Category: News and Events

Bangsamoro Parliament commends Director Nassef Manabilang Adiong’s “stellar career”

COTABATO CITY – “The Parliament aspires that the Bangsamoro young populace and the succeeding generations shall be inspired with Dr Adiong’s stellar career of bringing glory, pride, honor, and excellence back to the Bangsamoro society,” members of the Parliament expressed through an approved resolution. 

Dr Nassef Manabilang Adiong is the tenured director of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s (BTA) Policy Research and Legal Services. He is a prolific researcher, writer, and educator who has devoted his life to Islamic International Relations and Bangsamoro Studies. 

Just recently, he was conferred with the “UP Scientist” title under the highest rank of Scientist III of the University of the Philippines Scientific Productivity System — making him the first Moro to achieve such recognition. 

His expertise, based on the adopted measure, “extends beyond the Philippine soil.”  Among the awards he has been adorned with are:

  • Outstanding Young Men and Women (TOYM) of the Philippines honoree;
  • Plaque of Recognition’ from the Philippine Embassy in Ankara as the first outstanding Filipino PhD holder and mentor of Filipino scholars and students in Turkey;
  • Republic of Turkey’s Outstanding PhD Candidate award in Ankara;
  • Centennial Professorial Chair award from the University of the Philippines;
  • Graduate Courses Performance Award (Most Successful PhD student in International Relations);
  • University of the Philippines’ International Publication Award;
  • Mentor Zeemo recognition by the Armed Forces of the Philippines AFP) Civil Military Operation School;
  • Professorial Chairholder in Political Science and International Relations” award by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines;
  • Most Outstanding Alumni of the University of the East;
  • Nomination to the Embassy of the Philippines in Turkey for the Republic of the Philippines’ Presidential Award for Filipino Individual Overseas, also known as Pamana ng Pilipino award.

Dr Adiong also founded several research organizations, including the International Relations and Islamic Studies Research Cohort (Co-IRIS) in 2012, Philippine International Studies Organization (PHISO) in 2015, and Decolonial Studies Research Network (DSRN) in 2019.

With more than 50 scholarly books, journal articles, edited volumes and other publications, Director Adiong, according to the MPs, has provided significant contributions to advance the research development of the Bangsamoro region. 

Parliament Speaker Atty. Ali Pangalian Balindong, with MPs Engr. Baintan Ampatuan, Atty. Omar Yasser Sema, Amilbahar Mawallil, Atty. Laisa Alamia, and Atty. Rasol Mitmug introduced the resolution in the plenary. 

It was co-authored by MPs Engr. Don Mustapha Loong, Atty. Suharto Ambolodto, Rasul Ismael, Romeo Saliga, Eddie Alih, Abdullah Hashim, Ziaur-Rahman Adiong, Atty. Maisara Damdamun-Latiph, and Hatimil Hassan. (Policy Research and Legal Services)

PRLS participated in the IBS-TAF Policy Utilization Forum

PRLS was invited to participate in the Policy Utilization Forum of the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies (IBS) and of The Asia Foundation (TAF) on November 10, 2021 to discuss how to implement and utilize the policy papers on issues such as land, energy, investment, and connectivity.

PRLS meeting with MTIT Bureau of Investments

PRLS met the officers of MTIT Bureau of Investments (BOI) to discuss the following agenda:

1. Research Capacity and Development of the Ministry of Trade Investments and Tourism (MTIT), specifically the BOI personnel;

2. Investment Research and Promotions; and

3. Research requirements and processes for the crafting of the BARMM Investment Act and other investment-related policies.

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