MINDANAO COOPERATION. “A Global Mindanao and Palawan: Participation to the BIMP-EAGA Sub-regional Cooperation” by Jonathan Miral from Mindanao Development Authority. Supplied photo.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — A talk on Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) in relation to the Mindanao Development Corridor (MinDC) University Education Caravan was conducted at the Xavier University Little Theater last September 12.
The event was organized by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) with Xavier Ateneo’s College of Arts and Sciences and Department of History, International Studies and Political Science.
Vision and actions
Two topics were discussed in the forum. The first topic titled “A Global Mindanao and Palawan: Participation to the BIMP-EAGA Sub-regional Cooperation” was delivered by Jonathan Miral from MinDA. He detailed the functions of MinDA as a PCBOE. He also presented the economic integration structure of BIMP-EAGA as to its coherence with that of WTO, APEC, and ASEAN.
Along with the presentation of the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025 (BEV 2025), he laid down the history of BIMP-EAGA from its foundation under the Ramos administration in 1994; the challenges encountered which pulled it down in 1998; the revitalization of EAGA in 2001; up to the presentation of a roadmap in 2006 until the implementation blueprint in 2012.
Miral also presented the major milestones of the EAGA particularly the investments in Mindanao, the transport linkages and the conduct of signature events. Most importantly, he showed the recent development of the cooperation - the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025 Implementation Structure which shows the greater involvement of the LGU.
The second topic titled “Integrating Mindanao: The Mindanao Development Corridor (MinDC) Strategy” was presented by MinDA’s Development management officer Ana Marie Labor. She showed here the development of building linkages and connectivity in terms of transportation – land, water, and air from Mindanao to the BIMP states.
The event was attended by students coming primarily from the programs of History, International Studies, Economics, and Engineering.
Greater cooperation
MinDA’s University Education Caravan will be conducted in four (4) key public and private universities in Mindanao and Palawan from August to October of 2019.
The first leg of the caravan was in Western Philippine University, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan for Region IV-B MIMAROPA conducted last August 29; the second at Xavier Ateneo for Region 10, then in Jose Rizal Memorial State University, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte for Region 9 this coming October 17, and the final leg would be in Mindanao State University - General Santos City for Region 12 this coming October 24.
Each activity aims to provide a platform for students, faculty, and social and applied science researchers to gain a better and deeper understanding of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area as an international cooperation, and Mindanao Development Corridor’s national and international thrust of development for Mindanao. This is in celebration as well to the 25th founding anniversary of BIMP-EAGA.
The BIMP-EAGA sub-regional cooperation was established on the 24th of March 1994 in Davao City, Philippines, which aims to increase trade, tourism and investments by facilitating the free movement of people, goods and services, making the best use of shared infrastructure and natural resources, and taking the fullest advantage of economic complementation among the member-countries’ focus areas.
The BIMP-EAGA covers the underdeveloped and geographically remote areas in the four member-countries. It covers the entire sultanate of Brunei Darussalam, nine provinces in Kalimantan, Sulawesi, the island chain of Maluku, and Papua (Indonesia); the federal states of Sabah and Sarawak, and the federal territory of Labuan (Malaysia); and Mindanao (26 provinces) and the province of Palawan (Philippines).
Notably, these nation-members share several commons such as these areas are geographically distant from their national capitals however they are in strategic proximity to each other; they are also situated in one of the world’s resource-rich regions.
With the end goal of narrowing the development gaps among its member states, the BIMP-EAGA economic cooperation focuses on five strategic pillars – Enhanced Connectivity, Food Basket Strategy, Tourism Development, Environment, and the recently added pillar, Socio-cultural and Education.
MinDA serves as the permanently and official Philippine Coordinating Office for BIMP-EAGA (PCOBE).
Meanwhile, MinDC is part of the Greater Sulu Sulawesi Corridor that is also being promoted in the BIMP-EAGA sub-region.
The MinDC strategy aims to achieve an integrated and globally-competitive Mindanao by ensuring that growth centers are connected and those developing and underdeveloped are also integrated into the development clusters through infrastructure connectivity.∎
TRIVIA SHOW AFTER THE Q&A. The participants receive the prizes for getting the correct answers to the trivia questions. Supplied photo.
MESSAGE. CAS Dean Dr Judy Sendaydiego delivers her closing remarks. Supplied photo.
BEHIND THE EVENT. The event organizers: (left to right) Manilee Pagapula-an, Chairperson of Dept of History, IS, PSC; representatives from MinDA, Jonathan Miral, the first speaker and from MinDA; Dr Heide Rabanes, Dean for Research; Dr Judy Sendaydiego, CAS Dean; Ana Marie Labor from MinDA, the 2nd Speaker; a gentleman from MinDA; Kristian Ian Sulmayor, faculty from the Dept of History, IS, PSC and the emcee; Jimmy K Musa from MinDA. Supplied photo.
The event was made possible through the efforts and support of the following:
CAS Dean's Office headed by Dean Dr Judy Sendaydiego and Asst Dean Marichu Obedencio.
Department of History, International Studies, and Political Science Chairperson Manilee Panares Pagapulaan and Asst Chair Gleford Lagcao together with the faculty members Jun Dumaug, Ruby Jane Rivera, Dr Rachel Daroy, and Kristian Ian Sulmayor (also the program emcee)
Department of Economics Chairman Caroline Laarni Sereñas and faculty members Louie Sabal and Ana Trillo
The Vice President for Social Development Roel Ravanera
The OICN Director Elisabeth Enerio
The Graduate School Dean Dr Catherine Almaden
The Dean for Research Dr Heide Rabanes
The Exec Asst to the VPHE Don Antonio Velez
The Chairman of the Filipino Dept Roderico Ocangas
The Chairman of the Sociology Dept Gretchen Abuso.
and the ADC headed by their Chargé d' Affaires Paul Guibone