Cotabato City, BARMM — To further strengthen research and development (R&D) in the Bangsamoro region, the Ministry of Science and Technology convened on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, the 3rd Bangsamoro Research and Development Council (BRDC) meeting at the BPDA Conference Hall 2, Bangsamoro Government Center, in this city.

The BRDC, spearheaded by MOST with Minister Engr. Aida M. Silongan, MAPDS as the chairperson, is tasked to pursue R&D towards informed policy formulation, respond to pressing regional priorities, and coordinate efforts to achieve holistic and comprehensive technological research.

Members of the council, which includes key officials from the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT), Ministry of Basic Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), Ministry of Public Works (MPW), Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE), Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC), Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG), Development Academy of the Bangsamoro (DAB), Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), Technical Management Services – Office of the Chief Minister (TMS-OCM), and the Bangsamoro Information and Communication Technology Office (BICTO) attended the said regular meeting.

During the meeting, several crucial decisions were made to advance the council’s objectives. The members discussed and approved the draft list of the permanent and alternate members of the BRDC and approved the criteria for the representation of the academe, industry, and civil society organizations (CSOs).

The composition of the four committees of the R&D Council, such as the Executive Committee, Technical and Ethics Review Committee, Research Fund and Utilization Committee, and Capacity Development Committee, was also discussed and approved.

Moreover, BRDC further approved the resolution adopting the Internal Rules and Procedures of the Bangsamoro Research and Development Council (IRP-BRDC) and resolution for the inclusion of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH), Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC), Bangsamoro Board of Investment (BBOI), Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affair (MIPA), Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD), Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD).

Meanwhile, the proposed bill, “An Act Strengthening Scientific and Technological Research and Development in BARMM and Appropriating Funds Thereof,” was also presented and moved to be discussed further by the members.

The meeting also highlighted the approval of the proposed establishment of the Ligawasan Marsh Research and Development Center (LMRDC), which was then referred to the Technical Working Group to draft an Executive Order.

Other related matters were also addressed, such as the plan for drafting the comprehensive Bangsamoro Science and Technology Plan and designing the BRDC logo.

The outcomes of the BRDC meeting are expected to have significant implications for the future development of the Bangsamoro region. The council’s efforts to advance research and development in the region are critical to achieving sustainable growth and development, which is aligned with the government’s commitment to promoting inclusive and equitable economic growth and improving the lives of the Bangsamoro people.

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[Information and Communication]