PARTNERSHIP. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman leads the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between DBM Regional Office 12 and various state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Mindanao in Koronadal City, South Cotabato on Thursday (July 20, 2023). The MOA aims to strengthen research and development (R&D) in the region. (Photo courtesy of DBM)
MANILA – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with various state colleges and universities (SUCs) in Mindanao for the establishment of a research and development (R&D) consortium in the region.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman led the ceremonial signing of the MOA between DBM Regional Office 12 and SUCs in Mindanao to strengthen the R&D program aimed at elevating the region’s socioeconomic status.
The ceremony was held in the DBM’s regional office in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.
The SUCs that signed the MOA were the Mindanao State University-Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat State University, Cotabato State University, Adiong Memorial State College, South Cotabato State College, Mindanao State University (MSU)-General Santos, University of Southern Mindanao-Kabacan, University of Southern Mindanao - Kidapawan City Campus, and Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology.
“Ayon sa mga kinatawan ng mga SUCs, ang proyekto at pagbuo ng consortium na magpapatupad sa programa, ay brainchild o ideya ni Sec. Pangandaman na isa ring Mindanaoan at Maranao (According to the representatives of the SUCs, the project and the creation of a consortium that will implement the program is a brainchild or idea of Secretary Pangandaman who is also a Mindanaoan and a Maranao),” the DBM said in a statement.
“Ito ay para matulungang maiangat ang socio economic status ng mga komunidad at maprotektahan ang water resources ng Mindanao. Ilan sa mga nakikitang benepisyo ng proyekto ay pagkakaroon ng sustainable resource management, livelihood improvement, at poverty alleviation, lalo na sa buong Mindanao (The project aims to improve the socioeconomic status of the communities and protect the water resources of Mindanao. Some of the project’s benefits include sustainable resource management, livelihood improvement, and poverty alleviation in the entire Mindanao),” it added.
Under the MOA, the consortium will provide an avenue for joint planning, monitoring, evaluation and sharing of resources in the implementation of strategic R&D, research results dissemination and utilization, capability-building and R&D governance, policy advocacy, and R&D management and collaboration.
Serving as Mindanao’s ‘voice’
As a Budget Secretary, Pangandaman assured her fellow Mindanaoans that she would fulfill her “personal mission to give Mindanao a voice.”
“The developments that have been painstakingly pushed in this region are testament to how eager we want our aspirations to be recognized and how we yearn to further promote the welfare of our people, including our Muslim brothers and sisters,” she said in a keynote speech during the 44th commencement exercises of MSU-General Santos onThursday night.
“This (Mindanao) is not anymore a land of war and conflict but of bounty, prosperity, and beauty,” she added.
Pangandaman also urged the graduates to be leaders who are ready to serve the country and be the “change that Mindanao needs.”
“I hope that if there comes a time when the going gets tough, you will always go back to this moment and remind yourself why you chose this field in the first place. Remind yourself of your abilities and capacities. Remind yourself of your purpose,” she said.
“You don’t have to figure everything out after graduation. But what’s important is that you have already started. Now, you are all leaders – and by leaders, I do not mean your degrees, your titles, or your educational attainment. You are leaders determined by what’s inside your mind and heart. You are all leaders for you have the willingness to serve, advance yourselves, and take on the challenge to dream big and go far,” she added. (PNA)
