MARAWI CITY –Bangsamoro Government’s Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi-BARMM) is set to construct five (5) emergency operation centers (EOCs) across the region.
This, after the approval of a resolution during the first meeting of the BARMM’s Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) held in Cotabato City on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
Interior and Local Government Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo said the establishment of EOC to each of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi will enable the BARMM government to swiftly deploy emergency responders and relief assistance in case of calamities.
“In the standard operating procedure as outlined in the disaster risk management flow, it is the Local Government Units (LGUs) who would take the lead in their respective areas. So, the operation centers would simply support the provincial DRRM in the different provinces,” said Sinarimbo who also heads the READi-BARMM.
The construction of each of the EOCs has an allotted budget of Php15-million which will be funded by the MILG.
Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, who presided over Wednesday’s meeting, said the BARMM-RDRRMC hopes to “institutionalize efforts that can help people in times of disaster along with standard risk reduction management.”
“We are fortunate that the Bangsamoro is the most resilient people around — embracing unimaginable challenges and hardships for centuries,” Ebrahim added.
The council also approved a resolution transferring to the chief minister the power to declare a state of calamity. This is to speed up the decision-making process for the immediate facilitation of the region’s rescue and relief operations. (BIO/PIA-ICIC)
