COTABATO CITY— Dr. Zul Qarneyn Abas introduced a bill to create a special geographic area field health office for 63 barangays in North Cotabato.

The “Special Geographic Area Field Health Office Act of 2021” seeks to provide comprehensive and integrated health services in 63 villages in six (6) North Cotabato towns that voted to inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

According to the bill, this effort strives to reflect the BARMM’s “moral responsibility” in providing health centers and stations with full staffing, standard facilities and equipment, and medical supplies to its people. 

The Bangsamoro government must also ensure that everyone’s fundamental right to life is protected by rapid access to high-quality, low-cost medical care.

Under Section 22, Article IX of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the Bangsamoro government must provide health services to its constituents and establish by law a general hospital system to meet the health needs of its people. 

The Bangsamoro government must also ensure that the basic right to life is protected by rapid access to high-quality, low-cost medical services.

The mentioned office is required to report to the Ministry of Health (MOH). The ministry will also define the powers and functions of the proposed health office, as long as they do not exceed those of the BARMM Integrated Provincial Health Office.

The bill also proposes a P100-million appropriation for the implementation of the act and related programs. The budget must be included in the regular budget and appropriation of the MOH-BARMM. (Publication and Media Relations Division)