DAVAO CITY (PIA) – The new Mindanao Development Authority chairperson Sec. Leo Tereso Magno has said that he is continuing the University of the Philippines-MinDA collaboration.
Last May 8, then MinDA chair Sec. Mabel Sunga Acosta and UP President Angelo Jimenez signed a memorandum of understanding which enabled the UP system and MinDA to collaborate on research focusing on governance, conflict mitigation, the environment, and outreach projects for socio-economic development. Also under the MoU, UP and MinDA will jointly conduct capacity-building activities, exchange information, and plan for these purposes.
During his guesting at the recent Habi at Kape media forum held in Abreeza Mall in Davao City, Sec. Magno said he will continue the partnership citing his friendship with UP President Jimenez and he vowed to strengthen the MinDA-UP ties.
“Si President Jijil (Angelo Jimenez) matagal ko na kaibigan, wala pa kami sa gobyerno siguro mga 15, 20 years na, naglink na rin kami ni President Jijil and we promised ourselves na kung ano man ang relasyon ng MinDA at UP, palakasin at patibayin pa namin,” Sec. Magno said.
[President Jijil (Angelo Jimenez) was a long-time friend when we were not yet in government, I think 15, 20 years ago. We connected once and we promised ourselves that whatever relationship MinDA and UP had, we will strengthen and reinforce it.]
Sec. Magno says he will be looking into the details of the MoU to explore what areas to focus on the collaboration.
“Ang pagkakaintindi ko, hindi ko pa nakikita ang detalye, ang UP napakagaling gumawa ng mga studies sa iba’t ibang bagay para sa iba’t ibang kabutihan. I have not seen the exact partnership with MinDA but I would like to think what UP can contribute to the country and to Mindanao is their expertise, their way of analyzing and making studies,” Sec. Magno said.
(From what I understand as I have not seen yet the details, UP is very proficient in making studies in different fields for various good, I have not seen the exact partnership with MinDA but I would like to think what UP can contribute to the country and to Mindanao is their expertise, their way of analyzing and making studies)
Sec. Magno said he will look and study into the details of the partnership between the two parties.
In an interview during the MoU signing last May, UP president Angelo Jimenez said that the UP system commits to share “the entire range of resources – technical, scientific, and academic resources of the university, including logistics, to contribute to the success of not just MinDA but the entire Mindanao region.” (RGA/PIA Davao Region)
