In observance of this year’s holy month of Ramadan, the Office of the Chief Minister, Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim through the project management office of Project TABANG, spearheaded an iftar meals distributions to various masjids, orphanages, and communities, dubbed as the Food Assistance for Special Traditions (FAST), which aims to serve different communities and masjids by distributing thousands of packed lunch or food parcels across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on 5-19 April 2023.
According to Chief Minister Ebrahim,“Paganayan lun na nyay kinalimu-limod tanu anya sa ingalan a iftar na yaden pagampaganayan lon na mangeni-ngeni sa Allahu ta’ala sa pambarakat’n nin su nya a kinalimod tanu endu barasan tanu nin kanu nya a kinab-puwasa tanu, kina-tigkel tanu, endu ipasampay nin sa lekitanu su mga mapya kahanda tanu”.
Project Manager Dr. Tomanda D. Antok, through its three (3) major components, such as: Humanitarian Response and Services, Health Ancillary Services, and Livelihood, successfully implemented the said activity in order to distribute 35,400 iftar meals that served the masjids and orphanages in the provinces of Maguindanao Del Sur, Maguindanao Del Norte, Lanao Del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, including the Special Geographic Areas (SGA), and Cotabato City.
The Humanitarian Response and Services, headed by Datu Serhan L. Badal, alongside Health and Livelihood component, and its field team from the project management office, led the food assistance activity, in coordination with the masjid administrators, barangay officials, volunteers and implementing partners of the said areas and institutions.
The dawn to dusk fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which started on March 23, is meant to draw the faithful closer to Allah (SWT) and to make the people aware of the suffering of those who are less fortunate.
Along with prayer, presenting one’s witness of faith, giving to the needy, and making the pilgrimage to Mecca, fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam.
On April 22, 2023, the holy month of Ramadhan came to a conclusion with the worldwide celebration of Eid’l Fitr.