The Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Sulu Transition convenes on Thursday (March 5, 2026) to finalize critical measures aimed at ensuring uninterrupted education services in Sulu. The meeting, held at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), was co-presided over by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Acting Secretary Rolando Toledo and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Deputy Minister of the Interior and Local Government Eddie Alih. (Photo from DBM)
Government officials are moving to ensure that schools in Sulu continue operating smoothly as the province undergoes its administrative transition, with key agencies finalizing agreements aimed at protecting teachers, education workers, and learning institutions.
The Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Sulu Transition convened on Thursday to iron out measures that will guarantee uninterrupted delivery of education services while ensuring that the rights and welfare of teachers and education personnel remain protected throughout the transition period.
In a joint statement released 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) provided updates on the government’s ongoing coordination efforts to stabilize education services in the province.
Among the key developments is the drafting of a joint memorandum that will outline interim operational arrangements for the Hadji Butu School of Arts and Trades (HBSAT) and the Lapak Agricultural School (LAPAK). The agreement, involving the Commission on Higher Education, the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), and Mindanao State University, is scheduled to be signed on March 13.
The TWG is also set to issue a formal resolution supporting the Bangsamoro Government’s funding of salaries for Islamic Studies and Arabic Language teachers, Abot Kaalaman sa Pamilyang Bangsamoro educators, and para-teachers in Sulu for fiscal year 2026.
Officials said all contracts of service workers will continue to be renewed under the standard processes of the MBHTE, ensuring employment continuity for education personnel affected by the transition.
In addition, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government will study Sulu’s request for additional capital outlay funds to support infrastructure and operational needs of LAPAK and HBSAT.
Meanwhile, the DBM and the Department of the Interior and Local Government are preparing to hold another consultation meeting with the Civil Service Commission and BARMM officials to finalize the Joint Memorandum Circular on Personnel Options, which will provide detailed guidelines and clear pathways for employees affected by the administrative changes.
DBM Acting Secretary Rolando Toledo emphasized that the government is moving quickly to ensure the transition will not disrupt education in Sulu.
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given a clear directive: the transition in Sulu must not interrupt education and must not place our teachers and education workers at risk,” Toledo said.
“We are moving swiftly so that schools remain open, teachers continue to receive support, and learners in Sulu can pursue their dreams without disruption.”
MILG Deputy Minister Eddie Alih, for his part, said the transition is also an opportunity to strengthen governance and improve public service delivery in the province.
“The Bangsa Sug have a long history of resilience and dignity. As we navigate the administrative nuances of this transition, let us honor that history by delivering a governance structure that is responsive, transparent, and inclusive,” Alih said.
“Our goal is simple yet profound: a transition so stable that the transition itself becomes invisible to the citizen, leaving only the visible impact of improved public service.”