BONGAO, TAWI-TAWI — Strengthening its commitment to quality education and community development, Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU TCTO) formalized its partnership with the Commodore Jose S. Francisco Foundation, Inc. (AHA Learning Center) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on May 4, 2026.
The agreements were signed by University Chancellor Prof. Mary Joyce Z. Guinto-Sali, PhD, and Antonio F. Zulueta Jr., Executive Director of the AHA Learning Center, with Hamina Charlotte G. De Leon representing AHA and Prof. Alisan U. Jemsy, PhD representing MSU TCTO as witnesses.
The MOU establishes the system-wide framework governing the partnership, outlining the shared commitment of both institutions to expand access to quality foundational literacy and numeracy education in Tawi-Tawi and across the Bangsamoro region. It defines the scope of collaboration by leveraging AHA’s evidence-based programs and MSU TCTO’s institutional reach through its Schools of Education, University Extension Services, and the National Service Training Program–Literacy Training Service (NSTP-LTS). The MOU also sets the foundation for campus-level implementation, with specific arrangements to be carried out through corresponding Memoranda of Agreement.
Complementing this, the MOA operationalizes the partnership by defining the campus-specific implementation of these initiatives. It outlines the deployment of AHA’s literacy and numeracy programs in identified schools and communities, with pre-service teachers from the College of Education serving as program implementers under faculty supervision.
The agreement integrates these initiatives into MSU TCTO’s academic and extension frameworks, including practicum requirements, the National Service Training Program–Literacy Training Service (NSTP-LTS), and university extension services. It also provides for faculty and student training, technical support, and capacity-building activities, alongside monitoring, evaluation, and reporting mechanisms to ensure effective and sustained program delivery.
Under the agreement, both parties will jointly identify target schools and communities within Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, and develop a written Annual Implementation Plan to guide program delivery. The initiative also ensures that student deployment is conducted under academic supervision, strengthening both experiential learning and community-based engagement.
In a statement, Chancellor Guinto-Sali highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating: “This collaboration reflects our commitment to bringing education closer to our communities. By equipping our future educators with the right tools and experiences, we not only strengthen their competencies but also ensure that no learner is left behind in accessing quality education.”
Through this collaboration, MSU TCTO strengthens its role as a key development partner in the region—bridging instruction, research, and extension to address learning gaps and support inclusive, community-centered growth.
With the implementation of the MOU and MOA, communities can expect strengthened literacy and numeracy programs in local schools, increased engagement of pre-service teachers in community-based learning, and wider access to evidence-based educational interventions. The initiative is also poised to enhance teacher training, improve learner outcomes, and foster a culture of shared responsibility in advancing education across Tawi-Tawi.
Aligned with its mission of Creating Opportunities, Transforming Lives, the University continues to expand meaningful partnerships that empower communities and shape a more responsive and impactful educational landscape in BARMM.
