MEETING WITH COUNTERPARTS. Officials of the National Inter-Agency Task Force on coronavirus disease 2019 meet with counterparts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Thursday (June 4) at the headquarters of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, to update and coordinate moves in fighting the deadly virus. Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (inset), chief implementer of the national government's policy against Covid-19, has lauded the quick response of the Bangsamoro IATF to combat Covid-19 in the region. (Photo courtesy of BPI-BARMM)
COTABATO CITY – The National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has cited the quick response of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the area.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., concurrent chief implementer of the government’s policy against Covid-19, met with the BARMM’s IATF on Thursday at the Army’s 6th Infantry Division headquarters in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
“The BARMM has been doing great (in its Covid-19 response) with minimum tallied cases,” Galvez said.
He pointed out that BARMM, despite being a young political entity in the south, has managed to keep Covid-19 cases at the minimum.
“The response (against Covid-19) is commendable,” Galvez said, adding that BARMM has been “self-reliant” in addressing the onslaught of the deadly virus.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque, concurrent national IATF chairperson who was also present during the meeting, acknowledged BARMM’s “collective effort” in controlling Covid-19 cases by setting up Covid-19 treatment and monitoring facilities across the region.
Earlier this month, the regional government inaugurated the 100-bed isolation facility in Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.
A similar facility is being built at the compound of the Datu Blah Sinsuat Hospital in North Upi town of the province.
In the same meeting, BARMM Ministry of Interior and Local Government Minister minister Naguib Sinarimbo reported that the region currently has 158 isolation facilities to accommodate Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) and Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs).
“We are prepared to welcome those who are arriving,” Sinarimbo said.
BARMM currently has a total of 4,360-bed capacity isolation facilities across in its five-province component areas, 87 contact tracing teams, 19 mechanical ventilators, and one reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing facility shared with Region 12 at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) in Cotabato City.
In addition, the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital and the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City, which are both Level 2 facilities, have a bed capacity of 299 and 400, respectively; while CRMC, a Level 3 facility has a 400-bed capacity.
BARMM interim Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim, present via zoom conference during the interaction, noted that the region is not an exception to the impacts of Covid-19.
“The prospect timeline of our peace process and the transition period have been affected due to measures to contain the virus,” Ebrahim said.
“Fortunately, just like what we’re having now, we are optimistic to use the technology we have at our disposal to continue building the new bureaucracy,” he added.
BARMM executive secretary Abdulraof Macacua added that the Bangsamoro officials affirmed the regional government's commitment to fight the pandemic.
Also in attendance to discuss the current situation of Covid-19 in the BARMM were National IATF officers Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana; Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año, and Armed Forces of the Philippines–Western Mindanao Command chief, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana.
On the side of BARMM, among those present were regional Cabinet Secretary and IATF spokesperson Mohammad Asnin Pendatun; Minister of Social Services and Development Raissa Jajurie; Ministry of Health chief, Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan; and Bureau of Public Information director Ameen Andrew Alonto. (PNA)
