BARMM posts record-high P5.1B in investments in 4 months

INQUIRER FILES

COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — The flow of investments into the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) continues to surge, surpassing the record set in 2025 and exceeding this year’s target.

Mohamad Omar Pasigan, chair of the Bangsamoro Board of Investments (BBOI), said total approved investments reached P5.1 billion as of April 30.

“This figure already surpasses the P5 billion in total approved investments recorded for the entirety of the previous fiscal year, signaling a strong upward trajectory for the region’s economy,” Pasigan said in a statement on Friday.

With the current level, the BBOI has exceeded its P3.2-billion target for the year by about 60 percent.

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Pasigan said this milestone “accentuates growing investor confidence in the BARMM as a rising hub for sustainable, inclusive and high-impact investments.”

He also reported that, combining recent approvals with earlier figures, total employment generated from investments in the BARMM has reached 2,587 jobs.

‘Tangible progress’

“This reflects the region’s tangible progress in translating investment growth into meaningful livelihood opportunities,” Pasigan said.

During its third regular meeting for the year, the BBOI approved six new investment projects worth P2.6 billion, expected to generate 1,657 jobs across the region.

“The consistent growth in approved investments reflects the business community’s trust in the Bangsamoro government’s commitment to transparency, ease of doing business and investor protection,” Pasigan said.

“We are not just counting investments—we are counting the jobs and livelihood opportunities that reach every family across our provinces,” he added.

According to Pasigan, the BBOI continues to promote responsible investments aligned with the region’s development goals under principles of moral governance.

The latest approved projects include a health and wellness facility, tourism-related developments in Cotabato City, and agriculture and agribusiness ventures across the BARMM provinces.

As of March 30, earlier approved investments were projected to generate at least 930 additional jobs.

Pasigan said the steady growth in investments highlights the BARMM’s sustained efforts to improve its investment climate, expand economic opportunities, and advance long-term development strategies.

The BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua has earlier emphasized that economic transformation is a key pillar of the Bangsamoro government’s legacy.

Under his leadership, the regional government has pursued policy reforms aimed at lowering barriers to entry, protecting investors, and ensuring that investment benefits are shared equitably across provinces and communities.

The BARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, and Basilan, as well as a Special Geographic Area made up of eight towns formed from 63 villages formerly part of Cotabato province.

The autonomous region was established in 2019 following a landmark peace agreement between the government and Moro rebel groups, ending more than four decades of armed conflict. It was granted broader governing powers than previous autonomy arrangements under legislation passed by Congress. /cb