COTABATO CITY — Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) passed on Tuesday, March 16, the Resolution No. 356 commending Al-Basher Buto for his outstanding feats in both national and international chess championships, and providing support for his future development, during its Session No. 55 at the Bangsamoro Government Center, in Cotabato City.

The resolution was introduced by principal authors members of the Parliament Atty. Rasol Mitmug, Jr., Atty. Laisa Alamia, Suharto Ambolodto, Engr. Baintan Adil-Ampatuan, Amilbahar Mawallil, Rasul Ismael, and Engr. Don Mustapha Loong.

“One of the goals of the Bangsamoro Sports Commission [BSC] is to actually develop young athletes in the Bangsamoro,” Atty. Mitmug said.

Buto is the the first and youngest Bangsamoro master chess player.

The young Cainta-based Maranao chess player, who traces his roots from Marawi City, has participated in about 102 chess tournaments since the age of five and has achieved many awards in different competitions including scoring a gold medal in the 13th Asian Schools Chess Championship in China, and received three individual and two team gold medals for the overall crown in the 8th Asean Age Group Chess Championship in Malaysia in 2017. Buto also also won a trophy at the National Group Chess Championship in Cebu in the same year.

“Aside from giving support for the future development of our athlete, we should (also) give due recognition and incentive to the winning athletes especially those who win in the international field,” Atty. Jose Lorena said during the interpellation.

Atty. Omar Yasser Sema emphasized the importance of extending support to athletes in order to retain them, and avoid what has happened in the past athletes of the Philippines due to lack of support.

As stipulated in the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) Act, the BYC should extend and provide support and assistance to deserving youth and youth organizations, including scholarship grants.

The Bangsamoro Government, through the Ministry of Basic Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), the BSC, and the BYC, has committed to provide financial support for Buto’s education, training and participation in both national and international competitions as a representative of the Bangsamoro region and the Philippines. (Bangsamoro Information Office)

*Originally published by the Bangsamoro Information Office (https://bangsamoro.gov.ph/news/latest-news/bta-extends-support-to-10-year-old-chess-master-al-basher-buto/)

COTABATO CITY–The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government has granted a 10-year-old Bangsamoro chess master an educational scholarship, vowing to provide financial assistance for his training and future matches.

“One of the goals of the Bangsamoro Sports Commission [BSC] is to develop young and dynamic athletes in the BARMM as they have these gifted talents to represent its people,” Mitmug said in a statement on Wednesday.

Mitmug said that Buto, who belongs to a Maranao family currently based in Cainta, Rizal with his family, is the first and youngest Bangsamoro master chess player.

The regional government also promised to support Buto in future national and international competitions, he added.

On Tuesday, the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the lawmaking body of the BARMM, passed Resolution No. 356 commending Buto for his outstanding feats in both national and international chess championships.

Buto has participated in more than 100 chess tournaments since the age of five and has reaped awards in various competitions, including a gold medal in the 13th Asian Schools Chess Championship in China in July 2017.

He also received three individual and two team gold medals for the overall crown in the 8th Asean Age-Group Chess Championship in Malaysia, and a trophy at the National Group Chess Championship in Cebu in the same year.

Lawyer Omar Yasser Sema, another BTA member, underscored the importance of extending support to athletes “to retain them and avoid what has happened in the past athletes” who left the country due to lack of support.

BTA member Jose Lorena, also a lawyer, said BARMM should also provide incentives to its athletes “especially those who win in the international field.” (PNA)

*Originally published on Philippine News Agency (https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133925)

MANILA – Members of Parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) have filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, which once enacted shall be known as the “Bangsamoro Freedom of Information Act of 2021.”

BTA Bill 83 contains provisions similar to the proposed FOI Act (House Bill 05776) pending in Congress.

It is an effort of the Bangsamoro government to harmonize with President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order on FOI and Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim’s call for moral governance and to provide a local mechanism that upholds people’s right to information.

By adopting a policy of transparency, the Bangsamoro government foresees increased public trust and empowerment of the Bangsamoro.

The bill directs all offices in the Bangsamoro government to make accessible to the public all official and public records and information unless otherwise stated in the exceptions and by present laws and jurisprudence.

Consequently, the Bangsamoro Information and Communications Technology Office (BICTO) shall establish an online FOI portal so people may conveniently and efficiently access government information.

BICTO will also be designated to monitor the websites of offices and provide them with capacity-building programs to make sure they comply with the policy’s requirements.

The bill also mandates the Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO) to be the FOI Focal Office. BIO shall oversee the implementation of the bill, including the composition of an FOI Manual, identification of an FOI Receiving Officer per office, and establishment of a request tracking system.

