DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority is accelerating transport, digital, and infrastructure linkages across the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, positioning connectivity as the key driver of Mindanao’s next phase of inclusive growth.

MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno told Davao reporters on Sunday, Nov. 9, that with peace now firmly established in the region, the focus has shifted toward unlocking Mindanao’s economic potential through enhanced interregional connections.

“Connectivity is the next frontier. Direct flights, sea routes, and digital links must accelerate if we want Mindanao’s full economic potential to be realized,” Magno said.

Magno said the agency is prioritizing the revival of direct flights, expansion of sea routes, enhancement of transport corridors, and strengthening of digital infrastructure across the sub-region. He added that these efforts are seen as vital to boosting trade, investment, and tourism under the BIMP-EAGA framework.

Since its establishment in 1994, BIMP-EAGA has evolved into a key mechanism for facilitating transport, tourism, trade, and knowledge exchange among member countries.

As the Philippine Coordinating Office for BIMP-EAGA, MinDA reaffirmed its commitment to long-term partnerships with economies that are ready to trade, invest, and collaborate.

In a separate interview, Malaysian Consul General in Davao, Deddy Faisal Bin Ahmad Salleh, highlighted the importance of restoring direct flights to Sabah to unlock trade and tourism opportunities.

“Malaysia supports this because connectivity is the foundation to make interregional trade flourish,” Salleh said.

Indonesian Consul General Agus Trenggono also expressed support, citing pre-pandemic demand for Davao-Manado flights.

“We want these links revived because stronger transport connectivity will directly translate to new investment opportunities for both Mindanao and North Sulawesi,” Trenggono said.

The week-long 33rd Senior Officials’ Meeting and 28th Ministerial Meeting of BIMP-EAGA, hosted in Davao City, underscores Mindanao’s growing role as a hub for trade, investment, and regional cooperation.

The events also feature the BIMP-EAGA Trade and Tourism Fair, which opened on Sunday, Nov. 9.

“We are not just showcasing products here. We are demonstrating capacity, confidence, and commitment to regional development,” Magno said during the fair’s opening ceremony.

Among those present were Romeo Castañaga, Department of Trade and Industry-11 Regional Director and chairman of the BIMP-EAGA Trade and Investment Facilitation and Promotion Cluster; Tanya Rabat-Tan, Department of Tourism-11 Regional Director; Undersecretary Janet Lopoz, MinDA executive director; MinDA deputy executive director Romeo Montenegro, and PhilExport Davao President Ferdinand Marañon.

Magno emphasized that under the Marcos administration, Mindanao’s development agenda is pivoting from peace-building to inclusive growth, leveraging the peace dividends to transform the island into a vibrant economic zone.

He cited advancing projects such as the Mindanao Railway and exploring new financing options to fast-track infrastructure development.

Magno added that convergence-based diplomacy and corridor-focused growth are central to the administration’s strategy to make Mindanao globally competitive and resilient.

“Development alone is not enough. We need relationships and partnerships with development allies who see Mindanao as a friend. This is our opportunity to show openness and willingness to collaborate,” Magno said.

MinDA reaffirmed its alignment with BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025 and the transition to Vision 2035, identifying multimodal connectivity as a core priority to attract investments, promote tourism, and enable the faster movement of goods and people.

With the Philippines set to assume ASEAN chairmanship next year, Magno emphasized that Mindanao is prepared to foster transparent, rules-based, and long-term investment partnerships that will sustain the region’s growth momentum.