COTABATO CITY — Bangsamoro Government on Oct. 21, conducted a medical outreach program and relief distribution to indigenous peoples and Moro communities at Barangay Patot in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato.
The ministries of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA) and Health (MOH), and Office of the Chief Minister’s Project TABANG (Tulong Alay Sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan) spearheaded the activity.
150 families received rice, soap, masks and alcohol from MIPA, hygiene kits, bucket and dipper from Project TABANG, while MOH conducted free medical consultations.
The program targeted indigenous communities in the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) of the BARMM territory.
“This is a continous activity of MIPA, patuloy din kaming nagde-determine ng area at kapag nakita na kailangan nila ng tulong ay dadalhin natin itong programa na medical outreach program sa kanila,” said MIPA Program Coordinator Guiamalodin Palacasi.
Palacasi also said that the program was part of the Indigenous Peoples Month celebration in the region.
“Itong programa ay naisagawa upon our assertion through MIPA, sinabi po natin na may mga community kami na IP sa cluster ng Pigcawayan na nangangailangan ng medical assistance at agad na nag-validate ang MIPA sa mga beneficiary,” said Datu Ebs Rahman, coordinator of Pigcawayan cluster.
Barangay Patot is one of the 12 villages in Pigcawayan, NorthCot that voted for inclusion in BARMM during the 2019 plebiscite.
Rahman also thanked BARMM regional government for the other support they earlier received such as the concreting of roads in the area, services for farmers and fisherfolks, and delivering relief assistance to residents in BARMM’s 63 barangays in North Cotabato. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
