THE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) emphasized that while it welcomes critical discourse, comparisons between Mindanao's Human Development Index (HDI) and Sub-Saharan Africa should be based on accurate data, cultural sensitivity, and a true understanding of Mindanao's complexities, not outdated stereotypes.
MinDA’s comment follows remarks by political analyst and economist Richard Foronda Heydaraian, who, in a mainstream media interview about the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for former President Rodrigo Duterte, compared Mindanao to Sub-Saharan Africa and Luzon to Southern Europe.
“Mindanao is home to 26 million Filipinos and spans over 102,021.92 square kilometers, making it a crucial pillar of national development. As the country’s food basket, it contributes 45 percent of the national food trade, 42 percent of total fish production, and allocates one-third of its land to agriculture — ensuring food security not just for Mindanao, but for the entire Philippines,” MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno said in a statement on March 14, 2025.
“On human development, Mindanao continues to move forward. Its 2022 Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.68, while slightly below the national average of 0.71, is still well above the aggregate HDI of Sub-Saharan Africa and even surpasses that of South Asia. More importantly, every region in Mindanao — including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) — has consistently improved its HDI over the past five years, demonstrating tangible progress in health, education, and economic opportunities,” the official added.
Magno further highlighted that the progress seen in Mindanao has not happened by chance. He pointed to the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (RA 11054) and sustained peace-building efforts that have laid the foundation for a more stable, self-reliant, and empowered Mindanao.
"The resilience of the Mindanawon spirit — shaped by adversity but strengthened by unity — continues to drive this transformation," he said.
Beyond mere statistics, Magno said that Mindanao contributes significantly to the Philippines’ economy, with nearly 90 percent of the food produced in the region being exported to other parts of the country. This underscores the region’s crucial role in maintaining national economic resilience, contrary to the image of Mindanao as solely a region defined by its challenges.
In January 2025, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines-Southern Mindanao Business Council (ECCP-SMBC) projected that Mindanao’s economy will grow by approximately six to seven percent in 2025, outpacing the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast of five percent.
This optimistic growth forecast is largely attributed to the region's flourishing sectors, including tourism, real estate, and information and communications technology (ICT). The Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, in particular, has been a major driver of economic activity, reflecting Mindanao's growing importance in the broader Philippine economy. The surge in these industries underscores Mindanao's expanding role as a key economic hub, contributing not only to regional prosperity but also to the nation’s overall economic resilience.
The CNN interview controversy
Heydarian’s comments were made during a CNN interview on March 12, where he discussed the arrest warrant issued by the ICC against former President Duterte on March 11.
Duterte is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands, facing charges related to human rights abuses.
In the interview, Heydarian compared Duterte's lasting influence and support base to the MAGA movement, a term popularized by Donald Trump during his 2016 campaign and reused in his 2024 presidential run.
When asked about Duterte’s support, Heydarian pointed to several factors, particularly the stark developmental disparities across the country and the perceived neglect of the southern Philippines by the national government. He further noted that the Human Development Index (HDI) in Mindanao, Duterte’s political stronghold and the base of his presidential rise, resembles that of Sub-Saharan African nations.
“Their base of support, first of all, is in the south of the Philippines, the so-called ‘Solid South’ in the Mindanao region, where there are many legitimate grievances against the national government. It is one of the poorest areas of the country. I come from Northern Luzon, where our Human Development Index is similar to Southern Europe. But if you go to Mindanao, their Human Development Index is similar to Sub-Saharan African levels,” he said.
His remarks quickly went viral online, sparking widespread backlash, particularly from the people of Mindanao, who found the comparison — based on HDI scores, insulting. In addition to the outrage, many responded with humor and sarcasm, posting memes about "Sub-Saharan Mindanao."
In response to the backlash, Heydarian took to social media to defend himself, asserting that his comments had been taken out of context and that his reference was based on official HDI data. He accused his critics of misrepresenting his statements and deliberately twisting his words.
As a result of the controversy, Heydarian has been declared "persona non grata" in both Isabela City, Basilan and Valencia City, Bukidnon.