IMMEDIATE RESPONSE — The Office of BTA Member of Parliament Abduladzis “Kagi Jordan” M. Esmael initiated last September 21, a relief operation to the storm surge victims in the coastal town of Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat province through his initiative program, Project RAHMA. (GALao with photo by Office of MP Abduladzis Esmael)

COTABATO CITY — The Office of Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Member of Parliament (MP) Abduladzis “Kagi Jordan” M. Esmael has extended aid last September 21, 2020 to the storm surge victims in the coastal town of Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat province through his initiative program, the Project RAHMA (Reinforcement Action for Humanitarian and Magnanimous Assistance).

Chief of Staff (COS) Khalid S. Esmael led the Project RAHMA team, where they personally assessed the situation of the families living in the northern part of the municipality hit by a storm surge on September 17, 2020.

On behalf of Mayor Joenime Kapina, the team was warmly received by Tourism Officer Datu Jun E. Mangulamas and Executive Secretary Mr. Abdulsatar U. Baddrudin together with Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) Bai Maria Zaira S. Yusuf.

“We brought a truck load of food packs intended for the 250 families previously reported to have been severely affected by the calamity. The food packs contained 10 kilograms of high-quality rice, canned goods, noodles and coffee,” COS Esmael said.

For proper and organized distribution, the relief goods were officially turned-over to the office of the MSWD.

As reported earlier, the storm surge took the life of two (2) persons and left around five hundred (500) displaced families.

“Around half of those families have already received food assistance. The MSWDO targeted families who are yet to receive relief goods to be the priority beneficiaries of the food packs from our office,” COS Esmael said.

Speaking in vernacular, Mangulamas stressed this is the first assistance they received from BARMM.

“This is a big help to our constituents who were victims of the recent storm surge. It is good to know that the Bangsamoro Government do not forget to help the people outside of its core territory,” Mangulamas said.

Furthermore, Badruddin expressed his thankfulness to the office of MP Esmael for the aid it has extended to their constituents.

“We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Baddrudin said.

For his part, COS Esmael, who spoke in behalf of MP Esmael emphasized that this effort is for the Bangsamoro people who are in dire need.

“It is an honor to be of service to our people,” COS Esmael stressed. (GALao with reports from the Office of MP Abduladzis Esmael, Publication and Media Division, BTA Parliament)