GETTING READY. Social workers of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Monday (March 23, 2020) prepare relief goods that would be distributed starting this week to various parts of the region affected by the coronavirus disease 2109 crisis. The region has been placed under general quarantine to address the threats of Covid-19. (Photo by Albashir Saiden – PNA Cotabato)
COTABATO CITY – Relief assistance for families affected by the coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) is set for distribution to various parts of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) this week, an official said.
Asnin Pendatun, spokesperson of the BARMM’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), said that relief operations will start in Cotabato City and the adjoining areas of Maguindanao and 63 villages in North Cotabato that voted for inclusion to the fledging BARMM entity during the 2019 plebiscite.
The assistance comprises food packs containing 25 kilos of rice, 10 pieces of noodles, seven pieces of canned corned beef, seven canned tuna, two cans of sardines and instant coffee packs.
“The Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD-BARMM) has downloaded funds to all the BARMM provinces for the goods to be bought inside their areas as they are all under community quarantine,” Pendatun said.
An initial fund amounting to some PHP7.3 million were downloaded to the provinces through the MSSD-BARMM purposely to address the negative economic impact of Covid-19 to the communities, he said.
“This is only initial, we will make sure that all constituents in need would receive assistance from the regional government,” he added.
BARMM’s office of the chief minister, meanwhile, said it is also preparing the financial assistance for all its employees based on the Department of Labor and Employment’s Labor Advisory No. 12, series of 2020, that states all workers nationwide, regardless of status, are entitled to a cash aid amounting to PHP5,000.
“On top of the PHP5,000 cash aid, relief packs would also be extended to all BARMM employees,” Pendatun said.
Meanwhile, BARMM’s health minister, Dr. Safrullah Dipatuan said that his office is also set to download a total of PHP2 million to each rural health unit in the region to make sure they would not run out of medicine and supplies.
“We will download the additional fund as soon as possible”. Dipatuan said.
Dipatuan also reiterated that all medical expenses of all Covid-19 patients in the BARMM will be covered by the regional government’s "Ayudang Medikal para sa Bangsamoro" Program or AMBAG in all accredited and partner hospitals in the region. (PNA)
