THE SPECIAL assistant to the president reaffirmed his commitment to secure a larger share of the national budget for Mindanao, centering on the island’s infrastructure development.
During a visit to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) office in Davao City on Sept. 12, Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr. said the agency will commit to helping and supporting the pipelined initiatives for Mindanao, particularly the regional development priorities.
“For now, I cannot promise you anything, but I’ll help and I’ll work on it,” Lagdameo said in a statement.
During the visit, MinDA chairperson Leo Tereso Magno presented the agency’s accomplishments, ongoing programs, and proposed budget for 2025.
The appeal for a budget increase centers on advancing sustainable infrastructure that supports industrial growth while enhancing Mindanao’s resilience to natural disasters and climate change.
“As the lead agency for socio-economic development in Mindanao, MinDA continues to advocate for a fairer allocation of resources to drive poverty reduction and economic growth across the region,” Magno stated.
Under its new leadership, MinDA has developed a range of new programs and projects designed to accelerate Mindanao’s economic growth under President Ferdinand Marcos’ administration.
These initiatives cover various sectors, including agriculture, disaster resilience, strategic communication, investment promotion, climate resilience, sustainable tourism, water supply, and peace and development, among others.
