LIVE SAVER. The Ministry of the Interior and Local Government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao turns over Tuesday (July 18, 2023) an PHP11 million worth of sea ambulance and patient transport vehicle (PTV) to beneficiaries from Tawi-Tawi province. In Maguindanao del Norte, the town of Northern Kabuntalan, and Barangay Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat town also received a PTV and fire truck (inset), respectively, through the assistance fund of two BARMM parliament officials. (Photo courtesy of MILG-BARMM)
COTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has handed over PHP11 million worth of life-saving equipment to officials of the Tawi-Tawi island province in ceremonies held here Tuesday.
Coursed through the region’s Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG-BARMM), the equipment consisted of a patient transport vehicle (PTV) and a sea ambulance.
The project forms part of the regional government’s Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF) implementation, according to BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim.
The sea and land transport vehicles were funded through the TDIF, which are intended for high-impact projects to propel the region's development under the current transition phase.
The TDIF is implemented by the various BARMM offices in collaboration with the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the provisional lawmaking body of the region.
In the Tawi-Tawi case, the office of BTA member Eddie Mapag Alih funded the project under his TDIF.
"These projects reflect the BARMM’s unwavering commitment to improving the well-being of all communities and ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of quality healthcare services," Alih said during the program held at the BARMM center here.
Ebrahim said the Tuan Ligaddong Lipae Memorial Hospital in Tawi-Tawi will benefit from the PTV valued at PHP2 million, while the Muslim Upliftment Foundation of Tawi-Tawi, Inc., will obtain the PHP9 million sea ambulance.
"Decades of unrest in our homeland have deprived our people of their rights and welfare, including access to government benefits and social services. But with the signing of the peace accord, we can now feel its positive impact on our people," Ebrahim said.
A transport vehicle was also turned over to the Liga ng Barangay in Northern Kabuntalan town in Maguindanao del Norte through the TDIF of Ambolodto.
Similarly, the Darapanan community in Sultan Kudarat town of the same province received a fire truck from the TDIF of Candao. (PNA)
