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3September
MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal led the awarding of national competency certificates to the graduates on August 31. (Faisal Camsa/BIO)
MBHTE-TESD graduates 2,205 scholars, bolsters Bangsamoro workforce
- Sep 3, 2025
- Taher G. Solaiman
- HITS: 682
The mass graduation ceremony, held in this city, saw MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal, TESD Director General Ruby Andong, and TESD Maguindanao Provincial Director Engr. Salehk Mangelen lead the distribution of allowances ranging from P3,000 to P12,000.
The graduates, which included 1,493 individuals from Maguindanao del Norte, 430 from Maguindanao del Sur, and 282 from the Special Geographic Area (SGA), were trained in a diverse range of fields. Their completed courses spanned agriculture, food production, technical trades, and service-oriented skills, such as crop and animal production, bread and pastry making, cookery, dressmaking, computer servicing, electrical and plumbing works, and heavy equipment operation.
In his address to the completers, Iqbal emphasized the importance of using their newly acquired skills for employment and entrepreneurship. He also highlighted the program's connection to the region's history, noting that the achievement is a product of the Bangsamoro struggle, as echoed in the Bangsamoro hymn's lyrics "bunga ng pawis, dugo at buhay" (product of sweat, blood, and life).
Since the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2019, the TESD programs have equipped over 145,513 scholars with essential skills and knowledge, according to Iqbal.
Among the graduates was Ahmad Ronnel Kamino, a 50-year-old completer of the Bread and Pastry Production course.
"Through this program, we learned to make different baked goods—the Bangsamoro now know more than just how to make pandesal, as we are also learning to make macarons and other products," Kamino said, expressing his pride and gratitude.
"Let’s prove that the Bangsamoro is now not only nationally competitive but also internationally competitive," Kamino added.
To support the graduates in their job search, Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) Minister Muslimin Sema announced the availability of 2,200 job vacancies from partner private companies.
Graduates were encouraged to submit their applications through the Bangsamoro job portal.
The event was also attended by key officials and partners, including a representative from Senator Ronald Dela Rosa’s office, MIPA Deputy Minister Rene Batitao, TESD Scholarship focal person Khominie Abas, Kadayangan Mayor Duma Mascud of SGA, and various technical-vocational institution presidents.
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