THE House of Representatives approved Tuesday on second reading the bill creating the Mindanao Development Authority (Minda), which will become a permanent agency integrating the socio-economic development of Mindanao.

After a series of committee deliberations at the House, the chamber in plenary session passed House Bill 6958. The bill's approval on third and final reading is expected next week.

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The passage of the bill at the House heralds a longed-for development after efforts in pushing for the creation of a permanent Mindanao development agency has been delayed for more than five decades.

Previous advocacies for the creation of the first Mindanao Development Authority (MDA) dates back to 1960.

House Bill 6958 seeks to strengthen the existing Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) into a more permanent institution which would ensure the continuity and consistency of interregional and Mindanao-wide programs as well as ensure a permanent mechanism that provides a coordinated and rationalized platform for program implementation and monitoring, investment promotion, as well as policy advocacy for Mindanao.

Established in 1992 through Executive Order 512, Medco operates as the only existing Mindanao-wide government mechanism that provides a coordinated and rationalized platform for program implementation and monitoring, investment promotion and policy advocacy for Mindanao.

Deputy House Speaker Simeon Datumanong, principal author of the bill, underscored the urgent need for an institutionalized agency that looks beyond regional concerns in Mindanao.

"With its uneven development and peace and order problems, Mindanao needs to catch up with the mainstream national development. To do that, we need to legislate an agency that seeks to address Mindanao's development imperatives as
well as issues of continuity and consistency of development efforts in the island-region," he said.

The Minda, when created, shall also "act as implementing agency for Mindanao-specific interregional and Mindanao-wide programs and projects."

The authority shall cover all provinces and cities in Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).

"While it has been a National Government’s pronouncement to put special attention to Mindanao, there is a need for an agency that can actively articulate the Mindanao agenda and push it to become part of the National Government priorities," Sultan Kudarat Representative Datu Pax Mangudadatu, co-author of the bill, said.

When enacted, the Meda shall also act as the Philippine Coordinating Office for the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East Asean Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga), the lead government agency in coordinating the formulation and implementation of all Philippine-Eaga activities, programs and projects.

It shall also be the prime agency that will advocate for the adoption and approval of policies as well as promotion of initiatives for Mindanao and Palawan's active participation in the Bimp-Eaga cooperation.

"Medco has been helping us in advocating a conducive policy and business environment for the tuna industry and has actively helped us in the following in linking us with our counterparts in the Bimp-Eaga to promote trade and commerce as well as cultural and social linkages," said Marfenio Tan, president of the Socsksargen Federation of Fishing Associations and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII).

"With this piece of legislation, we can be assured that a permanent mechanism for a holistic Mindanao development will be put in place," he said.