President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for stronger coordination between government agencies and the private sector to address Mindanao's development needs and expand economic opportunities for its residents.
In the report of RH Leth Narcisco, in the president's message delivered by Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos during the recent Mindanao Development Forum 2026 in Davao City, Marcos underscored the importance of a unified approach in advancing the region's economic growth.
The president recognized Mindanao's significant contribution to the Philippine economy, accounting for 17.2 percent of the country's economic output last year.
He also highlighted the region's abundant natural resources and, more importantly, its people as the primary drivers of development.
Meanwhile, Marcos disclosed that more than 100 of the 265 priority infrastructure projects under the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) are located in Mindanao.
These projects include the development and improvement of roads, bridges, airports, seaports, and transportation facilities to reduce the cost of moving goods.
The initiatives also seek to connect local farmers, fisherfolk, and processors to regional value chains and tourism circuits, while generating employment and improving access to electricity, information and communications technology, and other essential services.
The President emphasized the importance of sustained cooperation among stakeholders to ensure that Mindanao's resources and economic potential translate into better opportunities and improved living conditions for its people.
