THE MINDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) aims to establish transport and connectivity linkages across the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
During an interview on the sidelines of the BIMP-EAGA Trade Fair opening on Sunday, Secretary Leo Tesoro Magno emphasized that connectivity between countries will drive more development.
“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.
He added one of the visions for BIMP-EAGA 2035 is a multi-mode transport within the sub-region.
“There will be faster trade facilitation connections between areas that are of concern, which include areas for investments and tourism,” Magno stressed.
This plan includes the revival of direct flights, expansion of sea routes, transport corridors, and enhancing digital infrastructure across the sub-region.
Deddy Faisal, Malaysian Consul General in Davao, noted that they will also push reactivation of direct flights to Kota Kinabalu to some parts of the country.
“What we need to do is to create a good business environment so that interregional trade can flourish. I really hope that the direct flight will be reproduced,” the consul general said.
Indonesian Consul General Agus Trenggono also shared the same sentiment, citing 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,” he said.
MinDA said to prioritize this during the week-long 28th BIMP-EAGA Ministerial Meeting and Related Meetings, which is hosted by the Philippines this year in Davao City from November 9-14, 2025.
