MANILA – Authorities are finalizing agreements to keep education services running smoothly in Sulu while protecting the employment and welfare of teachers and other school personnel during the province’s administrative transition.
The Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Sulu Transition convened Thursday to discuss and complete measures that will prevent disruptions in the operation of schools and ensure continued support for education workers.
In a joint statement issued Friday night, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), and the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) shared updates on the ongoing transition initiatives.
The TWG said a joint memorandum involving the Commission on Higher Education, the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), and Mindanao State University is scheduled for signing on March 13. The agreement will establish temporary operational arrangements for the Hadji Butu School of Arts and Trades and the Lapak Agricultural School.
A resolution will also be issued to support the Bangsamoro Government’s payment of salaries for Islamic Studies and Arabic Language teachers, Abot Kaalaman sa Pamilyang Bangsamoro educators, and para-teachers in Sulu for the 2026 fiscal year.
Service contracts of education workers will continue to be renewed in accordance with MBHTE procedures to ensure job continuity.
At the same time, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will evaluate Sulu’s request for funding allocations for capital outlay projects, including improvements for the Lapak Agricultural School and the Hadji Butu School of Arts and Trades.
To further address personnel concerns, the DBM and the Department of the Interior and Local Government will conduct another consultation with the Civil Service Commission and BARMM officials. The meeting aims to finalize a Joint Memorandum Circular that will outline personnel options and provide guidance for employees affected by the transition.
DBM Acting Secretary Rolando Toledo said the government is committed to ensuring that the transition process does not disrupt education in the province.
He stressed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed agencies to ensure schools remain operational and that teachers and other education workers continue receiving the support they need.
MILG Deputy Minister Eddie Alih added that the transition should ultimately strengthen governance and improve the delivery of government services to communities in Sulu.
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