𝐌𝐁𝐇𝐓𝐄 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐩𝐢, 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞

MBHTE calls for applicants for the 7th Cohort AHME Scholarship Program for School Year 2026-2027

Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-Yhi

COTABATO CITY — The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) headed by Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal conducted the 2026 Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) on March 24, at Upi Municipal Gymnasium, Maguindanao del Norte, Bangsamoro region.

Anchored on the theme, “Bangsamoro Journalism: Upholding Truth, Weaving Peace, and Leading Innovations in the Digital Age,” the event highlighted the vital role of young journalists in promoting credible information, fostering unity, and adapting to the rapidly evolving digital media landscape.

Gathering over 1,400 delegates from the nine Schools Division Offices (SDOs) across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the conference concluded on March 26.

In her welcome address, Maguindanao del Norte Schools Division Superintendent Norie M. Mamalinta underscored the power of writing and urged participants to uphold ethical journalism.

“Let us publish narratives that promote peace. Let us broadcast messages that unite communities,” Mamalinta said.

MBHTE Bureau of Basic Education Director Johnny Balawag emphasized that the conference promotes responsible, ethical, and truthful reporting while nurturing the talents, skills, and resilience of both learners and educators.

“We need individuals who can lead in responsible journalism — those who can discern what is true from what is not amid the flood of information. This is a challenge for everyone in today’s fast-changing digital world,” Balawag said.

Minister Iqbal, represented by MBHTE Sports Director Thong Amino, highlighted the significance of the RSPC in preparing young journalists for the demands of the 21st century.

“This competition nurtures critical thinking, ethical reporting, and media literacy — qualities essential in navigating today’s fast-changing digital world,” he said.

The conference featured a wide range of individual contests in both English and Filipino for Elementary and Secondary levels, including News Writing, Feature Writing, Editorial Writing, Sports Writing, Copyreading and Headline Writing, Science and Technology Writing, Photojournalism, Editorial Cartooning, Column Writing, and Mobile Journalism (for Secondary level only).

Group contests include Radio Script Writing and Broadcasting, TV Script Writing and Broadcasting (Secondary level only), Collaborative Desktop Publishing, and Online Publishing.

MBHTE calls for applicants for its AHME Scholarship Program for School Year 2026-2027

Winners of the regional competition will advance to represent the region at the national level in Ormoc City.

Meanwhile, the MBHTE, through its Access to Higher and Modern Education – AHME-SP, is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕 (𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭).

Interested applicants are invited to submit their applications online through the official 𝐀𝐇𝐌𝐄 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐥 (𝙝𝙩𝙩𝙥𝙨://𝙖𝙝𝙢𝙚-𝙢𝙗𝙝𝙩𝙚.𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙤.𝙜𝙤𝙫.𝙥𝙝).

For step-by-step guidance on the application process, please watch the video tutorials available through this link: 𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐬://𝐛𝐢𝐭.𝐥𝐲/𝟒𝐢𝟕𝐉𝐩𝟖𝐆.

Application Period:
📅 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 – 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
⏰ 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝟓:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌
We encourage all eligible students across the Bangsamoro to take advantage of this opportunity and apply.

The Bangsamoro region, established in 2018 by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 CAB, is made up of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, as well as the Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) 63 barangays or villages — now eight new municipalities — that voted “Yes” in a plebiscite in February 2019 to be under the BARMM jurisdiction.

According to the Philippine Atlas BARMM has 4,404,288 people. It has 116 municipalities: Basilan, 11 municipalities; Lanao del Sur, 39; undivided Maguindanao, 36; Sulu, 19; and Tawi-Tawi, 11. Its component cities are Cotabato (the regional center and capital) in Maguindanao; Lamitan in Basilan; and Marawi in Lanao del Sur. (✓)