COTABATO CITY— The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has crafted its Bangsamoro Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (BDRRM) Plan for 2023-2028 — marking the first comprehensive strategy for managing disaster risks in the region since its establishment.
The BDRRM Plan will serve as a guide to the initiatives and priority interventions of the Bangsamoro Government in reducing risks, mitigating impacts of disasters from both natural or human-induced events, providing effecting responses, and facilitating recovery for affected communities.
BDRRM Chairperson Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, represented by Senior Minister Abunawas Maslamama, and Vice-Chairperson Minister of Interior and Local Government Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba led the launching of the plan on Aug. 30 at the Bangsamoro Government Center in this city.
In his video message, CM Ebrahim emphasized the significance of the plan, saying, “This Plan is special. It is a product of pure tenacity, perseverance, and determination.”
“As a new government, we lacked the baseline and data repositories. It may have started from scratch, but with all your help, we made it. Alhamdulillah,” he added.
The BDRRM plan contains programs, projects, and activities of the four (4) thematic pillars of the DRRM: Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Response and Early Recovery, and Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery.
The plan designates specific ministries to lead each pillar: the Ministry of Science and Technology as vice-chairperson for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the MILG as vice-chair for Disaster Preparedness, the Ministry of Social Services and Development as vice-chair for Disaster Response and Early Recovery, and the Bangsamoro Planning Development Authority as vice-chair for Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery.
Dr. Lionel Dabbadie, representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the Philippines, expressed support for the BDRRM Plan. “FAO stands ready to support the implementation of the BARMM BDRRM Plan,” he stated.
The development of the BDRRM Plan involved extensive consultations with BARMM ministries, city and provincial DRRM offices, security and humanitarian partners, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders.
“The BDRRMP is tailored fit to our needs, our culture, and our dreams. It may not be perfect, but it is ours,” said CM Ebrahim, adding that it is anchored on international frameworks and agreements and is in accordance with national laws and policies. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
