THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) announced that the initial set of medical supplies and equipment it procured intended to augment the needs of the health workers in the region have arrived on Tuesday, March 24, at the Barmm government center in Cotabato.

Mohammad Asnin Pendatun, spokesperson of the Barmm Inter-Agency Task Force on coronavirus disease (Covid-19), said Wednesday the procurement of the supplies and equipment is part of the Barmm’s comprehensive plan to combat the spread of Covid-19.

“Our priority are the frontliners, especially the nurses and doctors. We need to make sure that their needs are well taken cared,” Pendatun said.

Pendatun said the supplies and equipment Barmm has purchased include boxes of personal protective equipment (PPE), surgical masks, 70 percent Isoprophyl alcohol, disinfection solution, thermal scanners, assorted medicines and vitamins, and misting tents.

He said these were airlifted to Cotabato City through the C-130 cargo plane of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Pendatun said more supplies and equipment are set to arrive in the coming days.

He added that these supplies will also be distributed to Provincial Emergency Operations Center (PEOCs) in the five provinces of Barmm namely: Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao.

Meanwhile, Pendatun said that the Barmm’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Covid-19 is also finalizing its mechanisms and guidelines in distributing the relief packs and medical supplies as well as equipment considering the existing quarantine and social distancing. (SunStar Zamboanga)