BARMM sets up public assistance center

COTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro constituents will now have easier access to the programs and services of the Bangsamoro Government following the launching of the Bangsamoro People’s Center on Friday, November 22, in the city.

The center is part of the Ministry of Interior and Local Government’s (MILG-BARMM) initiatives in bringing the Bangsamoro Government closer to the people.

Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, MILG-BARMM minister, said the center will cater to the needs of the Bangsamoro people, especially those not working in the bureaucracy.

“Kailangan nating magkaroon ng espasyo para yung mga kasama nating wala sa gobyerno, pwede silang maging parte, mag-participate, mag-influence, at sumama dun sa gobyerno natin,” Sinarimbo said.

“Yung gobyerno natin ay dapat gobyerno ng mamamayan. Wala pong value yung serbisyo natin kung hindi naman umaabot dun sa mga kababayan natin,” he added.

The center is located inside the Bangsamoro Government’s Center in Cotabato City and is open to the public between 8AM-5PM from Monday to Friday.

One of the center’s purpose is to assist those who have official transactions with the other Bangsamoro Government’s ministries/offices but are not familiar with the Bangsamoro Government Center.

To avoid the inconvenience of being tossed from one office to another, Sinarimbo said, “meron kaming staff na sasama sa kanila para ituro kung saan yung opisina.”

“Kung meron naman po kayong papel na gustong ipaabot sa ibang ministry/office, pwede niyong i-drop dito at kami na ang maghahatid doon sa opisina,” he added.

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, together with Minister Sinarimbo, led the ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday.

Ebrahim said, “initial lang itong effort ng MILG. We need to widen also the space where we can talk to our people, so baka later on we can establish a wider people’s center so that everybody will be accommodated.”

Also present during the ceremony were officials from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) National such as Allyn Lopez, Pablo De Castro, Nelia Abalos, Justine Joyce Figueroa, Norman Aparente, and Guiamel Ali, Chairman of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society.

E-Governance

Minister Sinarimbo also said his ministry plans to move towards E-Governance.

E-Governance means using technology to strengthen the relationship between the government and its people.

Citing an example, Sinarimbo said those barangay captains in the far-flung municipalities of the Bangsamoro region who needs certificate of recognition may send their queries online. “Para hindi na kayo gumastos na pumunta dito, ipadala niyo nalang sa amin online,” Sinarimbo said.

He said, “yun din ang pangarap natin sa ating Local Government Units (LGUs), na yung serbisyo nila ay ma-access ng mga tao ng mas mura o wala nang bayad. At hindi na nila kailangang pumila dun sa mga munisipyo.”

Sinarimbo said the Bangsamoro people can access the ministry’s website thru mlg.bangsamoro.gov.ph.

“Pwede nilang ma-access yung website namin kung saan nakadetalye yung budget namin, saan napupunta, magkano ang natira, o ano pa ang mga susunod naming gagawin,” he said. (Bureau of Public Information)