Jolo fire victims benefit from BARMM's Project Tabang

Cotabato City  - The Bangsamoro Government brought its Project TABANG in the municipality of Jolo in Sulu province to help the thousands of families displaced by a massive fire.

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod 'Al Haj Murad' Ebrahim led the Project Tabang on Monday, March 9, held at the 1st District Engineering Office of the Ministry of Public Works - Sulu.

Over 2,000 families have benefitted from various free services delivered by the different ministries and offices of the Bangsamoro Government.

The services include medical and dental consultations, eye screening, hypertension and diabetes screening, immunization, distribution of medicines, among others.

The families also received relief packages containing rice packs, canned goods, water gallon, sleeping mat, hygiene kits, kitchen wares, school supplies, slippers, and many other.

Monday's activity was the first engagment of the Bangsamoro Government with the province of Sulu.

"Ang basic concept natin dito sa Project TABANG ay nilalapit natin yung gobyerno sa mga constituents," Ebrahim said in his speech.

Ebrahim stressed, "Almost 50 years we were in the revolution, since 1969. Wala kaming pinangarap kundi magserbisyo sa mga tao. Service to the people and service to Allah."

"Ngayon Alhamdullilah, binigyan tayo ni Allah ng pagkakataon na ang serbisyo natin ay hindi na bilang rebelde kundi bilang gobyerno na," he added.

Ebrahim assured the constituents that in the remaining terms of the interim Bangsamoro Government, "ima-maximize namin ang lahat ng magagawa naming serbisyo para sa inyong lahat at para sa ating pamayanan."

Meanwhile, Sulu Governor Abdulsakur Tan expressed his gratitude to the Bangsamoro Government for helping the victims of Jolo fire.

"Nagpapasalamat kami Chief Minister at nandirito kayo sa panahon ng kahirapan. Nahihirapan ang iyong mga kapatid na mga biktima ng sunog," Tan said.

It can be recalled that on February 3, a huge fire occured in the barangays of Chinese Pier, Takut-Takut, and Tulay in Jolo and left at least 2,000 families homeless. The Bangsamoro Government has intially extended aid to the victims on February 9, through its Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READI-BARMM).

Tan urged his constituents to support the ne Bangsamoro Autonomous Government: "Suportahan natin si (Chief Minister) Murad," he said.

Project TABANG is an initiative of the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) aimed at facilitating the direct and immediate extension of basic services and assistance to the Bangsamoro people, specifically on health and education services.

It is conducted regularly in the different areas across the Bangsamoro region, most especially in the poverty and calamity-stricken communities.

Since its kick-off in Cotabato City and Maguindanao province on September 2, 2019, the Bangsamoro Government has already conducted the project in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, and in North Cotabato.

Ebrahim said the next TABANG will be conducted on April in the province of Basilan. (Bureau of Public Information)