Mindanao-Palawan links pushed for BIMP-EAGA at Langkawi summit
DAVAO CITY — Sea and air links between Mindanao and Palawan are being pushed by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) as a component of the strategy to strengthen the Philippine’s network within the Brunei- IndonesiaMalaysia- Philippines (BIMP) sub- region.
At the leaders’ summit in Langkawi, Malaysia which ended on Thursday, Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino, MinDA chair, said the Philippines has the weakest transport connections within the BIMP-East Growth Area.
“The Philippines is working on the establishment of air and sea linkages (for Mindanao and Palawan) to be fully accessible to our EAGA neighbors,” said Ms. Antonino, the country’s signing minister for the sub-region.
Mindanao and Palawan are the focus areas for the Philippines within the sub-region.
Budget airline AirAsia Philippines, a subsidiary of Malaysia’s AirAsia Bhd, announced recently that it is studying a service linking Davao City, Puerto Princesa, and Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia.
At present, the airline operates Cebu- Kota Kinabalu and Manila-Kota Kinabalu flights.
At the same time, representatives of the Philippines and Indonesia are working on a roll-on/ roll- off shipping link between Davao and General Santos Cities and Bitung, North Sulawesi, said Romeo M. Montenegro, MinDA public affairs head.
Initially, the two sides agreed to tap a privately- owned vessel which can accommodate 20 20foot equivalent unit vans.
“Since this is a private initiative, we hope this can start within the year,” said Mr. Montenegro, pointing out that the vessel company is still securing the needed permit for the sea link. —