SECOND WAVE. Relief workers from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) distribute food items on Thursday (Sept. 17, 2020) for the second wave of its coronavirus disease 2019 aid to affected families in 63 villages in North Cotabato that joined BARMM in 2019. Minister Naguib Sinarimbo of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (inset) says 5,530 families in 12 villages in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, were the first to receive the assistance consisting of 10 kilos of rice and canned goods. (Photo courtesy of BPI-BARMM)
COTABATO CITY -- Some 5,530 families from 12 barangays in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato benefited from the second wave of relief assistance from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Thursday.
The beneficiaries, who each received 10 kilos of rice and canned goods, are from the villages of Balacayon, Buricain, Datu Binasing, Datu Mantil, Kadingilan, Libungan Toreta, Matilac, Patot, Simsiman, Lowe Baguer, Lower Pangangkalan, and Upper Pangangkalan.
The villages form part of 67 villages in six towns of North Cotabato that joined the new BARMM entity during a plebiscite held on January 2019. The relief distribution is in line with BARMM’s efforts in helping its constituents affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. The Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG), headed by lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, spearheaded the activity.
Sinarimbo noted that despite the ongoing pandemic, the BARMM will continuously support its constituents by implementing priority programs and projects.
He said that the BARMM, through Chief Minster Ahod Ebrahim, has allotted PHP13-billion worth of contingency fund this year and approved projects such as connectivity transportation operation in the island-provinces--programs that will support farmers and fisherfolks, and the construction of an additional 100 barangay halls in the region.
"Building 20 public markets is among the livelihood support priority programs of MILG," Sinarimbo said.
Other officials present during Thursday's relief distribution were Mohammad Antao, administrator of the 63 BARMM barangays in North Cotabato, and Pigcawayan BARMM coordinator Ebrahim Rahman, among others.
The BARMM will continue this week its relief operations in 55 other North Cotabato villages under BARMM in the municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, and Pikit. (PNA)
