SEA trade routes in Mindanao must be empowered to entice more economic profit especially in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), an official said.
Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) Development Management Officer Raymond Peter Esperat emphasized that regulation in these trading routes must be done in order to secure trade activities.
He was one of the speakers of last Thursday’s Mindanao Energy Plan 2018 public consultations at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Davao City.
Esperat said Minda has been forwarding the creations of economic zones along Maguindanao, and Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi (Basulta) region.
Alongside with Minda’s vision in empowering the Muslim trading routes is the ongoing creation of the Polloc Freeport and Ecozone.
The freeport and economic zone is located in Maguindanao. Presently, the port is a major trading place for nearby provinces like Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat.
Esperat underscored the importance of maintaining these markets as these are cultural heritage of the long historic accounts of Mindanaoan trade.
“This is already part of our history,” Esperat said.
Meanwhile, one of Minda’s big ticket projects is the Tawi-Tawi Freeport and Special Ecozone which is eyed to target the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) region.
“Actually this will already start by next year,” Esperat said.
A P15 billion investment will be poured for the Tawi-Tawi Freeport to create support facilities within the special economic zone.
Esperat added once the said Freeport will flourish, more economic profit will be gained especially by the ARMM.