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COTABATO CITY, February 13, 2026 — The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) headed by Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal has issued a Clarificatory Statement on the “Joint Memorandum” dated February 5, 2026, on the Transition of Operations of Basic Education Services in Sulu.
As many now know and aware of, the province of Sulu was once part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) when the Bangsamoro region was established on January 2019 through the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), or Republic Act No. 11054.
But in September 2024 the Supreme Court cut Sulu’s umbilical cord from the Bangsamoro family for voting “No” against the BOL in the 2019 plebiscite.
So, complications arose as the island province had many employees — both teaching and non-teaching personnel in the Bangsamoro bureaucracy. Today, Sulu belongs to Western Mindanao, or Region IX.
Complications are being addressed both by the national government through the Department of Education (DepEd) under Secretary Sonny Angara and the Bangsamoro regional government through the MBHTE.
In connection with the issues relevant to Sulu’s separation from the BARMM and the attendant concerns involved, the MBHTE had made a clarification.
Here’s the BARMM education ministry’s “Clarificatory Statement”:
(Re: Joint Memorandum dated February 5, 2026 on the Transition of Operations of Basic Education Services in Sulu)
Pursuant to the Joint Memorandum dated February 5, 2026, jointly issued by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education – BARMM (MBHTE-BARMM), it is categorically provided that:
1) MBHTE-BARMM shall be responsible for the payment of salaries and benefits of all teaching and non-teaching personnel under Personal Services (PS); and
2) the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) shall be funded and released by the Department of Education (DepEd).
In view thereof, the Ministry hereby clarifies that during the transition period:
1. Only the Personal Services (PS) funds under MBHTE-BARMM are authorized for utilization, strictly for the payment of salaries and benefits of existing personnel.
2. MOOE funds are not under the authority, custody, or control of MBHTE-BARMM during the transition period, as these shall be funded and released by the Department of Education.
3. Consequently, any expenses chargeable against MOOE including the renewal or new engagement of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language (ISAL) teachers are not authorized under MBHTE-BARMM at this time; thus, any previous announcement or issuance not in accordance with this pronouncement is deemed recalled and rendered without force and effect during the transition period.
All concerned offices are hereby directed to strictly observe this clarification and ensure full compliance with the provisions of the Joint Memorandum. Any act inconsistent herewith shall be deemed invalid. (end of statement)
Presently, the Bangsamoro region in comprised of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguidanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi; and the Special Geographic Area (SGA) with eight new municipalities in North Cotabato province but under the BARMM jurisdiction. (/)