COTABATO CITY—The Development Administrative Committee (DACom) of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) under the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC) adopted the resolution creating the Bangsamoro Sub-Committee on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (BSCW) today, October 21, 2021 held at BPDA Conference Room, BGC, Cotabato City.
This action is part of the Bangsamoro Government’s move in strengthening its policies to take into utmost consideration the delivery of necessary projects, programs, and services that are beneficial to the social welfare of its people.
As per Ministry of Health’s (MOH) data, although the Philippines has vast areas of water resources, the problem on drinking water still exists with 455 municipalities, where more or less 16 million populations in the country have no access to potable and safe drinking water.
Director Khalid Dumagay of Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), who presided the meeting, stressed the significance of creating the BSCM.
“I think the issue of potable water in the BARMM is more problematic compared to other regions in the country, and that is why we need to come up with firm stand to create this sub-committee to oversee the water, sanitation and hygiene situation in our region”, Director Dumagay added.
During this first regular meeting, internal rules and procedures for BSCW was drafted and the detailed functions of each member ministries, offices, and agencies were clearly defined and enumerated but still subject for refinement.
MOH Director General Dr. Ameril Usman challenged every member of BSCW to take an active part in these undertakings.
“Our people really need a safe and a potable drinking water, we should participate and share our expertise, our specialtise, our talent, our passion etc., because BARMM need it very much to craft brilliant ideas to solve the WASH problems in our society”, Dr. Usman said in his closing message.
The BSCW shall serve as the coordinating and Monitoring body that will oversee the implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene projects in the BARMM.
Meanwhile, BSCW is expected to have 17 focal members from the different ministries, offices or agencies of BARMM, including the MILG, MOH, Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), Ministry of Public Works (MPW), Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE), Office of the Senior Minister (OSM)-OCM, Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency in Action on Disaster Incidence (BARMM-READI), Ministry of Human Settlement and Development (MHSD), Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO), Ministry of Finance, Budget and Management (MFBM), Office of the Cabinet Secretary (OCS)-OCM, and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) as ex-officio member. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
