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31/10/2026

MinDA, Philippine Embassy in Korea Align on Advancing BIMP-EAGA Priorities and Regional Development Cooperation

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) agenda during a courtesy meeting with Her Excellency Bernadette Therese Fernandez, Ambassador of the Philippines to the Republic of Korea, at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss Mindanao's development priorities within the BIMP-EAGA framework and explore avenues for strengthening cooperation with the Republic of Korea, one of the longstanding development partners of the subregion.

MinDA Executive Director, Usec. Janet Lopoz highlighted the importance of sustaining partnerships that support inclusive economic growth, connectivity, and regional development across Mindanao and the wider BIMP-EAGA subregion.

Discussions centred on ongoing efforts to enhance trade and investment facilitation, strengthen regional collaboration, and identify opportunities for greater engagement between Mindanao stakeholders and Korean institutions.

The engagement with Ambassador Fernandez forms part of MinDA's participation in the 7th BIMP-EAGA-Republic of Korea Senior Officials' Meeting in Seoul, a strategic gathering that reviews ongoing cooperation initiatives under the BIMP-EAGA-ROK Cooperation Fund (BKCF) and advances discussions on future development projects for the subregion.

The Republic of Korea has been a valuable development partner of BIMP-EAGA, supporting more than 30 projects across the subregion through initiatives aimed at promoting economic cooperation, capacity building, connectivity, and sustainable development.

Lopoz also underscored MinDA's commitment to maximising opportunities under the BIMP-EAGA framework to further position Mindanao as a competitive gateway for trade, investment, and regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Also joining the delegation are BKCF Project Grantees from Mindanao, Dr. Mel Chrisel Araña Sales and Jovie Gil Montajes.

The engagement supports the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in advancing the Philippines' strategic participation in ASEAN and BIMP-EAGA as platforms for promoting inclusive growth, regional connectivity, and economic cooperation.

Through sustained engagement with development partners such as the Republic of Korea, MinDA continues to contribute to the Marcos Administration’s efforts to strengthen cross-border collaboration, facilitate investments, and expand opportunities for communities in Mindanao and the wider ASEAN region.

The initiative likewise reinforces the country's commitment to a more integrated, resilient, and prosperous ASEAN through strengthened regional partnerships and development cooperation.

31/10/2026

𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

DAVAO CITY — Power supply constraints, inadequate infrastructure, and delays in project development continue to hamper Mindanao’s efforts to attract investments and build industries that can compete in global markets, business leaders and development partners said during the Mindanao Development Forum 2026.

The challenges were discussed during a panel titled “How Can We Turn Mindanao’s Investment Potential into Scalable Businesses and Global Market Opportunities?”, which brought together representatives from the private sector and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

“That’s why we need to turn potential into actual prosperity,” Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Deputy Executive Director Romeo M. Montenegro said, stressing the need to turn the region’s resources into investments, processing industries, and export products that create jobs and improve incomes for farmers and fisherfolk.

Ricardo “Cary” Lagdameo of Anflo Management and Investment Corporation (ANFLOCOR) said farmers need stronger links with processors and other buyers so they can benefit more from the industries built around their products.

“And let’s not forget about the farmers. They’re really what powers our economy here in Mindanao, being 30% of the working population here. And this being the center of agriculture for the country,” Lagdameo said.

He said Mindanao also needs to show investors that opportunities are already being realized, particularly in industries that use locally available raw materials.

“So I don’t believe the notion that we can’t compete in Southeast Asia because we do have products that can be made here,” Lagdameo said, pointing to the region’s agricultural commodities and natural resources as potential advantages in attracting manufacturing investments.

Danel C. Aboitiz, president and chief executive officer of Aboitiz Power Corporation, pointed to rising electricity demand as a sign of Mindanao’s growth prospects and the need to keep power infrastructure up to pace.

“An interesting factoid that really kind of caught my attention. Samal had a demand of 8 megawatts in 2022. And before this panel this morning, I checked in with a team and we’re now at 13 megawatt,” Aboitiz said.

He also highlighted the need to expand power generation, improve transmission capacity, and ensure distribution utilities can meet the needs of growing communities and industries.

“There’s a very clear correlation between the performance of the utility and the economic prosperity of that region,” Aboitiz said.

