Barmm launches emergency response office

By Teng Lauban Datu
Cotabato City Bureau Chief .

Cotabato City — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Regional Government launched a new emergency and disaster response office – the Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (Rapid-Barmm) on Wednesday in Cotabato City.

The launching took place during the first organization meeting of the Barmm-Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council following the release of the Executive Order No. 12 signed by Barmm Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim last week.

E.O. No. 12 provides for the establishment of the BDRRMC and a disaster risk reduction management operation center, the Readi-Barmm, which shall be managed by the Ministry on Interior and Local Government (MILG).

The new office replaces the Armm Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office previously known as the  Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team.

The MILG shall coordinate with all the Ministers of the Bangsamoro Government, Local Government Units, and the National DRRMC on programs and activities pertaining to disasters.

Also, the MILG shall be coordinating with the Office of Civil Defense in monitoring and responding to displacements resulting from human-induced and natural calamities within the territorial jurisdiction  of the region.

MILG Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo said “the council shall prepare an action plan to review the proposed budget for responding to disasters.

Chief Minster Murad expressed his full support on the establishment BDRRMC.

“The organization of this council will allow us to be prepared at all times and will put in place our response and bring about the disaster resilient region,” he said. (with reports from bpi-barmm)