access to potable drinking water, psychosocial interventions, livelihood skills training, etc.).
The goal of this project is to provide a comprehensive and culturally-responsive service to address the increasing incidence of malnutrition and hunger among children in Muslim Mindanao. It involves a collaboration between various government agencies and non-government organizations. The program will involve the parents of malnourished children and the concerned local government units.
Through this holistic approach, the program hopes to improve the health and nutrition of children in Mindanao. The project will run for three years, from July 2018 to June 2021.
The implementation of this project is expected to result in improved child health and nutrition. It will also provide information on the root causes of malnutrition and how to address them.
The project’s long-term objectives are: increase food security among families; improve the health status and nutritional status of children aged 0-59 months; strengthen government capacity to ensure efficient and effective delivery of services through people’s participation; and establish a sustainable program framework for addressing malnutrition in Mindanao.
The program was personally established by former President Duterte, in response to the high prevalence of malnutrition in the Philippines, especially in vulnerable cmmunities in Mindanao . This program is designed to help children who are severely underweight or suffering from acute malnutrition and also those who are at risk for being malnourished. The target population for this project is children aged between 6 months old and 5 years old. As you can see below, there are different activities that BangUN provides for their target population:
Target Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries of the project include children aged 0 to 4 years old in communities, children aged 4-6 years old in madaris (Muslim schools), children aged 6 to 12 years old in madaris or public elementary schools that are not covered by feeding programs offered by the Department of Education, pregnant women, including teen mothers, and mothers who are lactating.
These populations are often the ones who suffer the most in times of crisis due to the military unrest in some parts of Muslim Mindanao, which brings forth extreme poverty and malnutrition. They are also the ones who benefit the most from the project as they are given access to food and other basic needs.
Benefits of the DSWD Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUn Project)
The BangUn project aims to ensure that children aged 0-4 years old are properly nourished and have access to quality education. It will also help pregnant women, including teen mothers, and mothers who are lactating. With this in mind, here are the key benefits of the program:
1. The DSWD Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUn) Project provides nutritious meals to undernourished children in the Bangsamoro region.
The BangUn project is a joint effort between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to provide nutritious meals to undernourished children in the Bangsamoro region.
Through this project, children receive three balanced meals a day, which are designed to provide essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients necessary for healthy growth and development. This project also provides access to clean drinking water, proper sanitation, and health education, ensuring that children have the necessary resources to maintain their health and well-being.
With the help of this project, children in the Bangsamoro region are able to get the nutrition they need for proper growth and development and can lead healthier and happier lives.
2. The project helps improve the health and nutrition of participating children.
The BangUn project is a great way to ensure that children in the Bangsamoro region are receiving the nutrition they need for healthy growth and development. The project provides nutritional supplements, such as fortified rice and canned goods, to participating children and their families.
This helps to ensure that the children receive essential vitamins and minerals they may not otherwise have access to. Additionally, the project provides nutrition education to participating families, helping them to make healthier food choices and better understand the importance of nutrition.
The project also provides access to health services, such as immunizations and regular health check-ups, to further improve the health of participating children.
By providing these services, the BangUn project helps ensure that the children of the Bangsamoro region receive the nutrition and health care they need to thrive.
3. The project helps reduce the incidence of malnutrition and hunger in the region.
This project provides food assistance to vulnerable households, as well as nutritional support for pregnant and lactating mothers and children under five years of age.
Through this project, more than 1.2 million individuals have been provided with access to nutritious meals and food supplements that help improve their overall health.
The project has also been credited with reducing the prevalence of malnutrition in the region by almost 30%. This is an impressive achievement that has greatly benefited the region and its people.
With the help of the BangUn project, the people of the Bangsamoro region can now enjoy better health and well-being.
4. The project helps improve the learning performance of participating children.
The DSWD Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUn Project) has been a great success in helping to improve the learning performance of participating children.
Through the project, children receive access to nutritious food, which helps them stay alert and focused during school hours. Studies have shown that children who receive adequate nutrition are more likely to stay engaged in their studies and have better academic performance.
Additionally, the project provides educational activities and workshops that help children become more involved in their learning and foster a better understanding of concepts.
With this combination of nutrition and educational activities, the BangUn Project has been a powerful tool in helping children reach their full potential in the classroom.
5. The project helps promote social cohesion and peace in the region.
Through the project, vulnerable families receive nutrition packages that include food staples and basic hygiene items. This helps to ensure that families have the basic needs to survive and thrive. The project also encourages people in the region to come together and work towards a common goal of better nutrition and better health.
This helps foster a sense of community and build bridges between different regional groups. By providing support and resources to those in need, the BangUn Project is helping to create a more peaceful and prosperous region.
6. The project helps generate employment opportunities for local residents.
By providing employment opportunities, the project enables people to earn a stable income and make a positive contribution to their community. Through the project, local residents gain access to skills training, job placement, and other support services.
This helps them to develop the skills needed to secure and maintain employment. Furthermore, the project encourages local businesses to hire locally, helping to stimulate the local economy. By providing employment opportunities, the project helps to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life for local residents.
7. The project helps develop the local economy.
By providing nutritional support to vulnerable families, the project has enabled them to improve their living standards and increase their income. This in turn has created more jobs in the region, allowing local businesses to thrive and providing more economic opportunities for the people of the region.
