Davao City, Philippines — The Philippine government reaffirmed that peace and development are inseparable pillars of progress during the second day of the Mindanao Development Forum (MDF) 2025, held at Dusit Thani Residences in Davao City.
Hosted by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the forum brought together foreign partners, national and local government officials, and private sector representatives to align strategies for inclusive and sustainable growth in Mindanao.
MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno said that with most of Mindanao’s provinces now insurgency-free, the region is ready to accelerate transformation.
“Peace comes first before development. With most of the provinces in Mindanao now declared insurgency-free, it is time to push forward with growth and transformation. We are no longer a land of promise, but a land of fulfilled promises,” Magno declared.
Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. echoed this message, underscoring that peace is the foundation for long-term development.
“Peace and development are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. We cannot achieve inclusive growth without first addressing conflict, marginalization, and injustice. Peace and development must always move together,” Galvez said.
Galvez pointed to the success of convergence programs that have revitalized conflict-affected communities through infrastructure, education, health, livelihood, and social services. He cited Davao del Norte as a model, noting how the province, once a stronghold of insurgency, was declared insurgency-free in 2022 under the leadership of Governor Edwin Jubahib. The province’s transformation, he said, was driven by strong local engagement, inter-agency collaboration, and sustained investments in community development.
Meanwhile, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Massimo Santoro reaffirmed the EU’s longstanding support for Mindanao’s peace and development, particularly through its engagement in the Bangsamoro peace process.
“Our support is articulated in three main lines of action: first, our assistance to the peace process in coordination with the central and local governments; second, normalization—helping former combatants transition to civilian life through new economic opportunities; and third, development—ensuring that normalization leads to lasting transformation,” Ambassador Santoro said.
The EU has recently committed €27 million under the Partnerships for Peace and Development in Mindanao Programme, in collaboration with MinDA, OPAPRU, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), to bolster resilience, sustain peace gains, and tackle the root causes of conflict.
Aligned with these efforts, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has made peace and development central to his administration’s agenda. Through the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028, the government integrates peacebuilding with socio-economic initiatives, focusing on infrastructure, human capital, and agricultural growth—especially in historically conflict-affected areas like Mindanao.
The President has also reaffirmed his commitment to the Bangsamoro peace process, emphasizing strengthened governance and accelerated development in BARMM to sustain peace and promote inclusive growth.
The Mindanao Development Forum 2025 serves as a vital platform for consolidating commitments among national, local, and international partners—anchored on the shared belief that the convergence of peace and development is the key to building a sustainable and resilient Mindanao.