Don Mustapha Loong was born in Sulu during the height of armed conflict in Southern Philippines in the mid-1970s. He witnessed the suffering of his kin and fellow citizens as they traversed the rugged terrain of the region amid hostilities. The experience filled him with an intense desire to help his compatriots. He then enrolled in civil engineering and in 2000 became the first Moro civil engineer who graduated from UP.
The UP College of Engineering and alumni association honored him with the National Achievement Award for Government Service in 2016.
He is currently the Regional Secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Department of Public Works and Highways (ARMM-DPWH). During his term, ARMM- DPWH has built more infrastructure in the region than in the last 20 years combined: 1,334.745 kilometers of road, 157 units of water systems, 24 units of flood control structures, and 75 bridge projects to date.
In the past, ARMM-DPWH, which covers five provinces constantly affected by armed conflict (Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, and Sulu), was plagued by ghost infrastructure projects. To ensure transparency, optimization of resources, and mitigation of risk to life and limb, he decided to use drones, satellite imagery, geo-tagging, social media, and public viewing stations to monitor projects. These strategies promote public vigilance and inspire positive action from implementers.
Engr. Don Mustapha Loong was also honered with the 2018 UP Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Service and Good Governance.