Davao City, July 22, 2025 — Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Tereso Magno has called on stakeholders to rally behind a unified vision to position Mindanao—particularly the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)—as a key driver of inclusive growth within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
Speaking at the opening of the BARMM BIMP-EAGA Strategic Planning Workshop at D’Leonor Hotel in Davao City, Secretary Magno stressed the value of collective action in turning regional aspirations into concrete and investable projects.
“Let us help Mindanao by inviting investors to come. Let us provide them opportunities,” Magno said, noting that the region’s steadily improving peace and stability should be harnessed for long-term economic development.
Magno lauded the leadership of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) and the active engagement of sectoral representatives in the workshop. He said the event is crucial to ensuring that BARMM’s development priorities are not only represented but fully integrated into the BIMP-EAGA strategic roadmap for the next decade.
The workshop follows the 16th BIMP-EAGA Leaders’ Summit held in May in Malaysia, where Secretary Magno met with BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua. During the summit, Chief Minister Macacua showcased the region’s potential in agribusiness, renewable energy, and the halal industry to various stakeholders, including the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce.
“BARMM is a vital contributor to BIMP-EAGA’s inclusive growth, and this workshop is a key platform for translating intent into monitorable, real-world action,” Magno emphasized.
His message echoes the call made by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the same summit, where the President urged stakeholders to pursue “greater synergy, innovation, and political will” to realize BIMP-EAGA’s goals. President Marcos highlighted the need to accelerate infrastructure and digital connectivity in Mindanao and BARMM to unlock their full economic potential. He cited the sub-region’s 7.7% economic growth in 2022 and the surge in Priority Infrastructure Projects—from 57 in 2017 to 129 projects worth nearly US$39 billion as of late 2023.
President Marcos also welcomed a US$400 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), describing it as “a big deal” for fueling growth in areas such as the blue economy, trade facilitation, food and energy security, ecotourism, and climate-resilient development.
Secretary Magno further noted that BARMM’s development agenda is closely aligned with the President’s vision for BIMP-EAGA. He cited ongoing collaborations with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and proposals backed by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) as promising pathways for advancing sustainable development in the region.
“We share the same dream. Iisa ang ating pangarap. Magkasama tayong huhubog sa Mindanao,” Magno said in closing, reaffirming MinDA’s commitment to support the region throughout the three-day planning workshop.
The strategic workshop serves as a vital venue for aligning local development goals with broader regional cooperation frameworks, setting the foundation for a more prosperous and interconnected Mindanao.