ARMM trade secretary gets UK study grant

COTABATO CITY – For his role in establishing the Regional Economic Zone Authority (REZA) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), a young Muslim datu was granted by the British government a scholarship for masteral study on international petroleum policy at the University of Dundee in Scotland.

Lawyer Datu Ishak Mastura, the ARMM’s trade and industry secretary, said the year-long Chevening scholarship grant will allow him to take a postgraduate program on international energy, petroleum and mineral laws and policies, starting the second week of January.

Mastura, a graduate of the Ateneo de Manila Law School, is a son of former Maguindanao Rep. Datu Michael Mastura, a lawyer-historian.

Mastura said the British government will provide him and seven other Filipino scholars with monthly stipends, book allowances and travel funds.

ARMM Gov. Parouk Hussin has approved Mastura’s six-month leave from his post.

Hussin has appointed Mastura’s assistant, Marites Maguindra, as caretaker of the ARMM trade department in Mastura’s absence.

Mastura, 32, is the youngest member of Hussin’s Cabinet. He was the main proponent of the REZA which now provides special tax and tariff incentives to foreign and local investors. — John Unson