MOTC signs Memorandum of Cooperation with MinDA to expand development partnership

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) today, June 8, at the Bangsamoro Ports Management Authority (BPMA) Regional Office, Cotabato City, to further strengthen their partnership in pursuing and establishing collaborative efforts in facilitating and coordinating transportation and communications projects in the Bangsamoro region.

This milestone marked the beginning of a strategic partnership that would combine the strengths, resources, perspectives, knowledge, networks, and reach of MOTC and MinDA to effectively solve shared challenges or seize new opportunities for fast, efficient, reliable, and safe transportation and connectivity.

The agreement was signed by MinDA Secretary Maria Belen Acosta and MOTC Minister Dickson P. Hermoso. Witnessing the historic event were Usec. Janet Lopoz, CESO I, Executive Director, and Dir. Joey E. Recimella, Director IV, Policy Planning and Project and Development Office, of MinDA and Atty. Roslaine L. Macao-Maniri, Bangsamoro Director General, Datunor A. Abutazil, Director II, Land Transportation Services, and Atty. Abubakar A. Katambak, Director II, Water Transportation Services, of MOTC.

Top officials of Philippine Airlines from Manila who were in town for the June 9 PAL maiden flight from Cotabato City to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi also attended the signing ceremony.

The increased collaboration under the MOC aims to prepare the Ministry for public and private investments under the South Central Mindanao growth corridor, as well as help strengthen institutional capacities in project development and investment promotion and facilitation, in order to ensure complementation and convergence.

MinDA is serving as the national government’s lead agency in coordinating and integrating development efforts that bring about accelerated socio-economic development in Mindanao. It carries out this mission through the active and extensive participation of all sectors in the development process.

In his speech, Minister Hermoso expressed his gratefulness to MinDA. “MOTC has finally found a big sister! For us in MOTC, the Memorandum of Cooperation is a formalization of our grateful acceptance of MinDA’s generous offer to accompany us as strategic partners in the pursuit of development and peace in the Bangsamoro.”