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COTABATO CITY, March 31, 2026 (SDN) — Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal, head of the Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), has earned a well-deserved recognition as one of the awardees of the 6th Manggagawa Awards 2026 on March 30 in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
Organizers of the award held the recognition ceremony at the Henry V. Kong Gymnasium, Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO), Sanga-Sanga, on Bonga island.
The province of Tawi-Tawi is one of the five provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) established in January 2019 by the 2018 Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). Peace panels of the Philippine Government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed the CAB on March 27 with then GPH Chief Negotiator Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and MILF Chief Negotiator Iqbal signing the peace treaty.
Officials, staff, and personnel of the MBHTE, one of the 15 primary ministries of the Bangsamoro Government, welcomed their minister’s award, saying this for Iqbal’s untiring work at the ministry, implementing various reforms to raise the quality of education in the region. Aptly, the MBHTE operates on the goal that “No Bangsamoro learner shall be left behind”.
“This recognition reflects Minister Iqbal’s steadfast leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing inclusive, quality, and transformative education for the Bangsamoro people. His dedication to public service continues to inspire the Ministry and the communities it serves,” a statement of the MBHTE said.
“The MBHTE joins the people of the Bangsamoro in celebrating this meaningful milestone and expresses its deep appreciation for the continued trust and recognition given to the Ministry’s efforts in strengthening education across the region. Congratulations, Minister Iqbal, on this well-deserved honor.”
In a related development, in continuation of the MBHTE’s ongoing efforts to strengthen education in the province of Tawi-Tawi, Iqbal paid a courtesy visit on Gov. Yshmael I. Sali, Vice Gov. Al-Syed A. Sali, and the members of the Tawi-Tawi Provincial Board.
Iqbal’s visit, accompanied by other MBHTE officials, provided an opportunity for a meaningful dialogue on the current state and future direction of education in the region.
During the discussions, Tawi-Tawi Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Lermalyn J. Sangogot highlighted concerns arising from the recent report of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), the statement of the ministry said.
“The dialogue served as a platform to identify potential long-term solutions and collaborative educational strategies, which will be jointly implemented by the MBHTE and the Provincial Government to enhance learning outcomes,” it added.
BARMM and Tawi-Tawi local government dialogue fosters stronger partnership on quality education
Iqbal’s party came away with optimism as Vice Governor Al-Syed Ali has expressed his full readiness to support the ministry in addressing these challenges and resolving the concerns raised.
Also in the meeting at the Tawi-Tawi Provincial Capitol were Bangsamoro Parliament Floor Leader Member of the Parliament (MP) Jet Lim Anthony and MP Matarul Estino who also shared their valuable insights, further contributing to enriching the discussion on advancing education in Tawi-Tawi.
Their engagement was described as underscoring the commitment of both the MBHTE and the Provincial Government to work hand in hand in ensuring that the youth of Tawi-Tawi receive quality education and access to opportunities that will empower them for the future.
It was learned that over several days in the third and fourth weeks of March, Iqbal and his MBHTE party travelled to the island provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi to attend many education-related activities, demonstrating the ministry’s response to learners’ needs and concerns in the region.
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. — EDD K. USMAN from MBHTE report (✓)