THE INTERIM chief minister of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said that if reelected, he would prioritize sustaining peace to draw investors into the area.
In an interview during the sidelines of the Mindanao Development Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Dusit Thani Hotel, Abdulraof Macacua said investor confidence hinges on how peaceful the region is.
“Number one is our priority: sustain peace. Without peace, the investors cannot easily come in. But with the presence of peace, then the confidence of the investors is already there,” Macacua said.
He credited the peace process for the gains so far, saying the conclusion of talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) made them possible, adding that the peace process is now down to its last track.
He said the political track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro was already concluded with the first parliamentary elections.
What remains is the normalization track, which government and MILF negotiators are now taking up.
“I hope that after concluding this normalization track, peace is already assured. We are working very hard,” he said.
The first BARMM parliamentary elections held Sept. 14 elected 80 members.
The thrice-extended transition period ends on October 30, 2026, the same day the newly elected Members of Parliament assume their posts and convene for its inaugural session to elect a Chief Minister.
Asked how he envisions investment in the region, the chief minister deferred to the economic team and the Bangsamoro Investments and Development Authority (BPDA), as well as the regional board of investments.
He said the region remains in transition, and a “better plan for the economy” will follow once it ends.
On the coalition agreement and whether it would hold, he did not give a direct answer.
“Coalition can happen before; coalition also can happen after. In short, a coalition is unity… If we can achieve unity through coalition, why not?” he said.
It can be noted that 46 elected members, including Macacua, gathered on October 14 at Seda Hotel in Davao City to establish a coalition government.
However, when asked how many members have expressed support for him to be elected to the top position, he did not disclose the number.
In his speech during the forum, Macacua highlighted the region’s progress, with the election of its own Parliament further strengthening governance institutions.
He stressed that sustaining investor confidence requires strong policies, reliable infrastructure, capable institutions, and close cooperation between the government and the private sector.
Macacua cited nearly ₱5 billion in investments attracted by the Bangsamoro in the past year across agriculture, fisheries, housing, logistics, and other sectors as an encouraging sign of growing confidence in the region.