Additionally, the project has provided technical and vocational training to the local population, allowing them to acquire the skills needed to pursue more profitable employment. As a result, the local economy has seen a significant boost, with more people being able to afford basic necessities and enjoy a better quality of life.
Qualifications
People who live in the following areas:
- Maguindanao
- Sulu
- Tawi Tawi
- Lanao del Sur
- Basilan
Focus Point:
The program targets women who are pregnant or nursing, up to the age of 2; kids under the age of 2 living in the neighborhoods; malnourished kids between the ages of 2 and 12 who attend madaris and DepEd elementary schools; and those who are young and in the evacuation centers.
Program Implementation
1st Phase: Social Preparation
- DSWD’s central office is responsible for providing orientation programs to all DSWD field offices and DSWD-ARMM partners. It also handles the recruitment and training of BangUn staff members. After that, the staff will conduct an orientation for the school’s faculty and administration.
- The responsibilities of each party will be specified in the FOS IX, X, and Xll documents.
- A memorandum of agreement (MOA) is a necessary document that establishes the responsibilities of each party to the other. These documents are required to be signed in line with the Councilors’ Circulars 94-013 and 2007-001.
- The staff of BangUn must coordinate with the school and community before the feeding program can be implemented. Before the program can be launched, the organization’s field agents must complete various tasks.
- To ensure that the program is implemented properly, the field agents must regularly engage the local community and gather information about the project. They must also hold meetings in the schools to gather support from the parents and other concerned individuals.
- Before the program begins, the field agents must organize parents and guardians to support the initiative. They will then be divided into working committees that will handle various tasks such as food preparation, distribution, and cooking.
In order to effectively work together with the parents and guardians, BangUn’s field agents will conduct team-building exercises. These activities will help them understand the organization and the larger scheme of the project. - Each child will be given an intake form that will be filled up by the school’s nutrition officer and the BangUn field agents. The records should be updated and validated if they came from an earlier intake. To ensure that the information is accurate, the field agents must speak with the parents and other individuals at their homes.
- The nutrition officers, school nurses, and BangUn’s field agents will then check the children’s weight and height before each meal. To comply with the new WHO guidelines, the weight and height of children will be measured using height boards and weighing scales.
- The permanent growth tracking records of children should include their name, age, baseline weight, birthdate, and month of birth. These records will be stored in the FOS database.
- Before the start of the program, BangUn’s staff members will work with the RHU to make sure that the children have been dewormed.
- BangUn’s staff members are also responsible for creating and storing child profiles and other relevant information for the Fo to review.
- The nutrition officers of BangUn and the school’s health or nutrition staff will also keep track of the children’s attendance at school.
2nd Phase: Conduct of Feeding (Pregnant & Lactating Mothers, Children)
- Beneficiaries will receive meals for 180 days according to the schedule outlined in this document. The menu must follow the BangUn Nutritionist and/or FNRI Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos menu, Dietitian, which is equivalent to PDRI. C/MNAO and/or Nutritionist may alter the halal cycle menu based on locally accessible nutritious meals.
- The various Parent Committees of BangUn are responsible for providing the necessary manpower to prepare and supervise the halal cycle meal. They also help in monitoring the feeding times.
- Apart from being fed, children should also be taught healthy eating and health care behaviors. Some of these include practicing good table manners and washing hands before and after meals.
Video: Bubong Municipality and DSWD-10 launched “BangUn Feeding Program”
Here’s a video featuring the DSWD BangUn program being implemented in Region 10.
On March 2, 2021, the DSWD-10 and the local government unit of Bubong, in Southern Philippines, launched a program called Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon.
The President’s Office has launched a project known as Bangun Project 2020, which aims to help address the issue of malnutrition among children and pregnant women.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is The Primary Objective Of The BangUn Nutrition Program?
The primary objective of the BangUn Nutrition Program is to provide a comprehensive approach to nutrition and health education, with a focus on creating a healthier life for those in need. This program focuses on providing access to essential nutrients and healthy foods, promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles, and fostering relationships between nutrition providers, educators and families.
It also seeks to strengthen health systems, improve access to food for vulnerable populations, and reduce preventable disease outcomes. By providing the necessary support, BangUn Nutrition Program empowers individuals and communities to lead healthier lives.
2. How Long Will The program Last?
The program will last for 180 days, either six or seven days per week.
3. Who Is Eligible To Receive Aid From The Program?
The program provides aid to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and children under 5 years old.
4. What Kind Of Assistance Will Be Provided?
The beneficiaries will receive culturally and nutritionally adequate meals, as well as education about nutrition and health.
5. How Will The Program Be Implemented?
The DSWD and local governments will work together to implement the program. They will also involve school staff, the BangUn Field Officer, and Parent Committees.
6. How Will Recipients’ Nutrition Be Assessed?
The WHO has released new standards that specify the nutritional status of children. They will use a scale that measures both height and weight.
Final Thoughts
The Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUn) Program is one that shows great potential. It has been put in place to ensure that a vulnerable community can access the services they need. Hopefully, we will be able to see how this initiative plays out over time and how it benefits those who need it most.
With a number of countries adopting integral development programs, the BangUn Program can help families recover and empower them, a necessary step to ensure a better future in addition to the steps being taken by the government.
When it comes to the Bangsamoro people, it’s about time we stood up for them for a change. With the BangUn program, we have a concrete way of doing just that.
We hope that you’ve found this article to be helpful, and we would love to hear your thoughts on it in the comments section below.