READ | HIGHLIGHTS of the BTA Parliament Session on June 24, 2020
✔️ The order of business was amended to include two (2) important agenda particularly the Chief Minister’s Hour, and the Proposed Resolution No. 252.
✔️ During the Chief Minister’s Hour, the Interim Chief Minister Ebrahim M. Murad reported on CoViD-19.
Shortly after the declaration of the Public Health Emergency on March 8, 2020, the Bangsamoro government constituted its Bangsamoro Inter Agency Task Force (BIATF) on CoViD-19 to discuss and implement Policies and Programs that will prevent the spread of the disease and protect the Bangsamoro.
The Chief Minister’s Hour focuses on what has been done so far and what are plans as we continue to fight against CoViD-19.
According to the Chief Minister’s Report, on March 13, 2020, the BIATF convened to discuss and finalize the Bangsamoro Advisory on CoViD-19 – a comprehensive guideline for the general public, the ministries and offices, as well as all the Local Government Units (LGUs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. The initial set of policies and directives agreed in that meeting proved to be crucial as it set the tone for the Bangsamoro Government’s Humanitarian and Public Health Emergency Response. The said guidelines are being updated every now and then to reflect the important policies and directives from the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the management of emerging infectious disease and the Bangsamoro Inter-Agency Task Force on CoViD-19.
Accordingly, the Key Strategies can be essentially divided into six (6) components:
- THE SUPPORT TO FRONT LINERS THROUGH AUGMENTATION OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT.
The frontline health warriors are at great risk in the war against CoViD-19, and the Bangsamoro government is proud to note that they are one of the first government entities in Mindanao to have procured and provided important medical supplies, such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), disinfectant, face masks, medicines, and misting tent, among others to our health and other frontline workers.
On March 19, the initial set of medical supplies arrived at the Bangsamoro Government Center and this was immediately turned over to the referral hospitals, integrated provincial health offices, and emergency operations centers in the region.
To date, the Bangsamoro government has provided at least 44,461,000 Million pesos worth of medical supplies that were distributed strategically to the different provinces of the region.
He emphasized that the frontline workers are considered everyday heroes in the war against CoViD-19 and shall also receive additional incentive as provided by law. This is in due recognition of their crucial services and sacrifices to save lives.
- TO ENHANCE THE REGION’S TESTING CAPACITY FOR COVID 19.
As advanced by experts in the field of humanitarian and public health emergency response, the strategies and plans to address this crisis circles around the need for fast and reliable testing of CoViD-19 patients.
This proved to be a challenge, especially during the earlier stages of the crisis in the country as it was only the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) that was accredited to conduct the test. This was later on expanded with the inclusion of more hospitals and laboratories. It is important to note that Mindanao earlier then had one accredited laboratory, the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.
The Bangsamoro Inter-Agency Task Force looked at different options to fill the gap. The development of alternative testing such as the rapid test kits and genexpert machines was closely monitored. Building a dedicated laboratory capable of CoViD-19 testing was also considered but this might take a while as we lack time in this period of crisis. The viable approach then is to upgrade the existing capacities of hospitals in the Region.
Based on the assessment and recommendation of Ministry of Health (MoH), the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) is the closest in meeting the requirements and technical capabilities of conducting RT-PCR for CoViD-19. PCR is the gold standard when it comes to testing CoViD-19 and is the only method used by DOH for confirmatory tests in the country.
With the shared desire to have an accredited and capable laboratory for CoViD-19 PCR test, on April 13, the BARMM government signed a memorandum of agreement with the CRMC to formalize the 14 million pesos worth of assistance that will be used for the much needed laboratory upgrade. On may 19, CRMC was finally given the license to operate and it has been conducting PCR test not only for the Bangsamoro Region but also for Region XII.
A similar assistance is currently on process worth 15 million to the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City in the hopes that it too will be able to conduct PCR test for CoViD-19. This is particularly important considering that majority of the confirmed cases are from Lanao del Sur. In addition, the BIATF is also looking at improving the laboratory capacity of strategic hospitals in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi.
- THE BIATF ON COVID 19 ALSO PROVIDED MASSIVE AND STRATEGIC RELIEF OPERATIONS.
The virus greatly affected our everyday lives but for some, the degree of effect is more severe as the threat of the virus is also felt in their livelihood and daily survival. The BIATF is fully aware that to be effective in containing the deadly virus through our community quarantines, there is a need to provide assistance to the most affected families to reinforce our call for them to stay at home.
As of today, the Bangsamoro Government was able to provide at least 433,161 food packs and relief goods to our target beneficiaries that were allocated accordingly to the different areas of the Bangsamoro Region and to the Bangsamoro communities in areas such as Davao, Zamboanga, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat Province. It is a continuing endeavor to provide assistance to beneficiaries that were not reached yet.
The 16,000 sacks rice allotted for the 80 Members of Parliament are part of the important components of response. These were distributed to the respective constituents particularly those who are extremely affected by CoViD-19 such as the Indigent and poor families, minimum and daily wage earners, among others.
Through our collective effort in providing basic goods to our people, especially at the peak of the crisis, the Bangsamoro government was able to make them feel that they are indeed present and around for them.
- THE SUPPORT TO OUR LGUS THROUGH THE 155 Million AUGMENTATION FUND
To further strengthen the public health emergency response at the local level, 155 million pesos was allocated as worth of emergency augmentation fund to the local government units as they are at the forefront in implementing policies and programs of the Bangsamoro government. 1 million pesos each was allocated to the 116 municipalities; 2 million per city; and 5, million per province.
