Infrastructure projects are fast-tracked in Palawan and Mindanao to pave the way for improved connectivity of focused areas under Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), a cooperation initiative of four neighboring countries.
Romeo M. Montenegro, head of the Philippine Coordinating Office for BIMP-EAGA and Deputy Executive Director of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), said during the 54th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Committee on Culture and Information (COCI) meeting held at Princesa Garden Resort, in Puerto Princesa City, that the national government poured investments both in Palawan and Mindanao completed infra projects amounted to $21 billion, which was prioritized to achieve better connectivity within the sub-region’s focused areas.
“In focused area, there are ongoing 63 infrastructure projects amounting to $21 billion. It will be given opportunities to catch up, will be given focus in terms of development, infrastructure, as part of the sub-regional cooperation,” he said.
Montenegro said that the national government allocated funds and implemented priority infrastructure projects in Palawan and Mindanao to pave the way for improved connectivity within the sub-region.
The international airports in Puerto Princesa and San Vicente, road widening project in the entire Palawan province, seaports, are among the projects prioritized to further strengthen link within BIMP-EAGA focused areas.
“Many other ports and airports in Palawan and Mindanao are also being pushed with BIMP EAGA as its justification,” he said.
While the national government is aggressive in providing and pursuing the needed infrastructure in the sub-region, the BIMP-EAGA and the MinDA also facilitated negotiation for the resumption of the air and sea routes that are presently suspended.
“We are working for reviving the flight from Kuta Kinabalu to Puerto Princesa, to compliment Buliluyan and Kudat sea connectivity,” he said.
The completion of Buliluyan port in Bataraza, Palawan, only 168 kilometers to Kudat, Malaysia, paved the way for the forthcoming reopening of the sea route.
BIMP-EAGA covers the entire sultanate of Brunei Darussalam; the provinces of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and West Papua of Indonesia; the states of Sabah and Sarawak and the federal territory of Labuan in Malaysia; and Mindanao and the province of Palawan in the Philippines.
He explained that as part of the sub-regional cooperation, Mindanao and Palawan are given the opportunity to interact directly with the government, EAGA focused areas in neighboring countries.
Montenegro further said that last week, during the meeting of BIMP-EAGA in El Nido, Palawan, the council members, industry players, businessmen from four countries laid out plans and formalize negotiations in a bid to jumpstart economic partnership and spur more development in Palawan.
He further explained that through sub-regional complementation, a province within the BIMP-EAGA area like Palawan can benefit from the much cheaper products from neighboring countries like Malaysia.
“We are looking at the strength of our neighbors. Hindi lang Manila, Visayas ang tinitingnan nating market. We have the BIMP EAGA market. We can also source out something na hindi na bilhin sa Manila, na pwede na across the borders, kung mas cheaper from across the border. As long as the policy structure and the policy framework will allow it,” he explained.
Montenegro said that in the country’s southernmost province of Tawi-tawi, 90 % of its commodities are sourced out from Sandakan in Malaysia, which is closer compared to their province compared to the 12-hour sea travel to Zambonga. He said that the Office of the President issued an Executive Order reviving the barter trade for the areas within the sub-region to source out commodities from nearby provinces across the border.
“Ito ay hindi pinagbabawal under such policy framework in BIMP-EAGA. Bago pa nagkaroon ng gobyerno, ay mayroon ng barter trader. They (people) buy products across the border. That is the reality,” he said.
He further explained that the potential of developing and improving the link among the sub-region will uplift these areas since the economy size of the BIMP-EAGA is so big, and is vested with vast economic prospects in agriculture, tourism, trading and other fields.
“Our strength is so much in agriculture. Tourism has also to be promoted. Like Mindanao, Kuta Kinabalu, Underground River in Puerto Princesa in Palawan packaged as one. Sa Pilipinas, yung karagatan na yan, West Philippines Sea, Sulu Sea, are the richest in terms of marine life. All other focused area will be packaged as one market destination. Our economy has grown. GDP of the BIMP-EAGA focused areas already accounts 1/10 of the entire ASEAN. That’s how big BIMP EAGA economies,” Montenegro said.
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