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BARMM's sea ambulances among anniversary feast highlights

BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES • 08:45 AM Tue Jan 19, 2021
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By: 
John M. Unson
The two new sea ambulances of the Bangsamoro government were displayed on Monday at the regional capitol in Cotabato City.  (Photo from READI-BARMM)

COTABATO CITY --- Efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in seaside areas got a boost with two new sea ambulances unveiled Monday during the first ever hoisting here of the Bangsamoro regional flag.

Monday’s unveiling of the two stern-drive speedboats, procured in late 2020 by the office of the region’s local government minister, lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, was one of the highlights of Monday’s kickoff rite for the week-long commemoration of the 2nd founding anniversary of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, most known as BARMM.

The creation of BARMM in 2019 was premised on two compacts between Malacañang and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front --- the 2012 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and, subsequently, the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro.

Mayors of coastal towns in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur separately told reporters Tuesday they were elated with the acquisition by the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government-BARMM of the two new sea ambulances.

Sinarimbo said the two watercrafts shall be used for offshore emergency and disaster response operations and for regional health thrusts meant to contain the prevalence of coronavirus infection cases in the region meantime.

Sinarimbo is concurrent in-charge of the Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence, or READI contingent of BARMM, that has well-trained disaster and calamity responders helping push forward the regional government’s war on COVID-19.

BARMM officials led by the region’s appointed chief minister, Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, led Monday’s first ever hoisting of the Bangsamoro banner at the 32-hectare regional capitol in Cotabato City.

The design of the BARMM flag has official approval from the 80-seat interim regional parliament, comprised of members appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Monday’s flag raising event capped off the launching of the week-long activities highlighting the creation of BARMM that began with the January 2019 ratification of its charter, the Republic Act 9054, via a plebiscite in areas inside the now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Voters in ARMM, in Cotabato City and in 63 barangays in different towns in North Cotabato province in Region 12 voted in favor of RA 11054, also known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

The transition from ARMM to BARMM officially started in February 2019 through a symbolic rite in Cotabato City personally officiated by President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a message Monday Ebrahim, touted as the pioneering chief minister of BARMM, said he is thankful to Duterte for standing by his commitment to sustain the gains of the southern Mindanao peace process.

 

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