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By Keith Bacongco
Published Oct 2, 2025 04:36 pm
DAVAO CITY – As many provinces in Mindanao have been declared insurgency free, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Tereso Magno believes that the time is ripe now for the region to accelerate development efforts amid the gains in the peace process.
Speaking before the delegates of the Mindanao Development Forum 2025 here, Magno emphasized that Mindanao is no longer a land of promise but a land of fulfilled promises.
He added that it’s time now for all stakeholders in the region to harmonize all efforts toward inclusive and sustainable growth.
“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 said during the two-day event that culminated on Thursday, Oct. 2.
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua also echoed Magno’s statement saying that Mindanao is changing.
“In 2025, we are no longer viewed as a conflict zone or a forgotten frontier. We are a growth engine in motion. Major infrastructure corridors are expanding. Inter-island connectivity is being realized. Agriculture and industry are being revitalized,” Macacua said in his speech before the delegates at Dusit Thani Residences here.
Peace and development, he added, are no longer opposites. “They are interdependent pillars of our shared vision for a better future.”
Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. stressed that peace and development are inseparable.
The country’s peace agenda is a cornerstone of its development strategy, said Galvez. “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.
Over the years, he added, convergence programs have transformed conflict-affected areas through infrastructure, livelihood support, education, health, and social services.
These interventions did not only address the roots of conflict but also unlock the economic potential of communities, Galvez said.
Cotabato province Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza assured that the provincial government will work closely with MinDA as it carries out programs for Mindanao.
Mendoza suggested that the Regional Development Councils (RDC) should actively take part in MinDA initiatives to ensure connectivity, sustainability, and continuity of every program.
“Together, we can harmonize our efforts and maximize resources to achieve inclusive and lasting development for Mindanao,” she added.
European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro affirmed EU’s commitment to Mindanao, particularly the Bangsamoro peace process and the island’s long-term development.
“When it comes to the European Union support, it is articulated in three main lines of action,” Santoro said.
“First, our support to the peace process in full coordination with the central government and local authorities, these are the ingredients for peace. Next, normalization, which means supporting former combatants by introducing them to new economic and business opportunities to abandon their past ways.”
Lastly, he said, development, where “we translate normalization into progressive transformation, so BARMM continuously benefits from our assistance.”
According to MinDA, the EU recently committed 27 million euros to the Partnerships for Peace and Development in Mindanao Programme with MinDA, OPAPRU, and BARMM to strengthen resilience, sustain peace gains, and address conflict’s root causes.
This year's Mindanao Development Forum convened thought leaders, development partners, and changemakers to exchange insights and forge solutions for a stronger, more inclusive Mindanao.
The event was in partnership with the EU and the government of Germany, with support from GIZ Philippines, ADB Philippines, World Bank Philippines, and United Nations-Philippines.
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