Manila, May 7 -- A total of 22,000 children and pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are expected to benefit from the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUn) Program in 2026.

DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the Department's Field Office 12 (Soccsksargen) has already started BangUn's 180-Day Nutrition Services in several identified priority areas in BARMM on April 28.

These include Malidegao and Nabalawag in the Special Geographic Area (SGA); Shariff Aguak and Datu Anggal Midtimbang in Maguindanao del Sur; and Datu Blah Sinsuat and Sultan Mastura in Maguindanao del Norte.

Dumlao said the DSWD's Fie...