Cotabato City – The Ministry of Science and Technology – BARMM together with other ministries and offices has conducted the First Inter-Ministry Workshop Consultation for Science and Technology Framework in the BARMM region. The said event was held last October 22, 2020, at Bangsamoro Planning Development Office, Bangsamoro Government Center. The consultation focused mainly on Science and Technology framework development in the BARMM region.

The consultation and workshop aim to discussed and developed the S & T Framework to address the current state, needs, and perform initiatives in the  ministries and offices in the BARMM region.

Minister Aida M. Silongan gave an opening message and she further discusses the imperatives and legal basis of the initiative to work on the development of the Bangsamoro Science and Technology Framework. She also mentioned that the Ministry of Science and Technology as the lead ministry in setting direction in science and technology initiatives adopts a participatory approach in our journey towards harnessing science and technology.

Suharto A. Abas, Executive Assistant V of MOST-BARMM presented the mandate and state of science and technology for MOST-BARMM and led the plenary and focus group discussion. He comprehensively consolidated, presented, and discussed the whole output of the workshop.

Other ministries and offices have participated in the plenary and FGD by discussing the functions, processes, services, programs, and activities where Science and Technology are applied and utilized. They have an in-depth discussion on the development of the S & T Framework through identifying the problems and performing initiatives on S & T agenda, policies, and human resources. Also, group reporting was conducted to further discuss the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in different ministries and offices in the region.

Moreover, the said consultation has initially discussed the roadmap for S & T Framework.

There will be a second inter-ministry workshop and consultation on November 12, 2020, to further discuss the agenda of the next step for the Science and Technology framework in the BARMM region. The said meeting is expecting to create an S & T Council, creation of the technical working group, research agenda, and alike.

The Ministry of Science and Technology – BARMM is mandated to provide central direction, leadership, coordination of all scientific and technological activities, and formulate policies, programs, and projects to support the BARMM region and national development.