The Manila Times

BARMM new normal-ready, installs handwash stations

- JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

BARMM CENTER, Cotabato City: The Ministry of Transporta­tion and Communicat­ions of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MoTC-BARMM) last week installed a handwashin­g station inside the BARMM Center and other public places as a sign of its readiness post- Covid.

Mark Navales, MoTC-BARMM communicat­ions officer, in an interview with TheManila Times said MoTC Minister Dickson Hermoso had a meeting with the BARMM Inter-Agency Task force where the minister announced that “manufactur­ed handwashin­g stations will be installed strategica­lly in all airports, seaports, bus and PUV (public utility vehicle) terminals within BARMM provinces and cities.”

“The project is a partnershi­p with Metro Cotabato Water District (MCWD), which will release

enough supply of water to each handwashin­g station in the city and the MoTC will provide detergents needed,” Hermoso said. MCWD General Manager Magarita Roales supports the project, saying it would benefit the

people of Cotabato City and the Bangsamoro.

“This hand washing station [inside the BARMM Center] is a good idea as we enter the new normal after the Covid-19 pandemic,” BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim said.

To demonstrat­e the importance of the handwashin­g station, first to use it inside the BARMM Center were Hermoso, MoTC Deputy Minister Von Alhaq, BARMM Land Transporta­tion franchisin­g and Regulatory Board head Akmad Brahim and the MoTC staff.

“This project is inexpensiv­e and of great importance for all of us as we enter the new normal. We look forward that transport and communicat­ion groups will emulate the same,” Al Haq said.

Handwashin­g stations will also be installed at the gate of MCWD; bus and public utility jeepney terminals; Polloc port, subport in Lamitan City, Basilan; passenger terminals in Jolo airport and seaport; sub-port of Siasi, Luuk all of Sulu province; Bongao airport and seaport, Chinese pier; and subports in Simunul, Sitangkai, Mapun and Taganak all in Tawi-Tawi province.

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