US government to conduct medical mission in ARMM

COTABATO CITY — The US government will conduct humanitarian missions in different parts of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) from May 20 to June 28 this year, ARMM officials said.

Lawyer Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, ARMM’s regional solicitor-general, said the US government has started coordinating with the Office of the Regional Governor (ORG) to formulate an action plan for extensive medical outreach activities in the region during the period.

The ARMM covers Marawi City, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, both in Central Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The humanitarian activities will involve the United States Military Assistance Group (USMAG), the United States Defense Representatives to the Philippines, and the United States Naval Service.

Guiani-Sayadi, who is spokeswoman of ARMM Gov. Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, said representatives of the US government, in fact, discussed recently with regional officials the intricacies of the project, aimed at providing free medical and dental services to poor villagers in far-flung areas in the region. — John Unson