The bill creating the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), a new development body in Mindanao, was passed on its third and final reading at the House of Representatives.

House Bill (HB) 6958 aims to strengthen the existing Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) by ensuring the continuity and consistency of interregional and Mindanao-wide programs.

House Deputy Speaker Simeon Datumanong said it is the declared policy of the State to accelerate the socio-economic growth and development of Mindanao by encouraging and increasing trade, tourism and investments, private enterprise and advancing efforts towards peace and development.

Sultan Kudarat Rep. Datu Pax Mangudadatu said MinDA will encourage investments including the promotion of joint venture projects in Mindanao by extending the necessary planning, management and technical assistance to prospective and existing investors.

The MinDA will recommend to and, whenever necessary, call upon the proper agencies on the technical support, physical assistance and generally, the level of priority to be accorded to agricultural, industrial, commercial and infrastructure, environmental and technological programs and projects soliciting or requiring direct or indirect help from or through the national government or any of its instrumentalities.

MinDA will act as the official and permanent Philippine Coordinating Office for the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and the lead agency of the government in coordinating the formulation and implementation of policies and programs and monitoring of all activities related thereto.

It was learned that MinDA will cover all provinces and cities of Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, Caraga and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)).

Replacing the MEDCo, the new body will be attached to the Office of the President and its main office will likewise be located in Davao City.

The island of Palawan will also be covered but only in so far as its involvement in the Brunei
Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines–East ASEAN Growth Area is concerned.