Notre Dame University’s commitment to deliver quality education has been recognized by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority of the Bangsamoro Autonomous in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). In the BTA’s Third Regular Session, Members of the Parliament passed Resolution no. 210 “Congratulating and Commending Notre Dame University for Having Been Granted Autonomous Status by the Commission on Higher Education”. Part of the Resolution says: “Whereas, NDU, being the first university in Cotabato City, has produced significant number of leaders, legislators, accountants, lawyers, teachers, engineers and other professionals from the Bangsamoro Region… Whereas, NDU benefits not only their students and graduates but the Bangsamoro community as a whole. It has prepared its students not only by providing them with sufficient, but also by preparing them to be active members of their communities.”

The Resolution, adopted on February 15, 2022, was authored by MP Engr. Baintan Adil-Ampatuan and MP Amilbahar S. Mawallil and co-authored by MP Atty. Laisa M. Alamia, MP Atty. Rasol Mitmug, MP Atty. Suharto M. Ambolodto, MP Engr. Don Mustapha A. Loong, MP Rasul E. Ismael, MP Faiz S. Alauddin, MP Eddie M. Ali, MP Susana S. Anayatin, MP Akmad I. Abas, MP Nabila Margarita P. Pangandaman, MP Sittie Shahara I. Mastura, MP Abdullah B. Hashim, MP Mohagher M. Iqbal, MP Hussein P. Muñoz, MP Abdulmuhmin A. Mujahid, MP Ali O. Sangki, MP Musa K.S. Diamla, MP Maisara D. Latiph, MP Narcisu C. Yu Ekey, MP Mohammad S. Yacob and MP Haron M. Abas.

In his message, Secretary General Raby B. Angkal of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority said that “Notre Dame University has been granted Autonomous Status by the Commission on Higher Education, that we consider a significant and great achievement of the University. This grant will allow the University to start several courses and bring most relevant changes in its syllabus and curriculum for the benefit of the Bangsamoro people and the people of the region as well… We anticipate that the new status of Notre Dame University will be one of the tools in molding the Bangsamoro students to be the best product from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao…Having an Autonomous University will help the Bangsamoro people in advancing and rebranding themselves into more competitive, more innovative, and more skillful professionals. This is the benefit of being a student and product of an Autonomous University.”

Fr. Francis Efren C. Zabala, OMI, D.Min, the University President, received the Commendation from Secretary General Raby B. Angkal, during the Commendation Ceremony on April 19, 2022 at the Tanghalang Michael Clark, Notre Dame University. In his message of acceptance, Fr. Zabala said, “Thank you for the recognition. Thank you for the commendation. Thank you for the great distinction given to Notre Dame University. This commendation reminds us not only of CHED’s recognition of NDU’s excellence but also of NDU’s solidarity with the Bangsamoro region. NDU was born out of compassion. Rising from the ashes of war, with the Second World War still fresh in memory, the then Notre Dame College was established in 1948 as a response to the clamour of the people to be given a chance at education… It started with basic education. But eventually an urgent appeal to also cater to tertiary education followed. Thus, Notre Dame College – the precursor of NDU was born. By this, NDU can claim to be the very first Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the former Empire Province of Cotabato.

Through the years, NDU rejoiced in the achievement in our context and struggled certain negative experiences encountered in out setting such as conflict, tension, violence, war, earthquakes, flooding, and now the pandemic. Yet amid all the struggles, NDU has consistently strived to deliver quality education… We rejoice at the success of our graduates. It is our prayer that they will contribute immensely to the betterment of society and will always be of service
most especially here in our very own region—the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao… let us be reminded once again of the great longing of our people in the region, viz., the longing for quality education–not simply education but quality education. It is our prayer that through quality education the genius of people will be given a chance to thrive and flourish—for the common good—in our common homeland, in our common home, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.