DAVAO CITY– The House of Representatives special committee on Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga) may become a regular standing committee before the 14th congress ends this year.
In the first ever committee meeting held outside of Congress, the Bimp-Eaga special committee, chaired by Davao Norte second district representative Antonio Lagdameo, said they are pushing for the regularization of the special committee in view of the major policy support needed to further boost the participation of Mindanao and Palawan in the sub-regional cooperation.
Right now, we can see that there is a big push for the development of Mindanao in the greater context of Bimp-Eaga. That’s why the President is looking closely at Mindanao and tries to see how to develop the whole island and push for the cooperation of the four
countries (Bimp) with China, Japan and Australia, said Lagdameo.
The House Committee on Bimp-Eaga affairs handles all matters directly and principally relating to social, political, economic policies affecting the countries within the area, and the promotion of trade and investment among these countries.
In the meeting, it was seen that most of the Philippine-EAGA line agencies lack mobilization funds for EAGA-related affairs, thus hampering them in participating in major Bimp-Eaga meetings here and abroad.
Rep. Hernandez then stressed that need to push for budget allocation to Philippine-Eaga line agencies. Whatever concerns Mindanao, Mindanao legislators are willing to take necessary actions especially on matters concerning the socio-economic development of the entire island, he added.
Virgilio Leyretana, chairperson of the Mindanao Development Council (Medco), also agrees that there should be ample focus on legislations necessary to carry out the economic cooperation of the four countries.
We need the support of our Mindanao legislators in the Bimp-Eaga initiative, particularly in pushing for policy reforms that will further enhance the participation of Mindanao and Palawan in the sub-region, Leyretana said.
Also present during the special committee meeting were Rep. Arrel Olao (first district, Davao del Norte), Rep. Ariel Hernadez (Anak Mindanaw partylist), Rep. Jose Aquino II (first district, Agusan del Norte) and Atty. Peachy Marcos, Eaga affairs committee secretary. The committee was briefed on recent development updates in the Bimp-Eaga by the Medco, the Philippine coordinating office for Bimp-Eaga.(Medco)
bimp-eaga, eaga
