CEBU — Senior officials and national secretariats of the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga) underscored how the Bimp-Eaga Vision 2035 is already shaping concrete outcomes across the sub-region, as the Philippines prepares to host the ASEAN Summit.
The Cebu meeting served as a preparatory session for the Special Bimp-Eaga Leaders Summit, which will be chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The meeting was led by Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Executive Director and Philippine Senior Official Undersecretary Janet Lopoz.
MinDA Chairperson, Secretary Leo Tereso Magno, who also serves as the Philippine Signing Minister for Bimp-Eaga, will present the gains achieved over the past 10 years and outline strategic directions for the next decade during the Leaders Summit on May 7, 2026, in Lapu-Lapu City.
MinDA, as the Philippine Coordinating Office for Bimp-Eaga, plays a central role in aligning national priorities with regional initiatives and ensuring that the Philippines' contributions reflect both local development needs and ASEAN's broader agenda.
Officials reviewed progress made under the sub-region's cooperation programs and finalized inputs for the Leaders' discussions, ensuring that Vision 2035 is positioned as a results-driven framework for the next decade.
Also present at the meeting were Brunei Permanent Secretary for Finance and Economy Dr. Hajah May Fa’ezah binti Haji Ahmad Ariffin, Indonesian Deputy Minister for Economic Cooperation and Investment Coordination Edi Prio Pambudi, Malaysian Deputy Secretary General for Economy Datuk Dr. Zunika binti Mohamed, and Asian Development Bank Director for Regional Cooperation Alfredo Perdiguero.
For the past three decades, the Bimp-Eaga sub-region has accelerated its momentum, including strengthening trade and connectivity, forging partnerships with local governments and private sector actors, and mobilizing communities to participate in cross-border development.
Bimp-Eaga Vision 2035 builds on this trajectory, ensuring that cooperation translates into tangible benefits for people across Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
President Marcos Jr. has emphasized that hosting the ASEAN Summit positions the Philippines as a leader in advancing regional cooperation. The Summit will highlight the Philippines' role in aligning Bimp-Eaga Vision 2035 with ASEAN Vision 2045, ensuring that growth is competitive, resilient, and people-centred. President Marcos Jr.'s stewardship of the Summit reflects the Philippines' determination to translate regional cooperation into lasting prosperity.
