Author: Nassef Manabilang Adiong

Nassef is the founder of Co-IRIS (International Relations and Islamic Studies Research Cohort), PHISO (Philippine International Studies Organization), DSRN (Decolonial Studies Research Network), and BRLN (Bangsamoro Research and Legal Network). He works on interdisciplinary research between Islam and International Relations and explores the Bangsamoro society as he heads the Policy Research and Legal Services (PRLS) of the Bangsamoro Parliament. Visit https://nassef.info/ for more details.

UE Outstanding Alumni

With more than 50 academic publications in various platforms, 25 academic grants, 18 awards (UP Centennial Professorial Chair, PUP Professorial Chair, TOYM, among others), 14 scholarships, 6 fellowships, 6 consultancies, and numerous researches, the stellar career of Dr Nassef Manabilang Adiong—whose at his mid-30s presently—is truly an inspiration. After 15 years from obtaining his Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (Magna cum Laude) in 2006, he is being honored this year as one of the Most Outstanding Alumni in the 75th foundation anniversary of the University of the East. Shepherding towards reforms in the political economy of world’s knowledge systems conveniently lenient to Western canons, he founded three research organizations, five book series, and one scholarly journal to provide impetus to marginalized plurality of intellectual voices. His recognition extends beyond the Philippine soil as he was elected as governing board officer at the World International Studies Committee in 2020 and Asia representative at the ISA Global South Caucus in 2018. To find and connect to his ancestral roots by serving his own community, the Bangsamoro people, he has taken a new role as the tenured Director of the Bangsamoro Parliament’s Policy Research and Legal Services.

Meeting with Director Jal of MENRE

PRLS had a meeting with Director Abdul-Jalil “Jal” Umngan, RPF, EnP, CGM, MSSEDMS of the Forest Management Services of the Bangsamoro Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE) on September 01, 2021 to discuss the BTA Parliament Bill no. 53 or “An Act Creating the Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board.” PRLS will provide its own review on bill 53 soon.

The meeting was also attended by a staff of MP Abdulraof A. Macacua.

Merit-based Recruitment: Exploration of the Concept of Merit in the Bangsamoro

Merit-based Recruitment: Exploration of the Concept of Merit in the BangsamoroDownload

As the newly formed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is at its critical juncture of establishing its foundation, hiring competent civil servants is one of its crucial tasks. The aim of the paper is to theorize a better hiring process for the Bangsamoro government. To realize the proposed objective, this study pursues a conceptual exploration of the notion of merit-based hiring process set by the Civil Service Commission standards. It clarifies what merit-based hiring means as opposed to a recruitment shaped by the padrino system. These two contradictory concepts provide ground for an assertion that a merit-based system should be advanced based on practical and moral grounds. Lastly, the paper notes the conceptual limitation of the merit-based hiring as it fails to address the moral question, which is critical in BARMM government. Grounded on Moral Governance Framework for BARMM, the paper enriches the concept of merit-based hiring in view of the five principles of faith, freedom, moral authority, common good, and social ethics. As a result, the study does not only set the vocabulary for a rational critique of the meritocracy and padrino system; but more importantly, it provides an initial attempt to concretize the moral governance framework as seen essential in setting the foundation of BARMM government.

Keywords: Civil Service, Merit, BARMM, padrino system, moral governance