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), as the lead implementer of the FOI Program, recognizes this new development as vital to its vision of a whole-of-government approach in enforcing transparency in public service and crucial to the institutionalization of the Bangsamoro government.

PCOO Undersecretary and FOI Program Director Kristian R. Ablan said the FOI Project Management Office is willing to extend its assistance to BTA in terms of capacity-building activities for FOI implementers.

The bill was introduced by MP Amilbahar S. Mawallil and MP Engr. Baintan A. Ampatuan, and co-authored by MP Atty. Laisa Masuhud Alamia, MP Atty. Suharto M. Ambolodto, MP Engr. Don Mustapha A. Loong, MP Rasul E. Ismael, and MP Atty. Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr. (PR)

*Originally published on Philippine News Agency (https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133690)

COTABATO CITY — Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament’s Committee on Basic, Higher and Technical Education (CBHTE) received today, December 21, 2020 the panel report on BTA Cabinet Bill No. 70 or the Bangsamoro Education Code (BEC) presented by the BEC panel, detailing the consultations that took place with the subject matter experts, school administrators, division and district heads, as well as the matrix of issues based on the consolidated position papers and policy briefs.

In his message, Panel Chair and Minister of the Ministry of Basic Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) MP Mohagher Iqbal stressed he is confident that the conversations were fruitful, and they were able to acquire significant insights from those who attended these consultations.

“Now we proceed to the meticulous process of collating these ideas and analyzing them to determine their relevance in strengthening the draft Education Code,” Iqbal said.

Iqbal constituted previously the ‘panels’ to spearhead the conduct of public consultations with experts and stakeholders in the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu, primarily to gather the positions of resource persons and consolidate their issues, concerns, and recommendations for deliberation by the Committee to evolve an educational framework that is relevant and responsive to the needs, ideals, and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.

Panel Member MP Atty. Maisarah Damdamun Latiph delivered the report which contains a summary of the consolidated observations, issues and concerns, key suggestions and recommendations by resource persons during series of consultations.

“Throughout the series of public consultations held from November 23 to December 9, 2020, the Panel was guided by the rules on the conduct of public hearings,” Latiph said.

During the simultaneous consultations, resource persons participated via Zoom teleconference hosted at the BTA Extension Office, while others physically attended in the following locations, Pagana Kutawato Native Restaurant in Cotabato City (Maguindanao Ground Consultation), Jolo Town Hall Complex in Jolo (Sulu Ground Consultation), R and R Garden in Bongao (Tawi-Tawi Ground Consultation) and SP Hall in Isabela City (Basilan Ground Consultation).

Among the highlights were four (4) video presentations of the salient features of the Code, entitled as: Why Bangsamoro Education Code is Amazing?; Madrasah Education; Higher-Technical Education; and Provisions on IP Education and Special Education.

Committee Vice-Chairperson MP Atty. Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr., who presided the series of consultations, emphasized in his message the main purpose of the consultation and the Code itself as follows: for the Panel to reach out and reach an understanding of the BEC; an expert suggested this Code to be called as “Bangsamoro Education Code” being not a mere compilation but the first law about our education; historical and all suggestions/recommendations will be reviewed and deliberated before its passage into law; BEC importantly prioritized Basic Education, Higher Education, Technical and Vocational Education, Public Madrasah Education, Indigenous Peoples Education, and Special Education as featured in the videos presented; approval and creation of books will be regionalized; training of teachers; the Code contains the structures and ideas that would allow the system to operate.

Panel chiefs included MP Dr. Alzad T. Sattar for Basilan, MP Ziaur-Rahman Alonto Adiong for Lanao del Sur, MP Mussolini S. Lidasan for Maguindanao, MP Adzfar H. Usman for Sulu and MP Prof. Eddie M. Alih for Tawi-Tawi.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Bill No. 70 otherwise known as the “Bangsamoro Education Code” is one of the priority legislations that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) needs to pass during the transition period pursuant to Article XVI Section 4 of Republic Act No. 11054, also known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Iqbal filed the Bill during BTA’s special session on October 28, 2020.

The proposed legislation will cover and govern learning systems within the Bangsamoro region such as formal, non-formal and informal learning systems, public and private learning institutions in all levels – Basic, Higher, and Technical Education. In carrying out its obligation, the Bangsamoro Government is guided by the following principles, inclusivity, equity, rights-based, rooted in context, integrated, balanced and moral governance. (GALao, Publication and Media Relations Division, BTA Parliament)

*Originally published by the BTA-Publication and Media Relations Division (https://parliament.bangsamoro.gov.ph/latest-news/cbhte-receives-panel-report-on-bangsamoro-education-code/)