COTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Government continues to respond to the needs of ‘Paeng’ evacuees in the region, including their necessity for clean water.
Through the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development (MSSD), water rationing are ongoing at several evacuation centers, which initially started at the elementary schools of Awang, Badak, and Dinaig, and Episcopal Church in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.
“Mayroon tayong mga water storage na nilagay. Although hindi pa po lahat ng areas dahil mayroong mga evacuation centers na may access sa water district,” said Erika Era Alim, MSSD’s focal person for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH).
“So doon sa mga may kakulangan sa tubig, nag-provide tayo ng water rationing services. Kumukuha tayo ng tubig sa Metro Cotabato Water District at dinadala natin sa mga evacutaion centers,” she added.
According to Alim, before the onslaught of tropical storm Paeng, MSSD has already prepositioned WASH kits in its provincial offices which made it easier for them to immediately deliver water and hygiene kits to the evacuees.
“Mayroon tayong tinatawag na water kits na ang laman ay jerry can na may kasamang aquatabs o yung water disinfection tablets na tumutulong para malinis ang ating inuming tubig,” Alim said.
“Atsaka mayroon din tayong hygiene kits na tutulong para mapanatilii ang kalinisan nila kahit po nasa evacuation centers sila,” she added.
Alim emphasized that the ministry is doing its best to provide for the needs of the Bangsamoro constituents affected by Paeng.
“Ang MSSD po ay ginagawa ang lahat, sa abot ng aming makakaya at sa abot ng aming mandato bilang social services and development agency, na ibigay kung ano ang karapatan ng ating mga kababayan na nasalanta ng bagyo,” she said. (Johanie Mae Kusain/BIO)
