Bangsamoro Govt Grants P1M to 3 Learning Centers for Therapy

Three specialized learning centers in Cotabato City recently received a combined P1 million in medical assistance from the Bangsamoro Government, a move aimed at easing the financial burden on families seeking therapy for children with special needs.

The funding, distributed on Oct. 27, helps the region provide more neurodivergent care.

The assistance was delivered through the Bangsamoro Outreach Program for Everyone (B-HOPE), an initiative under the Office of Member of Parliament Atty. Raissa Jajurie, and coordinated by the Ministry of Health. According to the Bangsamoro Government official website, the funding is specifically earmarked to subsidize the costs of therapy services that many families in the region otherwise struggle to afford.

This intervention is necessary. In October 2025, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority reported that more than 33,000 children in the region face functional difficulties. The legislative body has previously cited this data to advocate for the proposed Comprehensive SPED Service and Support Centers Act, which aims to formalize access to diagnostic services and specialized education across the Bangsamoro region.

The P1 million grant was divided among three local institutions, each serving a distinct group of students requiring consistent intervention. SMART Developmental and Learning Center, located on Bougainvillea Street in RH-7, received P333,000. The facility, which supports between 23 and 45 learners, said that the funds would help cover eight to 16 sessions per student.

“Continuous therapy is essential to help them reach their full potential,” the center stated following the turnover ceremony. By offsetting the cost of these sessions, the B-HOPE program seeks to ensure that students do not experience gaps in their developmental progress due to household financial constraints.

The remaining funds were distributed to two other facilities in Cotabato City:

Bridgehope Learning and Development Center, located at the Sindao Building along Sinsuat Avenue, received P333,000.
Miracle Tree Haven Integrated Learning Center, situated at the AA7 Building in Poblacion 5, received P334,000.

For many families, the cost of specialized therapy—ranging from speech and occupational therapy to behavioral interventions—can be prohibitive.

Critics of such programs often point to the temporary nature of direct financial assistance, noting that recurring government funding or systemic policy shifts, like the proposed Comprehensive SPED Service and Support Centers Act, are required to create long-term stability.