You may already be familiar with the 4Ps, but have you ever heard of the “BangUn” program by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)? If not, then keep on reading, because we’ll be talking about this program in this article!
The acronym stands for “Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon” (BangUn), a nutrition program seeking to ensure that all children in Mindanao have access to proper food, medical care, and education. It was established by former President Rodrigo Duterte, in response to cases of malnutrition in vulnerable communities in Mindanao.
Image Credit: DSWD X – Northern Mindanao / Facebook
What is the BangUn Program?
As the name says, the BangUn program focuses on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Basically, it aims to improve the health of malnourished (i.e. underweight or severely underweight) children, while also providing their parents with greater access to food and nutrition-support programs.
The program offers food (e.g. fruits, vegetables, proteins, micronutrient powders, etc.) as well as non-food items (e.g. cooking and eating utensils). It also provides nutrition education, nutrition direct services, and community development projects (e.g. food-for-work, cash-for-work, livelihood skills training, livelihood capital, psychosocial interventions, etc.).
Objectives of the Program
Generally, the main objective of the BangUn program is to provide an extensive and culturally-responsive service to address cases of malnutrition in Muslim Mindanao.
Specifically, the program aims to:
- Increase food security among families in the region;
- Improve the health and nutrition status of children;
- Strengthen government capacity to ensure effective delivery of services; and
- Establish a sustainable program framework for addressing malnutrition in Mindanao.
Notably, the program involves collaboration between government and non-government organizations, along with the parents of malnourished children and local government unit (LGU) staff.
Target Beneficiaries
The target beneficiaries of the BangUn program include:
- Children age 0 to 4 years old in communities;
- Children age 4 to 6 years old in “madaris” (Muslim schools);
- Children age 6 to 12 years old in madaris or public elementary schools that are not covered by feeding programs of the Department of Education (DepEd); and
- Pregnant women, including teen mothers and lactating mothers.
NOTE: The program covers communities located in Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi Tawi, Lanao del Sur, and Basilan.
Program Activities
The BangUn program is composed of two major phases: the social preparation phase, and the conduct of feeding projects.
1. First Phase: Social Preparation
Before anything else, the DSWD staff gathers information about the community, holding meetings with the LGUs, schools, and parents involved. Committees for food preparation, cooking, and distribution will be assigned.
As for the children, their weights and heights will be measured with the help of nutrition officers and school nurses. Information such as their age, date of birth, and other details, will also be taken note of. For each child, data records will be stored to keep track of his/her nutrition progress throughout the course of the program.
2. Second Phase: Conduct of Feeding
Over a period of 180 days, the beneficiaries will receive meals based on a prepared schedule. The menu should follow the BangUn Nutritionist or Dietitian. Changes may be made to the “halal cycle menu” depending on the availability of local ingredients.
The parents and BangUn staff are responsible for preparing the meals and distributing these to the children. In addition to feeding activities, the children are also provided nutrition education. Topics such as good table manners, washing hands before and after meals, brushing teeth, and other health-related subjects may be discussed.
Video: Launching of BangUn in Marawi City and Taraka, Lanao del Sur
Last June 2023, DSWD launched the BangUn program in Marawi City and Taraka, Lanao del Sur. Check out this video shared by DSWD X – Northern Mindanao to watch highlights of the event:
Frequently Asked Questions
Meanwhile, here are some commonly asked questions and answers about the BangUn program:
1. What is the BangUn program?
The Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUn) is a program that aims to make sure that all children in Mindanao have access to food, medical care, and education. It was established by former President Rodrigo Duterte, in response to cases of malnutrition in vulnerable communities in the region.
2. What are the goals of the program?
Generally, the BangUn program aims to provide an extensive and culturally-responsive service to address cases of malnutrition in Muslim Mindanao. Specifically, it seeks to: (a) increase food security among families; (b) improve the health and nutrition status of children; (c) strengthen government capacity to ensure effective delivery of services; and (d) establish a sustainable program framework for addressing malnutrition in the region.
3. Who are the target beneficiaries?
The program’s target beneficiaries include: (a) children age 0-4 years old in communities; (b) children age 4-6 years old in “madaris” (Muslim schools); (c) children age 6-12 years old in madaris or public elementary schools not covered by feeding programs of the Department of Education (DepEd); and (d) pregnant women, including teen mothers and lactating mothers.
4. What are the program activities?
The program is carried out into two major phases: (a) social preparation, which includes gathering information about the beneficiaries, their families, and communities; and (b) conduct of feeding, which includes the preparation, cooking, and distribution of meals to beneficiaries.
In addition, nutrition education is also provided, during which beneficiaries learn about good table manners, personal hygiene, and other health-related subjects.
5. How can I learn more about it?
To learn more about the BangUn program, you can get in touch with the nearest DSWD office.
Contact Information: BangUn Program
If you have any questions or concerns about the BangUn program, you can get in touch with the DSWD through the following contact details:
Email: bangun@dswd.gov.ph
Website: https://www.dswd.gov.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BangUNDSWD/
Latest Updates
Initially, the BangUn project was designed to run for three years, from July 2018 to June 2021. To this day, however, the government, through the DSWD — continuous to carry out the program.
Based on a press release, the BangUN program had served 18,657 children and 3,343 pregnant and nursing women in 2022. In the following year, another press release stated that the program had served 18,867 children and 3,133 pregnant and nursing women in the BARMM.
Final Thoughts
More than ever, vulnerable communities such as those in the BARMM region need help in terms of basic needs. Fortunately, programs such as the DSWD’s BangUn continue to extend much-needed food, medical aid, and nutrition education to these areas.
Aside from BangUn, another community-related initiative of the DSWD is the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). Check out this link to know more about this major program!