Mindanao positioned as strategic gateway for minerals and regional trade

Mindanao is being positioned as a strategic gateway for the Philippines' critical minerals and clean energy sectors following the signing of Executive Order No. 122 by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The order establishes a national policy framework to transition the country from raw mineral extraction to high-value production, including refining, battery technologies, and renewable energy components.

Mindanao currently contributes 95 percent of the nation's nickel ore output. According to Philippine Statistics Authority data, the monetary value of the country's gold, copper, nickel, and chromite reserves reached ₱588.12 billion in 2025.

In a separate development, the municipality of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental has proposed the development of Tiblawan port. The project aims to strengthen Mindanao's connectivity to the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), specifically serving as a maritime link to eastern Indonesia to boost trade, tourism, and logistics.