Category: News and Events

Policy Research and Legal Services (PRLS) held a special event on September 2, 2023 (Safar 17, 1445 AH) that combined elegance with cultural significance. The day started with a photoshoot featuring two unique attires: the formal ensemble, elegantly showcasing the PRLS Blazer, and the traditional Bangsamoro attire, followed by a General Assembly and Grand Dinner held at the Diners on Street, Datu Odin Sinsuat.

The General Assembly and Grand Dinner commenced with opening remarks delivered by PRLS Director, Dr. Nassef Adiong. Dr. Nassef Adiong, along with LRD Chief Vincent Casil and LMLAD Chief Atty. Hisham Nazz Biruar, presented the organization’s achievements and future engagements, underscoring PRLS’s commitment to excellence. The evening also featured fun games and an awards ceremony, adding to the enjoyment and camaraderie. This event showcased PRLS’s professionalism and its appreciation for Bangsamoro culture.

The PRLS General Assembly and Grand Dinner 2023 was a remarkable evening that summarized the organization’s core values of professionalism, cultural appreciation, and commitment to excellence. With a delightful blend of tradition and modernity, this event celebrated not only PRLS’s achievements but also its vision for a future marked by impactful engagements.

PRLS actively participated in the Support to Operations Mock Budget Hearing organized by the Office of the Secretary-General. The event took place on July 4-5, 2023, at Farm Carpenter Hill in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

The Mock Budget Hearing aims to provide a conducive environment for refining and strengthening proposed budgets. Through active engagement and valuable input, participating offices, including PRLS, can contribute to enhancing the quality and alignment of the budget proposals with their respective objectives.

The PRLS provided assistance to the Blue Ribbon Committee of the Bangsamoro Parliament in Promoting Moral Governance and Accountability on 5 July 2023, in Davao City. The goal was to facilitate a roundtable discussion that would strengthen the committee’s mandate of promoting moral governance and ensuring accountability within the Bangsamoro government. Vincent Casil, division chief of BTA’s PRLS-Legislative Research Division, discussed how the petition mechanism could be incorporated into the committee’s function.

According to Casil, this will result in an overall improvement in government services by empowering citizens and making them feel like active contributors. The Blue Ribbon Committee has jurisdiction over all matters, including the investigation of malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in office by Bangsamoro Government officers and employees.

PRLS actively participated in the REAP Forum and UP-BARMM Institute Consultation held on June 1, 2023, at the Al Nor Hotel and Convention Center, Cotabato City.

The University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin), in partnership with the University of the Philippines Mindanao Foundation Inc. (UPMFI), hosted a forum entitled “Reinforcing Engagement with Academe through Partnerships: Livelihood Improvement through Facilitated Extension (LIFE) in BARMM” with stakeholders in the Bangsamoro region.

Each session held discussions with stakeholders to bolster sustainability plans for the current UPMFI project and solicit inputs that are crucial to the development of the future UP-BARMM Institute. The forum seeks to continue efforts and build on the stated priorities of the Memorandum of Understanding between the University of the Philippines and the Bangsamoro Government to support the transition period in the region.

Emanating from the memorandum order no. 0323-030 series of 2023 issued by the Office of the Parliament Speaker of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) designating Policy Research and Legal Services to facilitate the creation and development of the “Humanitarian Handbook for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentarians” and in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a roundtable discussion (RTD)  was held at Royal Hall, Pagana Kutawato, Cotabato City, last May 17, 2023, Wednesday.

The RTD aimed to consult your different offices to develop the completion of the Bangsamoro humanitarian handbook with the following contents: (1) Overview of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and related laws; (1.1) IHL general overview; (1.2) distinctions between IHL and International Human Rights Law; (1.3) IHL in the Philippines; (1.4) International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in the Philippines; (1.5) IHL and Islamic Law; (2.) Role of the BARMM Parliament on IHL; (2.1) enacting legislation on conflict and IHL-related themes; (2.2) possible participation in the IHL ad hoc committee; (3) Key humanitarian issues in the BARMM such as urban warfare, sexual and gender-based violence, women protection, children protection, missing and dignified management of dead, IDPs, refugees, health care, humanitarian access, terrorism and counterterrorism, PWDs, cultural properties, paramilitary groups and private armies, data protection in humanitarian activities, victim compensation, and environmental protection; and (4) References and model laws in the Philippines.