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BONGAO, Basilan — Demonstrating prompt action, Education Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal, together with key officials of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), traveled to Basilan on Saturday, April 4, to personally engage stakeholders in a dialogue on the actual status of education in the province.
Held in the Raayat Hall, Provincial Capitol of Lamitan City, the engagement directly responded to the findings of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), which highlighted serious literacy challenges in Basilan and across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Through the dialogue, stakeholders and Local Government Units (LGUs) shared their experiences, concerns, and recommendations, providing valuable inputs to better understand on-the-ground realities.
Minister Iqbal underscored the importance of immediate and inclusive action, noting that direct engagement with communities is essential in crafting responsive and sustainable solutions to education gaps.
The dialogue reaffirmed MBHTE’s commitment to strengthening literacy programs, improving foundational learning, and advancing inclusive, quality education for all — anchored on collaboration and shared responsibility.
As this developed, the MBHTE, one of the 15 primary Ministries of the Bangsamoro Government, continued its commitment to achieving quality education in BARMM anchored on providing a safe, inclusive, and conducive learning environment for every Bangsamoro learner.
Through the years, MBHTE has continuously built classrooms and educational facilities across the region to support better learning conditions.
And another milestone is reached as the Ministry officially has turned over newly completed school buildings, bringing education closer to communities and opening more opportunities for learners.
𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞
Meanwhile, Minister Iqbal, accompanied by key officials of the ministry, paid a courtesy visit to Maj. Gen. Donald M. Gumiran, Philippine Army (PA), commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), at Camp Don Basilio Navarro in Calarian, Zamboanga City.
The visit focused on coordination and preparation for upcoming activities within the Area of Responsibility (AOR), strengthening collaboration and ensuring readiness for planned engagements across the region.
Also present were Mohajirin T. Ali, director general of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), and Member of the Parliament (MP) Matarul M. Estino.
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. (✓)