📌Resumption of BTA Second Regular Session No. 55
March 17, 2021
Highlights:
☑️Proposed BTA Bills No. 48 and 49 on creating a Bangsamoro Development Corporation, and Bangsamoro Energy Development Corporation, were tackled at their second stage.
☑️MP Guerra as the principal author delivered a sponsorship speech emphasizing the necessity of the Bangsamoro Government creating GOCCs to fully take advantage and exploit the rich natural resources of the Bangsamoro Region such as Lake Lanao, the Liguasan Marsh, and Sulu Sea, among others.
☑️The proposed bills were referred to the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy; Committee on Trade, Investment, and Tourism; and the Committee on Finance.
☑️Proposed Resolution (PR) 391 directing the Darul-Ifta’ of the BARMM to conduct an Ulama Conference for the 2021 Ramadan Moon Sighting, and for every year thereafter, was tackled and approved by the plenary. MP Mujahid delivered a sponsorship speech.
☑️Proposed Resolution 395 authored by MP Deputy Minister Abbas on expressing full support to the national and MOH-BARMM vaccination plans were also tackled by the body.
☑️MP Abbas answered inquiries during the period of interpellation. According to studies conducted by the Ministry of Health, 75% of the population in Mindanao have reservations over the efficacy and safety of the vaccine. The following are the trusted sources of information of people in the BARMM region, ranked in order: 1. Religious Leaders; 2. Barangay Captains; 3. Barangay Health Workers; 4. Popular Politicians; 5. Experts. Following this information, the MOH shall tie-up with the necessary agencies and partners for their information campaigns.
☑️Health Frontliners such as healthcare workers shall remain to be the first to be vaccinated in Priority Group A, followed by indigent senior citizens, followed by other senior citizens. According to MP Abbas, the following vaccines are available for the BARMM region, Sinovac and Astrazenica. Sinovac has 50% efficacy in preventing minor illnesses, 70% efficacy in preventing COVID in general, and 100% efficacy in the prevention of severe COVID, which means that a person vaccinated with Sinovac may still contact COVID, but it shall, in no cases, be severe.
☑️The allocation of the BARMM-MOH shall depend on the list of every Integrated Provincial Health Office containing all the health workers in the province. There have been 13,490 healthcare workers identified in the BARMM Region.
☑️MP Abbas finally assured that the vaccines are halal, and that the Darul-Ifta has issued a fatwa on COVID-19 vaccines. The allegations that fetus have been used in the creation of the vaccines are also unfounded.
☑️MP Abbas further disclosed that there are 18,400 doses of vaccines which are with the MOH. There are plans to acquire five (5) refrigerated container vans per province for the transportation of the vaccine.
☑️MP Maisara Latiph requested that the MOH furnish a copy of their Strategic Communication Plan, and Reports of Adverse Reactions to the Vaccine, to the Parliament.
☑️Administration of the vaccines shall not be mandatory. Those with co-morbidities have to consult with their doctors before the vaccine may be administered to them.
☑️PRs 397, 404, 409, recognizing and mourning the passing of the first lady governor of Lanao del Sur, Princess Tarhata Alonto Lucman, were consolidated and approved.
☑️PR 408 celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8, and commending the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women in the Bangsamoro Region was also approved.
