The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) on Tuesday, May 9, paid courtesy visit to the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) and Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) in Zamboanga City.

Headed by Education Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal, the MBHTE is keen to establish ways to work together with the WestMinCom and NFWM especially in improving access to education in BARMM’s island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (BASULTA).

Under Command Chief LtGen. Roy M. Galido, the WestMinCom is the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) unified command in charge of the Zamboanga Peninsula, Nothern Mindanao, and the BARMM.

Welcomed MBHTE delegelates were Chief Galido, BGen. Vincent B. Incognito, PAF, Deputy, Col. Emmanuel L. Cabasan PA, Chief of Unified Command Staff, Col. Rey P. Pasco PA, Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for personnel, Col. Wendell J. Basat PA, Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Civil Military Operations, U7, Col. Josemari Sardeng PAF, Chief of Unified Command Staff for Communications, Electronics and Information System, U6, and LtCol. Generoso O. Bautista PAF, Chief of Unified Command Staff for Logistics, U4.

On the other hand, RAdm. Don Anthony L. Miraflor is the Commander of the naval force known as the “defender of the Western Mindanao frontier”.

Discussed during the visit were the Education Ministry’s series of activities to be held at Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the next few days which includes delivery and distribution of education-related supplies and equipment, groundbreaking ceremonies for the contruction of school building projects and facilities, renewal and contract signing of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language (ISAL) teachers-asaatidz, graduation and distribution of tool kits for Technical Education and Skills Development (TESD) scholars, among others.

Iqbal guaranteed that the courtesy visits were “excellent opportunities that strengthened partnership and collaboration between the AFP and Navy in ensuring the welfare of not only the learners but also the whole communities in BASULTA”.

Meanwhile, Commander Galido ensured that the WestMinCom gives its all out support to whatever programs and projects the MBHTE will be undertaking for the betterment of the Bangsamoro.