Davao City (18 July) -- The need for an integrated and coordinated security and development efforts to better secure investments in Mindanao as well as in facilitating trade and investments should be strongly pushed, a Mindanao exec say.

"Coordinated efforts between the security and civilian component should be integrated in the whole gamut of development because as we accelerate our efforts towards the socio-economic development of Mindanao, we need to already protect our gains in peace and development," Usec. Virgilio Leyretana, chairman of Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) said.

He said that potential investors need to feel secure with their investments and at the same time existing investments needed to be protected as this provide economic support in the different regions in Mindanao.

He said that infrastructure such as arterial roads, airports, seaports, telecommunication and power generation facilities should be safeguarded because this serves as a backbone of Mindanao's physical integration.

"By doing this we will ensure that the gains of peace and development in the island will be enjoyed by future generations," he said.

He said that the integration of Mindanao has proven that an integrated, holistic, and Mindanao-wide approach to developing the island-region is far more effective than the usual national-led and region-centric approach.

"With this, the convergence and active participation of all sectors particularly the private sector as well as our development partners in Mindanao is critical," he said.

Leyretana added that this initiative will also impact the BIMP-EAGA sub-regional cooperation as it involves increasing trade, facilitating free and safe movement of people and goods within the sub-region, in which MEDCo plays an integral role as the Philippine Coordinating Office for BIMP-EAGA (PCOBE).

"Previous experiences in the sub-regional work have made it clear that unless we make the sub-area secure, its full potential for development won't be realized," he said.

Major part of EAGA is surrounded by seas particularly in the tri-border maritime area between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Leyretana also added that securing investments in Mindanao augurs well with the government's economic resiliency plan, adding that this will ensure that the various programs and projects for Mindanao's development would be protected and sustained.