BARMM to implement ‘Paeng’ recovery plan

THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is now preparing a recovery plan for the devastation wrought by recent Tropical Storm “Paeng.”

Ahod Ebrahim, BARMM chief minister, on Wednesday, said the Bangsamoro Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC) is set to launch the “Early Recovery Plan” to sustain interventions for the storm victims and destruction to infrastructure and agriculture in the region.

“We need to make an assessment and see what the Bangsamoro government can do and adopt measures to avoid heavy casualties,” Ebrahim added.

Recently, the BDRRMC conducted a series of meetings to strategize and establish an immediate plan to help the victims of Paeng recover fast.

All regional agencies were directed to help analyze the effects of the natural calamity [Paeng], one of the most devastating and unprecedented catastrophes the autonomous region had ever experienced.

Ebrahim also pushed for the construction of more temporary evacuation shelters for the affected families in Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte, and other affected areas in the region.

“We are looking at temporary evacuation centers because it is the opening of classes. At some point, they (children) must be transferred, otherwise, classes would be affected, and we don’t like that to happen,” he said.

Meanwhile, BARMM Interior Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said the plan is conducting life-sustaining activities for the communities before going to the full rehabilitation and recovery of the communities.

Sinarimbo added that BARMM quickly assisted residents whose houses were slightly damaged, so they can return to their homes while the regional government works on the restoration of roads, bridges and electricity.

He said over 400 houses were severely and partly damaged at ground zero in Kusiong village, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.

According to data from the BDRRMC, about 1,074 houses were damaged by the tropical storm across the region.

The formal launching of BARMM’s early recovery plan for Paeng victims is expected later this week.