ASOG hosts BARMM delegates on study visit for institutional strengthening

On 13 February 2026, the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) hosted a delegation from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) for a study visit to learn practical approaches that can guide the institutional strengthening and program design of the Bangsamoro government’s local governance academy.

Spearheaded by the Bangsamoro Local Governance Academy (BLGA), the 14-person cohort comprised representatives from the BARMM Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), Development Academy of the Bangsamoro (DAB), and Mindanao State University (MSU-Marawi). 

The study visit was conducted to help BLGA clarify how it can effectively fulfill its mandate of building the capacities of local governments in the Bangsamoro. Specifically, the delegation aimed to learn how academic institutions manage mandatory courses and specialized or executive training programs, understand institutional roles and coordination arrangements within the Bangsamoro local governance capacity development ecosystem, and translate key lessons from the visit into an institutional roadmap that can help inform BLGA’s 2026 work plan. 

The learning exchange was carried out through brief presentations on the three major program areas of the school followed by an open dialogue facilitated by ASOG Non-Resident Research Fellow Dr. Wilfredo M. Torres III. During the discussion, BLGA officials raised questions on institutional setup, partnerships with other Bangsamoro offices, and concrete next steps in building their training and capacity development programs. 

The BARMM delegation was led by BLGA Director Mr. Muhammad Farzieh B. Abutazil and MILG Operations Management Services Director Ms. Fausiah R. Abdula. Apart from the technical officials from BARMM, the group was also joined by representatives of The Asia Foundation and Galing Pook Foundation, which supported the learning activity. The study visit was hosted by senior administrators and program heads of ASOG, including Academic Program Head Javier R. Jimenez, Executive Education Program Head Sharon Grace S. Yabut, and Ateneo Policy Center Head Ivyrose S. Baysic. 

In a post-visit reflection with the delegation, participants highlighted the value of ASOG’s experience in working with Mindanao-based civil society organizations and academic institutions, its practice of engaging directly with communities in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro, and its growing portfolio of Bangsamoro-focused programs. They also cited as useful insights the use of needs-based surveys in course design, the possibility of partnering directly with local governments for training support, and the role of institutional identity and values in shaping training programs.