BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is eyeing Tawi-Tawi province to become the "region's gateway to Brunei
Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area."

BARMM interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim said that the province has the potential to support linkages in and outside the Bangsamoro region that can significantly contribute to achieving speedy economic development for BARMM.

The idea was considered by the Bangsamoro government during the formulation of the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan for 2023-2028 held Tuesday last week.

Ebrahim disclosed that during the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority-led consultation held here, various sectors presented their outputs featuring key potentials of the island which can be harnessed to support linkages in and outside the region.

Considering the inputs, Ebrahim sees that the country's southernmost island is 'essential' to the Bangsamoro region and has sufficient potential to become the "region's gateway to the BIMP-EAGA."
The BIMP-EAGA — launched in 1994

— aims to boost growth in trade, investments, and tourism through new intra-region shipping routes and air links as well as power interconnection projects.