MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL — Northern Mindanao has adopted a unified development roadmap designed to align regional investments, public safety and social services under a single framework.

Regional Development Council chairperson and Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S. Oaminal announced the MAS ASENSO Northern Mindanao Agenda during his first State of the Region Address on Tuesday.

The program expands on a localized development model previously used in Misamis Occidental.

This blueprint spans nine development pillars: governance modernization, investment promotion, infrastructure, security, climate resilience, human capital development, strategic planning, technological innovation and sustainable resource management.

“The true measure of progress is not in statistics — it is in jobs, food on the table, and hope for every family,” Oaminal said, adding that economic expansion must link directly to public safety and social well-being.

The region reported a 12 percent decline in focus crimes during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Law enforcement data also showed an 87 percent crime solution efficiency rate, surpassing national targets.

Additionally, cases of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the region dropped from 22 in late 2025 to four in the first half of 2026. Misamis Occidental reported zero incidents.