Mindanao is investment-ready and emerging as a principal source of national growth, food and energy security, and regional connectivity, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Tereso Magno said Monday.

Speaking at the Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) here, Magno urged the private sector to invest in the region, citing its growing economy, improved peace and security, infrastructure, and abundant natural resources.

“Mindanao is investment-ready. Government spending is already building the roads, gateways, and utilities needed by businesses, but the next step is to convert this momentum into more bankable projects and faster implementation across Mindanao,” he said.

He underscored the importance of changing Mindanao’s image as a conflict-affected region, saying peace and security are critical in convincing investors.

Magno stressed that development cannot rely solely on government spending and a larger share of the national budget, pointing to public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a pathway to growth.

He noted that MinDA has established a PPP one-stop shop and facilitation desk to help local governments and partners develop investment opportunities.

He highlighted Mindanao’s potential in agribusiness and agro-processing, renewable energy, logistics, tourism, and critical minerals.

On minerals, he said the region must move beyond exporting raw resources to creating greater value through industries and jobs.

At the same event, the Board of Investments (BOI) emphasized Mindanao’s role in the country’s artificial intelligence-based industrialization agenda during the final leg of the 2026 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) roadshow.

Anchored on strengths in manufacturing, agribusiness, renewable energy, logistics, critical minerals, digital services, and halal industries, the BOI outlined a vision for Mindanao as a strategic node for food security, integrated circuit design, and mineral processing.

BOI Governor Marjorie Samaniego said the 2026 SIPP promotes diversification and resilience while remaining accessible to investors of all sizes, including micro, small, and medium enterprises.

“Mindanao’s next chapter should not be defined only by what it produces or supplies. The real opportunity is to move further along the value chain, turning resources into products, and products into industries,” she said.

Finance Secretary Frederick Go said sustained collaboration across government and the private sector is vital to transform investment priorities into projects.

“The opportunities before Mindanao are immense and require our concerted efforts. By working together, we can create the conditions for investments to flourish and ensure that the benefits of development reach more communities,” he said.

The investment push aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s broader agenda for sustained peace and development in Mindanao, with peace, infrastructure, energy security, and inclusive growth forming key foundations for stronger private-sector participation. (PNA)