PARTNERSHIP — BTA Parliament Secretary General Prof. Raby B. Angkal (3rd from right) receives the “Simultaneous Translation Equipment” from The Asia Foundation Program Officer Aisha J. Midtanggal during turn-over ceremony today, November 05, 2020 held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex. Members of Parliament Susana Salvador Anayatin, Faiz Alaudin, Mohammad Zainoden Bato and Romeo Saliga were also present during the activity. (GALao with photo by ZSDiolanan)
COTABATO CITY — The Asia Foundation in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines under the ‘CARE for Peace Project’ turned over today, November 05, 2020 one set of ‘Simultaneous Translation System’ equipment to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament during simple ceremony held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC), Bangsamoro Government Center, this city.
The equipment includes one (1) Enersound TSP12-150 (150-Person Simultaneous Translation System for 4 languages), one (1) TS Premium Audio Cable, and six (6) CAS25 Plastic Case for 25 units. The cost of equipment is P1.5 million.
Sam Chittick, Country Representative for The Asia Foundation, said as their team has worked in support of the BTA for the past 18 months in its effort to establish the first Parliament in the region, they noted a significant gap in the equipment available with which to conduct the business of the Parliament.
“We are glad that we are able to assist in resolving one of those gaps by donating to the BTA one set of Simultaneous Translation System equipment that can be used during your plenary and committee sessions,” Chittick said.
Chittick, who joined the activity via Zoom teleconference, said through this equipment, any Member of the Parliament (MP) can speak and participate in the deliberations using his/her own dialect which can be simultaneously translated into four different dialects/languages so that other MPs can understand him/her.
“The equipment will also be of use when you have visiting delegations from other countries,” Chittick added.
In her brief message via Zoom teleconference, Second Secretary for Political of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines Jennifer Bennett has commended the efforts of the BTA Parliament despite the ongoing pandemic crisis.
“We assure the support of the Australian government to the BTA Parliament,” Bennett said.
BTA Parliament Secretary General Prof. Raby B. Angkal delivered the ‘acceptance speech’ in behalf of Speaker Pangalian M. Balindong.
“In the fulfillment of our mission to establish an inclusive and morally upright Bangsamoro government, we must also armor ourselves with the proper tools — Tools that will help us unite and accelerate further our will to enact laws. Tools that will intensify our communication system. Communication is the spirit of all Parliamentary platforms. It enables information dissemination and sharing of facts and opinions. It can cement local and foreign relations or deliberately collapse the basic political foundation of a nation. It is indeed a powerful tool in the field of legislation,” a part of Balindong’s message.
Further, Balindong cited he believes that with the help of said equipment, a stronger communication system in the Parliament will be cultivated and, therefore, language barriers will be surpassed.
“On behalf of the BTA Parliament, I would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to The Asia Foundation, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines. Thank you for being our synergistic partners in capacity building. Your unflinching support to the Bangsamoro government is one for the books,” Balindong said. Meanwhile, Chittick noted they hope that this small contribution of equipment will be of help to the Bangsamoro Parliament as it work to build the foundations for the democratic future of the region. (GALao, Publication & Media Relations Division, BTA Parliament)