COTABATO CITY – “For the United Nations (UN) and international communities in general, the success of the BARMM government’s transition is a priority,” affirmed Gustavo Gonzalez, UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines.
Gonzalez said this during the joint meeting of the Mindanao Humanitarian Team (MHT) and the Bangsamoro Government held here last Friday, February 19.
He said the UN will further reinforce its presence in the Bangsamoro region by establishing its office in the area, adding that the organization’s assistance in the Philippines is mostly in the BARMM.
In his message during the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s 52nd session on Feb 17, Gustavo said the UN is a global community of knowledge and has participated in hundreds of peace processes.
“This knowledge is at your disposal. So I strongly encourage you to seize this opportunity and make the most of what the UN can offer,” he told the parliament members.
Citing the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic amid the transition, Gustavo said this is the time where the BARMM and UN’s close partnership is ‘fundamental’.
“We need to join our efforts, to make sure that we work together. We need to build coalition, alliances,” Gustavo said, further thanking the Bangsamoro Government for its trust and long standing partnership with the UN.
Meanwhile, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim at Friday’s meeting extended his gratitude to UN and other partner humanitarian agencies for their “continuing support to the Bangsamoro people before and during this time of calamity.”
Ebrahim said despite the pressing problems caused by the pandemic, the BARMM has forged strong partnerships in addressing difficult issues within the core and outside territories of the region.
Among the attendees to the meeting were Local Government Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, Social Services Minister Atty. Raisa Jajurie, and OIC Health Minister Dr. Amirel Usman. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
