MINDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson, Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno, has called for deeper cooperation, people-centered development, and sustained peace as he welcomed the year 2026, citing both the challenges and steady gains experienced across Mindanao in 2025. In his New Year message, Magno extended greetings to Mindanaoans and Filipinos who continue to believe in the island’s long-term potential, saying the past year reflected resilience and collective effort amid economic and social pressures. The year 2025 was one of both challenges and progress, with initiatives across Mindanao that strengthened local economies, advanced infrastructure development, attracted investments, and sustained peace and development efforts. These gains were achieved through shared responsibility rather than isolated action, with collaboration among national agencies, local government units, the private sector, and communities. Key urban centers such as Davao City maintained their role as major drivers of Mindanao’s economy, with sustained investor confidence, large-scale real estate projects, and a retail sector that continued to adjust to shifting consumer behavior. Despite rising operational costs and price fluctuations, many businesses in Davao and neighboring areas pushed through with expansion plans, innovation, and new investments, underscoring confidence in the city’s long-term growth prospects. However, economic conditions remained mixed across the Davao Region, with inflation trends influencing household spending patterns and food prices showing uneven movement. Against this backdrop, Magno reaffirmed MinDA’s commitment to ensuring that growth remains inclusive and responsive to the needs of various sectors as Mindanao moves into 2026. MinDA remains firmly committed to its mandate: to promote inclusive growth, balanced regional development, and meaningful investments that translate into real opportunities for Mindanaoans. Development strategies must be transparent, sustainable, and anchored on the realities faced by people on the ground, with a focus on the needs of farmers, fisherfolk, entrepreneurs, workers, and indigenous communities. The MinDA chairperson’s message aligns with the agency’s outlook for the coming year, with optimism over securing significant investments in 2026, citing growing interest in Mindanao’s agri-industrial, infrastructure, and energy sectors. Magno said the New Year presents an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and institutions to ensure that development gains are sustained and reach even geographically isolated areas. The future of Mindanao hinges on unity and inclusivity, with a shared resolve to ensure that progress reaches even the most remote areas. Magno concluded his message by expressing hope that 2026 would bring renewed optimism, stronger collaboration, and lasting peace for Mindanao and the rest of the country, with greetings in Filipino, Bisaya, and Arabic that reflected the island’s cultural diversity.
