Tawi-Tawi PLGU Hosts Consultation on Proposed Maritime School and District Hospital

COTABATO CITY (August 24, 2025) — The Provincial Government of Tawi-Tawi held a consultation meeting on August 22, 2025, in the Governor’s Conference Room in Bongao. The meeting aimed to discuss two important legislative proposals intended to enhance education and healthcare services in the province.

The consultation was part of ongoing public hearings led by the Bangsamoro Parliament’s Committees on Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (CBHTE) and Health (CoH).

One of the proposals, Parliament Bill No. 356, aims to establish the first maritime school in Tawi-Tawi, providing high-quality nautical education and training. Principal author Deputy Speaker John Anthony Lim noted that the bill was informed by visits to leading maritime schools nationwide, with the goal of offering world-class instruction to Bangsamoro students. If approved, the school is expected to welcome its first class by 2028.

Deputy Floor Leader Jose Lorena emphasized the strategic significance of this initiative, highlighting that a maritime school aligns with Tawi-Tawi’s rich seafaring heritage and geographic advantages. The proposal received broad support from local officials, educators, and civil society. MSU-Tawi-Tawi Chancellor Mary Joyce Guinto Sali pointed out that the institution would help preserve the region’s cultural identity as skilled navigators.

Another proposal discussed was Parliament Bill No. 163, introduced by Deputy Speaker Don Mustapha Loong, which aims to create the Languyan District Hospital. This facility is designed to have 50 beds and will serve the 41,587 residents of Languyan by providing accessible and integrated healthcare services. Deputy Speaker Loong stressed the urgency of the project, expressing hope that it will be enacted before the next elections to address the community’s pressing medical needs and alleviate the burden of long-distance travel for treatment.

The Provincial Government reaffirmed its strong support for these initiatives, recognizing that education and healthcare are essential pillars of inclusive and resilient development in Tawi-Tawi. (BMN/BangsamoroToday)