Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim leads on July 28 the ‘TABANG Bangsamoro sa Sulu’ convergence activity where thousands of residents availed themselves of several free services from the Bangsamoro Government. (Ben Cabuntalan/BIO)
JOLO, Sulu — Led by Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, the Bangsamoro Government on July 28 orchestrated a convergence of its ministries, offices, and agencies to bring free services to the people of Sulu.
Dubbed “TABANG Bangsamoro sa Sulu”, the activity held at the Ministry of Public Works – 1st District Engineering Office was aimed to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and promote regional development.
CM Ebrahim officially opened the event, emphasizing the critical role of unity and collaborative efforts among BARMM institutions.
“Itong TABANG is a regular program na ginagawa natin sa BARMM kasama ang ministries; nagko-converge sa isang lugar para magbigay ng ayuda, magbigay ng tulong sa mga Bangsamoro doon sa lugar. So, nandito ngayon ang karamihan sa mga ministries at magbibigay sila ng tulong,” CM Ebrahim said, addressing the Tausug people.
[TABANG is a regular program that we do in BARMM together with the ministries; we converge in one place to provide assistance, to help the Bangsamoro community. So, most of the ministries are here now to deliver assistance.]
Moreover, Ebrahim also highlighted how such activities foster a shared vision and collection approach to addressing regional challenges.
During the event, the Ministry of Health (MOH) provided medical services, distributed reading eyeglasses, awarded allowances to Barangay Health Workers, and delivered an ambulance and mobile clinic to enhance healthcare accessibility. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Tourism (MTIT) facilitated free business name registrations and introduced a new vehicle to improve its operations.
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) also awarded financial assistance to support science education initiatives, while the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) provided cash assistance to 815 farmers and fisherfolk affected by El Niño.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) delivered educational materials, IT equipment, and learning resources to enhance education quality. The Office of the Chief Minister’s Project Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan (TABANG) also distributed 7,000 sacks of rice to the community.
Alnizhar Mohammad, a recipient of Project TABANG, extended his gratitude to the BARMM government for the assistance they provided to the people of Sulu.
“Magsukul tuud kami pa BARMM sin kiyadihilan kami bugas, malaggu tabang tuud ini tabang,” said Mohammad.
[We extend our heartfelt thanks to the BARMM for giving us sacks of rice, this is a great assistance for us.]
Jolo Municipal Information Officer Lincoln Tulawie, representing the Municipal Local Government of Jolo, also expressed appreciation to the regional government, highlighting their gratitude for the attention and support extended to their community.
The convergence activity demonstrates BARMM’s commitment to addressing regional challenges through a unified and coordinated approach, ultimately aimed at improving the lives of the Bangsamoro people. (Alline Jamar M. Undikan/BIO)
