DAP signs MOU with DOST XII, BARMM-BPDA, and VSU

The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through the Project Smarter Philippines through Data Analytics, Research and Development, Training, and Adoption (SPARTA), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with its three new institutional partners last March 11 via Zoom Communications.

The new institutional partners are the Department of Science and Technology- Region XII (DOST XII), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao- Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BARMM- BPDA), and Visayas State University (VSU).

The DAP was represented by the Institutional Marketing Center Officer-in-Charge Joanne Liezl Nuque and Vice President and Project SPARTA Lead Dr. Alan S. Cajes; DOST XII was represented by Regional Director Engr. Sammy Malawan and Officer-in-Charge of the Technical Services Division Engr. Szalinah Mercado; BARMM-BPDA was represented by Director-General Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali and Director I of Research and Development and Special Projects Bureau Engr. Kadil A Sulaik; and VSU was represented by Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Beatriz Belonia and Dean of the College of Management and Economics and Director of Visayas Social Economic Research and Data Analytics Center Dr. Moises Neil V. Seriñ.

Ms. Nuque delivered the message of the DAP President and CEO Atty. Engelbert Caronan, Jr. during the signing ceremony to welcome and thank the three new partners for their commitment to be part of the project’s initiative in promoting a vibrant and thriving ecosystem.

“I would like to thank our new partners for forging a partnership with us as we continue to pave the path towards a data-driven Philippines. Your commitment to augment the competencies of your members, employees, students, and constituents in DSA proves that you are one with us in equipping the ingenious Filipino with the right skills, knowledge, and tools to face the challenges brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the ever changing world,” Nuque said.

The respective representatives of the organizations also expressed their acknowledgment of the partnership.

“We are happy that [the] DAP shares with us the passion to produce more competent and competitive manpower who could assist not only [the] government, but also the private industry in coming up with data-driven solutions to face the problems in the region...Rest assured that we, in DOST XII, will maximize our efforts to encourage more inquiries to the program offered for us to eventually achieve our common goal,” Malawan stated.

Meanwhile, Sulaik relayed his acknowledgement message that highlighted the importance of obtaining Data Analytics and R&D skills for the BPDA.

“As we have been emphasizing many times, obtaining Data Analytics, research and development skills and competencies is both timely and imperative for the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority. More importantly, this partnership will benefit not only the BPDA and its employees, but also the client agencies, ministries, agencies, offices, local government units, development partners, and other stakeholders it serves, all the more so as the BARMM government intensifies its efforts to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and programming to advance the Bangsamoro Region's development,” Sulaik said.

Belonias also relayed the message of gratitude on behalf of the VSU President Dr. Edgardo Tulin: “It is a great honor for us, the Visayas State University, to partner with DOST [and] Project SPARTA, which aims to introduce and capacitate Filipinos in Data Science and Analytics. This partnership is an important step towards building capacity in Data Analytics as our contribution to knowledge generation and evidence- based decision making,” Belonias said.

The MOU between DAP and its new institutional partners aims to strengthen and promote a data-driven culture in the country through SPARTA.