COTABATO CITY (PIA) – Eight members of the Bangsamoro Parliament filed on Wednesday a bill seeking to boost the research and development (R&D) sector in the Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) through the creation of research and development authority.

Member of the Bangsamoro Parliament Amilbahar Mawallil, principal author of the bill, said that the creation of this regulatory body would set the direction and priorities for scientific research policies in the region.

He explained that resolving several underlying issues in the region requires a scientific approach.

“The establishment of this body is proof that the region is preparing itself for advancement,” Mawalil, a former journalist-turned-BARMM legislator, said.

The proposed Parliament Bill 161 or the Bangsamoro Research and Development Act of 2021 is also aimed at creating an environment for coordination and collaboration among the government, private sector, non-government organizations, and individuals engaged in research and development.

The mandate and functions of the said office will include recommending a system for establishing priority research and development areas; recommending mechanisms, structures, and measures to encourage private research; and promoting scientific and industrial research.

If passed into law, the office will submit a five-year development plan to the Office of the Chief Minister and the Bangsamoro Parliament. (With reports from BTA)