The augmentation fund was used by our LGUs to procure medical supplies, augment their relief distribution, provide incentives to the frontline workers, or support the local emergency operations center.
- THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ISOLATION CENTER FOR COVID19
The BARMM government has fewer cases compared to other regions in the country, but they are not taking their chances against Covid 19. To further strengthen the response and the capacity to manage the spread of the virus, the Bangsamoro government built a 100-bed isolation center in the Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital. This is on top of the isolation centers prepared, built, or converted by the local government units.
The said isolation center, which was built from the ground-up in just 40 days, is a permanent structure that can be used by the hospital to cater to more patients post-CoViD-19. This was done at the time when strict community quarantine or lockdown was imposed by different LGUs, making the logistics involved in carrying out this project even more difficult.
The BARMM government is currently building another 100-bed capacity isolation center in Datu Blah Sinsuat District Hospital in Upi, Maguindanao. It is also building isolation centers in the other provinces of the Bangsamoro Region.
- THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL AMELIORATION PROGRAM AND OTHER KEY INTERVENTIONS.
The Ministry of Social Services and Development almost completed the distribution of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) for 4Ps and non-4Ps beneficiaries.
5, 000 pesos cash was given to the non-4Ps beneficiaries, which include the affected informal economy workers, senior citizens, indigent indigenous people, homeless and underprivileged, among others. 4Ps beneficiaries on the other hand received 3, 650 pesos cash on top of the usual rice subsidy worth 600 pesos and health subsidy worth 750 pesos. Bringing their total subsidy to an equivalent of 5,000 pesos.
The total target beneficiaries that was lodged under the MSSD is at 506,954 households. As of May 20, 2020, the Ministry has distributed the SAP assistance to 474,174 households or 93.5 percent of the target. The social workers are using the World Food Program’s (WFP) scope platform for beneficiary registration, beneficiary information management, and distribution reporting for SAP to ensure that the assistance will truly reach the target beneficiaries.
As of April 30, 2020, the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Management released a total of 1.9 Billion pesos that can be used for CoViD-19 responses. The said amount includes the quick response fund, regular budget of pertinent ministries such as MOH, Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), and Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), as well as funds from the special programs of the Office of the Chief Minister such as “Ambag” and Project Tabang. As such, this amount may also be used for other purposes but what is important to highlight is that we have available funds for our CoViD-19 related programs.
Currently there are 100 confirmed cases, 44 of whom have recovered, 4 have died, and 52 are considered to be active cases.
The sudden surge of confirmed cases in the Region are mainly because of the arrival of Locally Stranded Individuals and returning OFWs. It should not cause unnecessary panic, as the government is making sure that their return would not lead to community exposure. Upon their arrival at the ports, they are transported directly to the different isolation facilities and allow them to finally return to their homes only when their safety and negativity for CoViD-19 can be ascertained.
These new cases in the region will serve as a gentle reminder to all that although we are placed under the less restrictive Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), the threat of CoViD-19 is real and it is still very much out there. It is therefore extremely important to follow the public health guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force. These guidelines and policies are carefully crafted to strike a balance between saving our economy and saving our lives.
The spread of CoViD-19 in the BARMM will be managed through cooperation and teamwork.
Compared to other regions in the country, the BARMM government is better with their response and programs. In the first place, the autonomy puts them in a better position to respond to the crisis and protect the people.
Humanity has defeated pandemics before and the Chief Minister has a strong faith that with full cooperation, commitment, patience, and understanding, CoViD-19 can be defeated and we go back to the life that we knew.
✔️ Other MPs manifested their support to Chief Minister and while others raised their questions related to CoViD-19 topic.
✔️ Considering there is development and urgency, the order of business was amended to include the Cabinet Bill No. 55 entitled: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE BANGSAMORO BUDGET SYSTEM, CREATING THE BANGSAMORO BUDGET OFFICE IN THE BARMM, DEFINING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER RELEVANT PURPOSES.
✔️ The session also continued the unfinished business on the Committee Report no. 25 focusing on the Parliament Bill No. 46 entitled: AN ACT DEFINING THE POWER OF APPOINTMENT IN THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
✔️ Concerning Bill No. 46, it has been deliberated and respectfully recommending for its approval with amendments, to wit:
- Paragraph (c) of Section 4 Appointing Authority shall be amended as follow:
(c) The Speaker of the Parliament shall exercise administrative supervision over the legislative personnel, staff, and secretariat of the Bangsamoro Parliament, and shall be the appointing authority to all career positions in the Parliament including coterminous and contractual positions, as well as contracts of service thereat. Provided, that the speaker shall consult with the Chief Minister on the appointment of those applying for positions with salary grade 25 and above.
- Paragraph (d) of Section 4 Appointing Authority shall be amended as follow:
(d) The Heads of Offices shall appoint officials and employees to positions with salary grade of 24 and below in their respective agencies or offices.
✔️ During the period of debate and interpellation, questions were raised and answered by the majority floor leader.
✔️ Since the resolution on Teleconferencing was adopted, other MPs were given the chance to participate using the Zoom App.
✔️ MP Atty. Maisara Dandamun-Latiph asked a question concerning the confirmation of non-BTA members —if this will be included in the Bill or become a separate proposal. She then reserved her observations to be included in the period of amendments on the inclusion of confirmation in the BTA Bill No. 46 by the plenary regarding the non-members of the BTA being confirmed by the Parliament.
✔️ Other MPs proposed their amendments on BTA Bill No. 46.
