As partners on providing scholarship assistance to deserving students through the implementation of the S & T Scholarship programs, the Ministry of Science and Technology – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOST-BARMM) and the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) held a meeting through Zoom Platform last March 5, 2021. The said meeting aimed to discuss the scholarship programs clarifying the role of MOST-BARMM in the contract signing for the 2020 S & T Undergraduate Scholarship program, the proposed collaboration between MOST-BARMM and DOST-SEI, and the presentation of the status of scholarships for BARMM.

 

The meeting was attended by DOST-SEI’s personnel, namely, Dr. Josette T. Biyo – Director, Engr. Albert Marino – Deputy Director, Ms. Ma. Daisy Demoni – Supervising SRS, Mr. Peter Gerry Gavina Sr., – SRS, Ms. Charilyn Joy Layus – SRS II, and Ms. Anne Chiara Amponin – SRS I. For MOST-BARMM attendees, Engr. Aida M. Silongan – Minister, Mr. Suharto A. Abas – Bangsamoro Director-General, Mr. Nasrodin U. Buisan – Chief TMD, Ms. Rocaya G. Edres – Senior SRS, Mr. Andy K. Hussain – Asst. Science Education Focal and Mr. Abdulrahim Abdullah – Asst. Science Education Staff.

 

DOST-SEI presented the number of DOST-SEI scholars in the BARMM region. There are 350 scholars as of March 2021. In Mindanao State University – Marawi City, there are 343 scholars; Mindanao State University – Sulu with one (1) scholar, Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi with five (5) scholars and Sulu State University with one (1) scholar; a total of 350 scholars in the region.

 

As per the number of graduate scholars from BARMM, DOST-SEI also presented the Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP) with 22 graduates in MS and 5 in Ph.D. For the Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT), there were ten (10) graduates in MS and one (1) in Ph.D. For the Capacity Building Program in Science and Mathematics Education (CBPSME), there were 15 graduates in MS and eight (8) in Ph.D. For the S&T Regional Alliance of Universities for Inclusive National Development (STRAND), there were 28 graduates in MS. 

 

DOST-SEI also presented and discussed the Bangon Marawi Program – Science and Technology Human Resource Development (STHRD) Project, where 436 undergraduate grants and 48 graduate scholarships were supported and awarded.

 

Moreover, the two agencies discussed the proposed collaborations, where MOST-BARMM stands on the contract signing with the following consideration options. 

 

1. Scholarship funds to be transferred to MOST-BARMM, and the latter will directly transfer the funds to schools for DOST scholars/grantees;

2. SEI to sign the contract with the grantees and MOST-BARMM to facilitate the program’s administrative concern.

 

The agreement, as mentioned above, was agreed upon by DOST-SEI during the meeting. The said agreement will be provided once the Memorandum of Understanding is set. 

 

 

AOM-IO