Miguel Rene Alcantara Dominguez of the General Santos Chamber of Commerce said weaknesses in electricity distribution and infrastructure continue to make it difficult for businesses to expand and for new industries to take root outside major urban centers.

“We cannot attract any kind of manufacturing where we see a transition from simple products to more complex products from localities, from agriculture, or industry,” Dominguez said.

He warned that Mindanao could miss opportunities to process its own resources and create more jobs if these long-standing problems remain unresolved.

Andrew Jeffries, country director of the Asian Development Bank, said infrastructure projects can struggle to move forward because of funding gaps for feasibility studies, right-of-way acquisition, and delays in securing permits.

“First of all, the lack of funds for feasibility studies, it’s a chicken or egg problem. No one wants to put their money into the feasibility. You know, no one wants to put their money in until it’s feasible, but no one wants to spend a little money to see if it’s feasible,” Jeffries said.

He said projects need proper preparation to attract financing and move toward implementation, whether through government funding, development partners, or public-private partnerships.

Jeffries also stressed the need to make investing easier by addressing government processes and infrastructure gaps that can delay projects and increase costs.

“So I think it’s just important to put that aside and focus on fundamentals of making it easier for these investors to invest whether that’s government processes, or enabling infrastructure,” he said.

The concerns raised during the panel echoed MinDA Chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno’s development priorities for Mindanao. In his opening message at the forum, Magno said the agency would intensify efforts to improve infrastructure and connectivity, strengthen energy reliability, and move agriculture and agribusiness up the value chain.

“We will boost our investment capacity by turning priorities into a pipeline of bankable projects, strengthening LGU and regional capacity, and providing better data and coordination so investors see one clear Mindanao story,” Magno said.

This priorities are also aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s broader economic agenda, which emphasizes infrastructure development, reliable energy, and a more competitive investment environment. In June 2026, Marcos approved the 2026 Strategic Investment Priority Plan, which seeks to attract investments, generate jobs, and encourage industries that create greater value locally. The administration has also called for expanded power generation, stronger transmission networks, and faster implementation of energy projects to support growing demand.

The forum underscored the need for government, businesses, and development partners to work together to address infrastructure and energy constraints, improve project preparation, and strengthen links between local producers and industries. Turning Mindanao’s investment potential into actual businesses will depend on whether these challenges can be resolved and opportunities translated into jobs, higher incomes, and wider market access.

31/10/2026

MinDA, ADB Explore Financing Pathways to Unlock Mindanao’s Critical Minerals Potential

DAVAO CITY — The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are exploring financing mechanisms, investment opportunities, and policy reforms to accelerate responsible critical minerals development and establish stronger domestic processing industries in Mindanao.

MinDA Chairperson, Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno underscored the need to maximize the country's mineral wealth by shifting from raw mineral exports to domestic processing, refining, and downstream manufacturing that can generate greater economic value, quality employment, and industrial capacity.

“Mindanao must move beyond raw mineral extraction and exports by attracting investments in processing and downstream industries that allow the country to capture greater economic value from its own resources,” Magno emphasized.

Held at the sidelines of the Mindanao Development Forum, the bilateral meeting sought to identify areas of MinDA-ADB cooperation to address investment constraints, strengthen institutional coordination, expand private sector participation, and mobilize financing for priority development projects across Mindanao.

The ADB delegation was led by Country Director for the Philippines, Andrew Jeffries, and Alternate Executive Director Rolando Tungpalan.

Jeffries shared observations from their engagements with private sector representatives, noting that despite the national government's more investment-friendly policy direction, difficulties in dealing with local government units (LGUs) remain a significant concern affecting investor confidence and project implementation.

The discussions covered critical minerals development, mining regulations, exploration financing, public-private partnerships (PPPs), BARMM development, renewable energy, export opportunities, and infrastructure project preparation.

Magno highlighted Executive Order No. 122, s. 2026, which establishes a national policy framework for developing the critical minerals industry and reorganizes the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), emphasizing the importance of operationalizing interagency coordination and advancing a more efficient environment for responsible mining investments.

On mineral exploration financing, the parties examined the potential adaptation of ADB's geothermal risk-sharing facility, which helps cover a portion of exploratory drilling costs, as a possible model for reducing early-stage investment risks and encouraging private sector participation in mineral development.

