MINDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson Maria Belen Acosta is optimistic that Mindanao’s economy will reach new heights as it recovers from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“While we are now reaping the gains of the country’s economic recovery from the pandemic, we are setting our goals on sustaining and accelerating Mindanao’s goal to success,” Acosta said during MinDA’s 13th founding anniversary at the Acacia Hotel in Davao City on Thursday, February 16,
Acosta, who assumed as MinDaAs chief in January 2022, said MinDA is gearing towards its “teenage years,” and they will continue to help more Mindanawons through their projects and activities towards economic recovery.
“We’re ushering MinDA to its teenage years, and we hope to embark on the essence of youth, full of changes but also of optimism and energy,” she added.
Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, the event’s guest of honor, lauded MinDA for putting Mindanao "at the forefront" as a center of trade and commerce, accelerating inclusive progress, and facilitating sub-regional economic cooperation within the Southeast Asian region.
Despite challenges and stigma concerning Mindanao, Duterte said MinDa “has remained consistent with its holistic and integrated approach to achieving a culturally diverse and progressive region.”
The vice president said the agency had countered violent extremism and terrorism narratives, fought against drug addiction, and helped remote communities through their development plans and programs.
During the event, Minda unveiled its Agila Executive Room marker, named after former president Rodrigo Duterte and the vice president for their "exceptional leadership." The marker will be on the 14th floor in Pryce Tower, Davao City.
Also present at the event was Senator Christopher "Bong" Go. Other notable persons in the event were former Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) chairperson Paul Dominguez and Special Assistant to the President (SAP) representative Luisito Rabat.
MinDA was established through Republic Act 9996 in 2010.
According to the law, MinDA is mandated to promote, coordinate and facilitate the active and extensive participation of all sectors to effect the socioeconomic development of Mindanao. Minda is the permanent Philippine Coordinating Office (PCOBE) for the Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), which ensures the active participation of Mindanao and Palawan in the sub-regional economic cooperation. ICE