ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has given P19.5 million to Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) to help internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the 2017 Marawi siege.

The funds were turned over by the Office of the Chief Minister’s Marawi Rehabilitation Program (MRP) to APMC, which is the only public hospital among four partner medical facilities in the city. The partnership is expected to help an estimated 3,000 IDPs.

“Currently, we have four partner hospitals, three private and one public, which is APMC, and this partnership is expected to benefit an estimated 3,000 IDPs,” said Norlailah Nolan Datumolok, an MRP information officer.

Under the initiative, IDPs, especially those from the city’s most affected areas, can receive up to P10,000 for hospitalization and up to P5,000 for outpatient needs. The money will assist those currently admitted at APMC, those who have been discharged but still have unpaid bills, and outpatients needing financial help.

The turnover ceremony was led by MRP program director Sailanie Alauya and attended by APMC chief Dr. Shalimar Rakiin. In addition to this hospital partnership, MRP is conducting weekly medical missions at IDP shelters to provide care to vulnerable groups, including women, children and senior citizens.