Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno has set a hopeful yet determined tone for 2026, calling for deeper cooperation, people-centered development, and sustained peace across the island. In his New Year message, Magno reflected on the resilience shown in 2025 and outlined the path forward for inclusive growth.
A Year of Challenges and Steady Progress
Magno acknowledged that the year 2025 presented both significant challenges and measurable progress for Mindanao. He pointed to initiatives that strengthened local economies, advanced critical infrastructure projects, attracted new investments, and sustained ongoing peace and development efforts. The MinDA chief was quick to credit these achievements to widespread collaboration.
"These gains were achieved not by any single institution alone, but through collaboration — among national agencies, local government units, the private sector, and our communities," Magno stated, emphasizing the model of shared responsibility.
Davao's Economic Resilience Amid Mixed Regional Conditions
The message highlighted the continued economic strength of key urban centers like Davao City, which closed 2025 as Mindanao's premier business and commercial hub. The city's position was buoyed by sustained investor confidence, large-scale real estate developments, expanding retail spaces, and a resilient private sector that pushed through with expansion plans despite operational cost pressures.
However, Magno noted that economic conditions were mixed across the Davao Region. Inflation trends significantly influenced household spending in 2025. The region experienced two months of deflation mid-year before inflation climbed to 0.6 percent in September 2025, driven by higher costs for housing, utilities, fuel, and transportation. Food prices showed uneven movement, with sharp increases in vegetables, oils, and fats putting additional pressure on low-income families.
A 2026 Mandate: Strategic, Transparent, and Inclusive Development
Looking ahead, Magno reaffirmed MinDA's core commitment for the new year. "As we move forward 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," he declared.
He stressed that all development strategies must be transparent, sustainable, and directly responsive to the needs of people on the ground. "Development must be strategic, transparent, and anchored on the needs of our people—from farmers and fisherfolk to entrepreneurs, workers, and indigenous communities," Magno said.
This vision aligns with MinDA's reported optimism for securing significant investments in 2026, particularly in Mindanao's agri-industrial, infrastructure, and energy sectors. Magno framed the New Year as an opportunity to strengthen partnerships to ensure development gains reach even the most geographically isolated communities.
"Mindanao’s future lies in unity of purpose, respect for diversity, and a shared resolve to ensure that progress reaches even the most remote areas," the MinDA chairperson concluded. He expressed hope that 2026 would bring renewed optimism, stronger collaboration, and lasting peace for Mindanao and the entire Philippines, ending his message with greetings in Filipino, Bisaya, and Arabic that reflected the island's rich cultural diversity.
