Basilan lone district Rep. Mujiv Hataman on Wednesday, Nov. 2, threw his support behind President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s push to establish a district office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) after an assessment of the impact of severe tropical storm (STS) “Paeng” showed massive public infrastructure damage.
The lawmaker, the former governor of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), noted how he made the same call during the 18th Congress through Resolution (HR) No. 333.
“Napakaraming daan at tulay ang napinsala sa pananalasa ng nakaraang bagyo, at marami dito ang hindi madaanan, bagay na nagpapahirap sa pagpapadala ng tulong sa mga mamamayang nasalanta ng kalamidad (Many roads and bridges were damaged during the recent typhoon, and many of these are impassable, which makes it difficult to send help to our fellowmen affected by the calamity),” he said in a statement sent to media.
During the situation briefing on the effect of the severe storm in Maguindanao on Tuesday, Nov. 1, the Chief Executive said it was about time for the DPWH to create a district office in the BARMM.
Noting many bridges damaged during the storm, Marcos stressed that a district office would make it easier for the region to get help quickly in times of crises.
Hataman believes that a DPWH district office in the BARMM would not only help the region rise from the impact of the recent typhoon, but it would also bring progress.
READ: Marcos wants to establish DPWH district office in BARMM
“Nakikita rin natin ang kahalagahan ng pagtatayo ng isang tanggapan ng (We also see the importance of establishing an office of) DPWH sa (in) BARMM na mangangasiwa hindi lamang sa pagkumpuni ng mga (that will oversee not only the fixing of the) damaged infrastructure dulot ng Bagyong (brought by Typhoon) Paeng, kundi pati na rin sa patuloy na implementasyon ng (but also in the continuous implementation of) national projects na pinopondohan ng pamahalaan (that the government is funding),” he added.
Based on the latest government data, six bridges are currently impassable in BARMM.
The onslaught by Paeng over the weekend also rendered one road in BARMM impassable.
The region has the most fatalities due to Paeng. Of the 110 Paeng-related fatalities, 59 were reported in the region.
HR 333 was authored by Hataman and former lawmakers Datu Roonie Sinsuat Sr. and Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, Munir Aribson of Sulu, Rashidin Matba of Tawi-tawi, Ansaruddin Adiong of Lanao del Sur, and Amihilda Sancopan of Anak Mindanao.
Rep. Yasser Balindong of Lanao del Sur’s 2nd district also filed the resolution.
The resolution proposed the establishment of a DPWH district engineering office in every province of BARMM to oversee the maintenance of national roads and highways in the region and prevent officials from pointing fingers.
Doing so would not only help protect existing roads and highways there, but would also quickly respond to the region’s needs in times of calamities.
“Para ito sa ikagiginhawa ng nga mamamayan sa Bangsamoro at sa ikauunlad ng ating rehiyon (This is for the betterment of the Bangsamoro people and the progress of our region),” Hataman said.