The Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Tourism – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MTIT-BARMM) has launched a regionwide photo contest aimed at showcasing the region’s “hidden treasures.”

MTIT -BARMM Minister Abuamri Taddik said on Wednesday the contest is open to all interested participants across the region.

He said the contest, which opened on Tuesday, will run up to Sept. 20, 2021.

Themes of the photo contest are community-based economic sites and activities, social enterprise, gastronomies, eco-tourism, and adventure tourism, sun, beach, diving and marine sports tourism, cultural, religious, historical parks and landmarks, meeting, incentives, conferences, and events.

Taddik has encouraged everyone, especially the youth, to be part of the contest and feature the culture and historical events of the Moro people through photography.

“Let us support this endeavor for them to see BARMM not only here but across the globe, if possible,” he said.

John Lomboy, acting director of the region’s Bureau of Tourism, said all entries of the participants must be strictly “geotagged photographs” (to indicate their location) and with at least 300 PPI (pixels per inch) resolution.

“Also, the photos must be taken within the BARMM area only, and are original, personally taken, or legally owned by the participants,” he said.

Participants can submit no more than five entries provided that the photographs to be submitted shall be in one registration form per entry.

Lomboy said submission of entries shall be on the MTIT’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/barmmmtit), adding that participants can also seek assistance from the MTIT provincial offices if internet connection is not available in their areas.

Judging criteria includes theme relevance (40 percent), composition and creativity (30 percent), and the overall impact on the viewers (30 percent).

Lomboy said each BARMM component area – the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Cotabato; the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi; and the Special Geographic Area of 63 villages in North Cotabato will have its own winners, respectively.

The winners will receive PHP15,000 for the 1st prize, PHP10,000 for the second prize, and PHP5,000 for the third prize. An additional PHP3,000 for consolation prize allotted for five participants each from the provinces will also be given. (PNA)