BARMM Ministries and MinDA hold joint meeting with Tawi-Tawi LGU

May 23, 2022, (Monday) a joint meeting by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Mindanao Development Authority, other BARMM Ministries, and the Local Government Unit of Tawi-Tawi Province marked the commencement of the week-long BARMM-MinDA joint visit to the provinces of Tawi-Tawi and Sulu.

Hon. Michail K. Ahaja, the province's current Vice-Governor, hosted the meeting as the Governor was on official business in Manila. In his welcome message, he thanked BARMM and MinDA for the attention given to the further development of Tawi-Tawi.

Secretary Mabel Acosta of MinDA briefed the local officials about the three bridges that are going to be constructed in Tawi-Tawi with MinDA assistance. She also discussed other opportunities such as solar power, desalination, and seaweed processing.

During his turn to speak, Minister Dickson P. Hermoso addressed the following issues: the proposed extension of the runway and the transfer of the Sanga-Sanga Airport terminal; the registration of fishing vessels; and the opportunities and challenges posed by the inclusion of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi in the BIMP-EAGA trade corridor.

Minister Hermoso then announced that the Cotabato-Bongao-Cotabato PAL maiden flight will be on June 09, 2022. He urged local leaders and the business sector of Tawi-Tawi to patronize the flights in this new route.
“This new link will shorten travel time, stimulate demand, and open new travel markets, creating jobs and benefiting the local economy. This will attract more visitors and help local small business,” he emphasized.

Member of Parliament Eddie Alih remarked that the phrase “Mula Batanes hanggang Sulu” should now be changed to “Mula Batanes hanggang Tawi-Tawi”. Further, he said that Tawi-Tawi is not our southern backdoor but our frontdoor to BIMP-EAGA.