Atty. Paisalin Tago

Atty. Paisalin P.D. Tago, CPA, is a highly accomplished and distinguished public servant, legislator, and legal professional who now serves as the 9th Regular President of the Mindanao State University (MSU) System. He advocates inclusive development, social justice, and education as a tool for empowerment. As a fellow of the East-West Center’s New Generation Seminar in Hawaii, he represented the Philippines among a global cohort of emerging leaders, further enriching his cross-cultural and policy perspectives. With over three decades of leadership experience, he has served in various capacities across regional and national government. He was a sitting Member of Parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, and formerly served as Deputy Speaker. Also as Minister of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in the Bangsamoro Government in the Philippines, he led institutional reforms and infrastructure initiatives to improve connectivity and mobility across the BARMM region. He also served as Commissioner of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and as a consultant to the Senate during the deliberations on the Bangsamoro Organic Law. He also served as a Board of Administrator in the Cooperative Development Authority. His legislative portfolio reflects a comprehensive vision for human development—authoring landmark measures on education, public health, science and technology, peacebuilding, institutional reform, and cultural preservation.

As a university president, he brings with him not only his experience in public policy, but a deep respect for the role of education in nation-building. He has consistently advocated for greater investments in scholarships, teacher training, research, and institutional excellence. He believes that Mindanao State University can become a global hub of academic innovation, cultural exchange, and peace education—anchored in service to the people of Mindanao and the Bangsamoro. He bridges multiple worlds: the legal and the academic, the bureaucratic and the cultural, the local and the global.