On investment promotion and PPPs, Magno cited MinDA's collaboration with the PPP Center and its assistance to approximately 94 LGUs in identifying and preparing potential PPP projects, with the target of expanding its reach to around 150 LGUs by year-end.

Magno also presented the proposed MinDA-BARMM Partnership for Development Program as a framework for coordinating technical assistance, project preparation, investment facilitation, and institutional capacity-building in support of the Bangsamoro Government's development priorities.

Beyond mining, the meeting also explored opportunities for ADB support in renewable energy and geothermal development, connections between Mindanao enterprises and international buyers to expand agricultural and other product exports, and the preparation of roads, flood protection, river management, and other priority infrastructure projects.

ADB expressed interest in working with MinDA to identify regulatory bottlenecks, particularly those involving national government and LGU processes, and explore opportunities to support reforms that would improve the enabling environment for responsible mining investments.

MinDA reaffirmed its commitment to facilitate investment and development across Mindanao by connecting LGUs, national government agencies, development partners, financing institutions, and private businesses to technical expertise, funding opportunities, and viable development projects.

The meeting identified eight potential areas for continued cooperation, including critical minerals and domestic processing, regulatory streamlining, project development financing, risk-sharing mechanisms, LGU capacity-building, private sector and export development, BARMM development cooperation, and infrastructure coordination.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., through Executive Order No. 122, s. 2026, established a national policy framework for critical minerals development and strengthened the Mining Industry Coordinating Council, complementing MinDA's Mindanao Investment Promotion and Facilitation Program (MIPFP) in promoting responsible investments and value-adding industries across the region.

The Marcos administration's Republic Act No. 11966, or the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines, provides a unified framework for national and local PPP projects, reinforcing MinDA's PPP Facilitation Initiative with the PPP Center to help LGUs prepare bankable projects and attract private sector financing.

President Marcos' Memorandum Order No. 47, s. 2026, approving the 2026 Strategic Investment Priority Plan, prioritizes investments in strategic and critical minerals processing, renewable energy, and other value-adding industries, supporting MinDA's efforts to promote Mindanao's investment opportunities through its Mindanao Investment Portal.

30/10/2026

MinDA Lauds Del Carmen’s Biodiversity Success as Model for Sustainable Development in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) welcomed the international recognition received by Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, as Mayor Alfredo “JR” Coro II showcased the municipality’s biodiversity conservation initiatives during the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan, Armenia.

Mayor Coro brought global attention to Del Carmen’s internationally recognised efforts in mangrove conservation, sustainable coastal resource management, and community-based waste management during the 9th Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities, held alongside COP17.

Addressing local government leaders and development partners from around the world, Mayor Coro underscored the critical role of local governments in translating global biodiversity commitments into practical actions that protect ecosystems, strengthen livelihoods, and enhance community resilience against climate change.

“In Del Carmen, we have learned that protecting nature is not a barrier to progress, but rather the foundation for prosperity. When our environment thrives, our communities prosper, and our future becomes more secure,” Mayor Coro said.

Through sustained conservation efforts, coastal ecosystem protection, improved waste management systems, and active community participation, Del Carmen has emerged as a leading example of how local governments can advance environmental sustainability while supporting economic development.

Mayor Coro also serves on the Global Steering Committee of Coastal500, an initiative recognised as a finalist for the 2023 Earthshot Prize, and as a Board Member of the Global Island Partnership. He is likewise a member of the Subnational Advisory Council of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.

Through these international platforms, he has consistently advocated for strengthened marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries management, protection of municipal waters, and greater support for the livelihoods of small-scale fishers and island communities.

The recognition received by Del Carmen highlights the growing contribution of Mindanao communities to global efforts in biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable development.

MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno commended the municipality’s achievements, describing Del Carmen’s biodiversity initiatives as a valuable model for sustainable and inclusive local development across the island.

“This is precisely the kind of locally driven, globally relevant initiative that we seek to advance under MinDA’s Building a Better Mindanao agenda, consistent with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient development. We want to see more Mindanao communities transform their natural assets into engines of resilience, responsible investment, and shared prosperity,” Secretary Magno said.

Secretary Magno added that Del Carmen’s experience demonstrates how environmental stewardship, when anchored on strong local leadership and community participation, can generate long-term social, economic, and ecological benefits.

