Cotabato City, Philippines – The UP-Bangsamoro Development Initiative (UP-BDI) Technical Working Group (TWG) and the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH) convened for their first Technical Coordination Meeting on November 20, 2024, in Cotabato City. This meeting emphasized their shared commitment to preserving and advancing the cultural heritage of the Bangsamoro people.
The meeting brought together key representatives from both institutions, including officials from BCPCH-BARMM and the UP delegation.
The discussions focused on identifying actionable steps for collaboration in nine key areas, including research-based policy development, capacity building, culture and arts, localization for implementing the Cultural Heritage Act, local cultural economies, archaeological exploration, cultural history relevant to BARMM, historical research, and the Extension Office of UP in BARMM. They also explored opportunities for capacity building and cultural empowerment through initiatives such as cultural mapping, fine arts workshops, training modules for local government units (LGUs) and cultural workers, and policy development ready for implementation. Both parties recognized the importance of deploying technical experts from UP and BCPCH to ensure the effective execution of these projects, aligning with BCPCH’s flagship programs and the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) for sustainable cultural development. They agreed to draft a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to formalize this partnership.
Representing BCPCH-BARMM were Chairperson Salem Y. Lingasa, PhD; Executive Director Akmad D. Mama; Administrative and Finance Division Chief Sittie Nasibah M. Mangontawar; Senior Museum Researcher Glenn Francis C. Lanticse; Community Affairs Officer III Sheryan P. Guialel; Senior History Researcher Esnaira S. Salem; Planning Officer II Alessa Krista Valensoy-Enriquez; and BCPCH Consultant Dr. Abubacar Datumanong.
The UP delegation was led by Mr. Martin Hilario L. Mapolon, on behalf of Professor Lyre Anni E. Murao, Chairperson of the TWG for the Creation of the UP-BDI, together with the project collaborators from UP Mindanao’s Department of Social Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Myfel Joseph Paluga, Asst. Prof. Edward G. Estrera, and Mr. Christian Ely Poot and the UP Diliman’s College of Fine Arts, Asst. Prof. Abdulmari de Leon Imao, Jr. has participated, bringing their expertise to the discussions. Together, they initiated a new era of collaboration that integrates academic resources with efforts to preserve culture.
This collaboration marks a significant step toward preserving and promoting Bangsamoro culture through academic expertise and cooperation under the BDI ninth basket project, “Culture and the Arts”. It underscores the commitment of both institutions to safeguarding the cultural heritage, history, and identity of BARMM communities as a foundation for regional development.
