MinDA chief says Mindanao peace must now translate into jobs and wider growth

Mindanao's improved peace and stability are opening the door to more investments and jobs, but the bigger challenge now is making sure growth reaches ordinary communities, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno said on Tuesday, according to Edge Davao.

Magno made the remarks at the Mindanao Development Forum 2026 in Davao City. He said the long-running debate over whether peace or development should come first has been resolved, and that attention should shift to distributing economic gains among Mindanao's more than 27 million people.

"Peace is no longer just an aspiration, it is a reality," Magno said, describing stability as a key condition for drawing businesses, especially into areas that have long faced conflict and development gaps.

Citing official figures, Magno said Mindanao's economy grew by 4.69 percent in 2025, faster than the national rate of 4.4 percent, and that five of its six regions ranked among the country's 10 fastest-growing regional economies. The Davao Region grew by 5.1 percent, with its gross regional domestic product at P1.14 trillion for a third straight year. Northern Mindanao expanded by 4.9 percent, while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) posted 5 percent growth.

Magno also pointed to BARMM's institutional progress, including the adoption of its Administrative, Local Governance, Civil Service, Electoral and Education codes. He said investments registered with the Bangsamoro Board of Investments reached P5 billion in 2025, creating more than 2,000 jobs, and had climbed to P5.1 billion by April 2026, already exceeding the previous year's total.

To sustain momentum, MinDA is focusing on infrastructure and connectivity, reliable and increasingly renewable energy, agriculture and agribusiness, and stronger governance in BARMM and conflict-affected areas. The agency has helped 94 local government units across Mindanao prepare public-private partnership project proposals meant to attract private capital for infrastructure and public services.

Magno said development partners that previously backed conflict recovery and disaster response would continue to help sustain peace through investments and partnerships. He added that Mindanao should move beyond its reputation as a land of promise and deliver lasting opportunities and better living conditions for its people.