As Mindanao continues to pursue a development pathway that balances economic growth with environmental protection, MinDA expressed optimism that more local government units across the island will draw lessons from Del Carmen’s experience and strengthen their own biodiversity and climate resilience initiatives.

30/10/2026

PBBM Hails First BARMM Parliament as Milestone in Bangsamoro Peace Process

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. described the opening of the first regular session of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliament as a major milestone in the country’s peace process, highlighting the region’s transition from armed struggle to democratic governance.

Speaking before members of the newly elected Parliament at the Bangsamoro Government Center, the President underscored the significance of the occasion in advancing lasting peace and self-governance in the Bangsamoro.

He noted that the successful conduct of the first parliamentary elections and the convening of the region’s first elected Parliament mark a historic achievement for both the Bangsamoro people and the nation.

“This day is a milestone in the peace process between the National Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, marking the transition from armed struggle to peaceful democratic governance,” President Marcos said.

The President also emphasised that the task ahead is to strengthen parliamentary governance, sustain the gains of peace, and ensure that development reaches Bangsamoro communities. He called on the region’s leaders to uphold unity, cooperation, transparency, and good governance as they chart the future of BARMM.

Joining the President during the historic gathering were Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo Jr., Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Mel Senen Sarmiento; National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Dr. Sabuddin N. Abdurahim; and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno, who reaffirmed MinDA’s commitment to supporting the Bangsamoro Government in its pursuit of inclusive growth, stronger institutions, and lasting peace.

Secretary Magno said the convening of the first regular BARMM Parliament reflects the steady progress of the peace process and the growing capacity of Bangsamoro institutions to deliver meaningful development outcomes for its people.

“The establishment of the first elected BARMM Parliament is a historic achievement that demonstrates how peace, effective governance, and strong institutions can create opportunities and improve lives. It reflects the collective aspirations of the Bangsamoro people and the continued commitment of all stakeholders to building a peaceful and progressive region,” Magno said.

The MinDA chief noted that BARMM has continued to demonstrate encouraging development gains in recent years, strengthening investor confidence and advancing reforms that support economic growth and social progress.

Magno likewise assured the Bangsamoro Government of MinDA’s continued partnership in advancing programmes and projects that promote inclusive development, regional competitiveness, and sustainable peace.

The inaugural session formally opened the work of the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament, whose members will lead the region’s legislative agenda and help steer BARMM’s development priorities in the years ahead.

📷 Office of the Chief Minister

30/10/2026

National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary and Lead Convenor Manny Pacquiao said he is bringing the same fighting spirit he carried in the boxing ring into the government’s battle against poverty. Speaking at the Mindanao Development Forum 2026 in Davao City, Pacquiao stressed the need to create jobs, attract investments, strengthen livelihoods, and give every Filipino family a fair chance at a better life. He also called for Mindanao to be recognized not only for the champions it produces, but also for the opportunities it creates, the industries it builds, and the lives it transforms.

30/10/2026

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the need to make economic growth felt in the daily lives of Mindanaoans, citing more affordable food, better jobs, and improved access to health services as key measures of progress. In his message delivered by Cabinet Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. during the Mindanao Development Forum 2026 in Davao City, the President also called for Mindanao to retain a greater share of the economic benefits from its natural resources, stressing that the region has the land, resources, and people to achieve greater progress.

30/10/2026

BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua underscored the importance of translating the gains of peace into tangible economic opportunities for the Bangsamoro people during the Mindanao Development Forum 2026 in Davao City. He said peace must bring better incomes for farmers, decent jobs for the youth, growing businesses for entrepreneurs, and dignity and security for communities, stressing that lasting peace must be felt in the everyday lives of the people.

30/10/2026

MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno underscored Mindanao’s growing potential as an investment destination, citing the region’s gains in peace and stability, strong institutions, and strategic position in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

29/10/2026

LOOK: National government officials champion Mindanao's next growth chapter during the first day of the Mindanao Development Forum 2026.

MinDA Chairperson, Sec. Leo Tereso A. Magno also thanked Mindanao's development partners for being a part of the region's transformative journey.

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14th Floor, Pryce Tower, Pryce Business Park, JP Laurel Avenue, Bajada
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