The promise of faster internet, stable energy supply, and stronger business competitiveness is on the horizon for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as the European Union-backed BaSulTa Digital Backbone Project takes shape.
The project, welcomed by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), is set to connect Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (BaSulTa) with a green-powered submarine fiber optic cable running through Zamboanga City. More than a technology upgrade, the initiative is expected to transform the economic landscape of Mindanao’s island provinces by bridging the digital divide and empowering local enterprises to compete on a broader scale.
A Partnership for Progress
During a stakeholders’ meeting on September 5, 2025, at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and MinDA gathered representatives from government and the private sector to discuss investment prospects and opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Developed under the Bangsamoro Agri-Enterprise Program (BAEP) – Creating Responsible, Sustainable, and Competitive Enterprise (CRESCENT), the BaSulTa Digital Backbone brings together global and local partners, including Nokia Philippines, GreenFibr, and WCTI/Powertech Asia Pacific. Backed by EU funding, the four-year program highlights the role of digital and renewable energy infrastructure in driving inclusive growth.
“This is more than connectivity—it’s about giving our enterprises in far-flung provinces the same chance to innovate and reach markets as those in urban centers,” said MinDA Chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso Magno. “By improving digital and energy infrastructure, we are building a better Mindanao.”
MSMEs at the Core
At the heart of the project are agri-fishery MSMEs, the lifeblood of many communities across BARMM. From Basilan and Sulu to Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato City, and even the 63 barangays in North Cotabato, enterprises stand to benefit from improved access to e-commerce platforms, digital finance, and smart logistics.
Through enterprise development and export promotion, BAEP-CRESCENT aims to prepare these small businesses for partnerships, expanded markets, and long-term private investments. The connectivity boost offered by the submarine cable is expected to help MSMEs modernize operations and seize opportunities in national and global markets.
National Priorities Aligned
The BaSulTa project dovetails with the government’s MSME Development Plan 2023–2028, which places digitalization and innovation at the center of economic recovery and growth. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has emphasized that small businesses must be equipped with tools and technologies to compete globally, particularly in underserved regions like BARMM.
The administration’s agenda underscores digital solutions—from online marketplaces to fintech and logistics innovations—as crucial elements in linking enterprises to value chains and helping them expand beyond local boundaries. The President has also pushed for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, urging large corporations to mentor and finance smaller players in order to foster inclusive and sustainable growth.
Looking Ahead
Now entering its second year, BAEP-CRESCENT has already initiated agreements with stakeholders and launched business-matching activities. The 2025 priority is to strengthen partnerships with local governments and private investors to accelerate regional trade and investment opportunities.
For the BaSulTa provinces long defined by geographic isolation, the project signals a turning point. With digital and energy infrastructure finally within reach, the islands are being positioned not just as remote communities in need of aid, but as emerging hubs for trade, enterprise, and innovation in Mindanao.
As MinDA’s Magno put it: “BARMM is open for business.”