DAVAO CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) inaugurated Friday, July 2, a 100-bed isolation facility for COVID-19 patients in Buluan, Maguindanao.
"This facility is just one of the various infrastructures built throughout the BARMM, in the hope to treat our fellow Bangsamoro who (are) locally infected by this virus," said Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim in his message delivered by Cabinet Secretary Mohn Asnin Pendatun during the inauguration at the Buluan District Hospital (BDH) grounds.
Ebrahim also said that the "building is a living testament that even though the Bangsamoro government is still undergoing the very complex transition period, we are doing everything we could in fulfilling our common aspiration of a better life for all."
Dr. Rizaldy Piang, BDH officer-in-charge chief, said the facility will cater not only to patients from Buluan, Pandag, Paglat, Mangudadatu, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, and Paglas but also those from nearby towns in the Socsargen (South Cotabato, Sarangani, and General Santos) region (Region 12). “With this facility, we expect that we can help mitigate the risks posed by the life-threatening disease,” Piang added.
In a statement, Architect Eduard Guerra, minister of the Ministry of Public Works (MPW), said the region currently has eight isolation facility projects. Five of these facilities, two in Maguindanao and one each in Lanao del Sur, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, have been inaugurated and are operational. Guerra said the isolation facility in Basilan is scheduled for turnover next week, while the facility in Malabang, Lanao del Sur is still under construction.
Guerra said each facility was allotted P27 million.
Data from the BARMM Ministry of Health showed that as of July 1, Maguindanao has recorded 1,882 COVID-19 cases, with 149 active.
BARMM logged 49 new cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases to 8,603. BARMM currently has 606 active cases, 7,674 recoveries, and 323 deaths.