THE Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) Maguindanao, with Cotabato City and Special Geographic Areas (SGA) of North Cotabato and the Ministry of Basic Higher and Technical Education-Technical Education and Skills Development (MBHTE-TESD)-Maguindanao, forged an agreement pursuant to the objective of promoting the welfare of the youth through the development of technical skills.

Nasserudin Dunding, BYC commissioner, said the collaboration results in more effective and efficient implementation of programs of both parties as BYC serves as the primary policy-making and coordinating body of the Bangsamoro Government in all matters about the youth.

The agreement was forged in a simple ceremony Friday, November 5. The signatories of the agreement were Dunding and Salehk Mangelen, MBHTE-TESD provincial director.

Mangelen said he looks forward to future collaborations prioritizing the out-of-school youth in Maguindanao and SGA to avail skills and livelihood training that uplift the capacity of the youth in their community.

The agreement defines the responsibilities of each party in providing scholarship opportunities for the youth, including the discretion to determine 100 qualified beneficiaries in the first batch of scholars; screening of applications based on the criteria set by TESD Lanao; and both parties to provide necessary assistance in the events and programs they are partner with.

The agreement signing strengthens the partnership and coordination of programs of both offices, particularly in identifying and endorsing the scholarship beneficiaries to different courses offered by TESD.

In October, similar partnership was inked by BYC Lanao del Sur with Marawi City and MBHTE-TEDS Lanao del Sur. (SunStar Zamboanga)