Cotabato City, Philippines โ Health workers in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) who served during the pandemic had received their Health Emergency Allowance (HEA).
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahimโs office, facilitated the release of the HEA from the national government between June and November 2024. The allowance, ranging from โฑ3,000 to โฑ9,000 per month, retroactively covers several months since the pandemic began.
Personnel from the Police Regional Office of BARMM and soldiers of the Armyโs 6th Infantry Division in Central Mindanao had also received the HEA.
Long-Overdue
The long-overdue stipends were part of the backlog inherited by BARMMโs Health Minister, Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, Jr., who is also a member of the 80-seat Bangsamoro regional parliament. Sinolinding assumed office in June 2024, taking on significant administrative challenges left by his predecessors.
Dr. Allen Minalang and Dr. Mohammad Arif Baguindali, heads of the Integrated Provincial Health Offices in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Sur, respectively, expressed their gratitude.
โWe are deeply thankful to Minister Sinolinding, Chief Minister Ebrahim, and the Department of Health for ensuring the release of the HEA to over 4,000 barangay, municipal, and provincial COVID-19 frontline workers in the Bangsamoro region,โ said Minalang from Marawi City.
Sinolinding personally distributed the funds to barangay and municipal health workers, particularly in remote island towns.
Four New Hospitals
In addition to addressing HEA backlogs, BARMMโs health sector received a boost with the approval of four new hospital projects.
On December 12, the regional parliament passed measures to establish the South Ubian General Hospital in Tawi-Tawi, the Aleem Abdulazis Memorial Hospital in Lanao del Sur, and two facilities in Maguindanao del Norteโthe Northern Kabuntalan General Hospital and the Datu Blah Sinsuat General Hospital. Each project has been allocated โฑ50 million, with construction set to begin in early 2025.
โThese new hospitals will significantly enhance healthcare services for residents of Maguindanao del Norte,โ said Baguindali, whose jurisdiction includes both Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte.
Furthermore, over 50 municipal health centers and dispensaries have been equipped with ambulances, procured through the Transitional Development Impact Fund by individual Bangsamoro parliament members.
Sinolinding expressed his gratitude to his colleagues in the parliament for their support, emphasizing that these advancements represent a collective effort to improve healthcare across the region.
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