MAASIM, Sarangani — Several ministries of the Bangsamoro Government, led by the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM), converged to bring basic services to more than 3,000 residents outside BARMM on Friday, Sept. 23.
The beneficiaries were Indigenous People and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (BIAF-MILF) who are residing in Maasim town in the province of Sarangani.
OCM’s Project TABANG or ‘Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan’ spearheaded the activity, along with the ministries of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Transportation and Communications (MOTC), Health (MOH), Science and Technology (MOST), and Ministry of the Interior and Local Government’s Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (MILG-READI).
A total of 2,500 sacks of 10-kilo rice were provided by Project TABANG and MILG-READI, hygiene kits from MSSD, driver’s essential kits from MOTC, free medicines and medical consultation from MOH, while the MOST opened the application for its cooperative and scholarship programs.
Norodin Donton, Project TABANG’s development officer, said the activity was one of the initiatives of BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim to deliver services to Moros living outside of the region’s territories.
“Ngayon nagdala tayo ng mga ayuda para ipamigay sa mga Bangsamoro (dito),” Donton said.
“Unang programa ito na nagbaba ang Bangsamoro Government sa BCOBAR (Bangsamoro Communities Outside BARMM) dito sa Maasim, Sarangani. Makakaasa po tayo na itong serbisyo ay makapagbigay ng tulong sa mga constituents dito.” Donton added.
BIAF member Jeffhrey Oliver Pangolima came early to the activity to apply his daughter to the Bangsamoro Assistance for Science Education (BASE) scholarship program of the MOST.
“Alhamdulillah. Kung sa tuwa lang siguro, abot langit ang tuwa namin at sa mga amir (leaders) natin lalo na sa BARMM. Tuwang-tuwa kami dito sa Sarangani kasi alam namin na hindi man kami pasok sa territory ng BARMM, feel namin nakapasok pa rin kami sa isip at puso niyo,” Pangolima said.
“Inuna ko itong scholarship kasi importante ito sa amin na mga parents lalo na ngayon na sa sistema ng kabuhayan natin, lahat puro na mataas o mahal (ang gastusin),” added Pangolima, hopeful that his daughter will be granted with the scholarship.
Project TABANG will also bring the similar assistance to Davao region and Zambuanga Sibugay. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
