𝗘𝗨-𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮, 𝗕𝗮𝗦𝘂𝗹𝗧𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗠 𝗠𝗦𝗠𝗘𝘀

MAKATI CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) welcomes the European Union-backed submarine fiber optic cable project in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), recognizing its potential to transform digital connectivity, improve energy reliability, and enhance business competitiveness in the region’s island provinces.

During the stakeholders’ meeting on September 5, 2025 at the Fairmont Hotel, Makati, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), in collaboration with MinDA, convened government and private sector representatives to tackle investment opportunities, connectivity improvements, and MSME support under the program.

The BaSulTa Digital Backbone Project, developed under the Bangsamoro Agri-Enterprise Program (BAEP) – Creating Responsible, Sustainable, and Competitive Enterprise (CRESCENT), will establish a green-powered submarine cable linking Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. The project, which involves collaboration among Nokia Philippines, GreenFibr, WCTI/Powertech Asia Pacific, and the BAEP CRESCENT Project, is designed to bridge the digital divide, enhance energy supply, and open new opportunities for trade and enterprise development.

Funded by the EU and implemented with ECCP, the four-year BAEP-CRESCENT project also seeks to enhance the competitiveness of agri-fishery micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Beneficiaries include MSMEs across Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato City, and the 63 barangays in North Cotabato.

Through enterprise development and export promotion initiatives, the program is preparing MSMEs to secure partnerships, expand to wider markets, and attract long-term private sector investments. With the BaSulTa Digital Backbone, these enterprises are expected to gain better access to digital tools, logistics, and e-commerce platforms critical for competitiveness.

“BARMM is open for business, and through this partnership we are creating opportunities for our agri-fishery enterprises to compete and thrive in wider markets,” said MinDA Chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso Magno. He added: “By improving digital and energy infrastructure through the BaSulTa Digital Backbone, we are giving our MSMEs in far-flung provinces the same chance to innovate, expand, and reach markets as those in urban centers. This is how we build a better Mindanao.”

Now in its second year, the BAEP-CRESCENT project has initiated agreements with stakeholders and launched business-matching activities to attract private investors. For 2025, the focus will be on strengthening partnerships with local government units and private sector players to accelerate regional trade and investment.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has underscored that the government’s MSME Development Plan 2023–2028 puts digital connectivity and innovation at the center of efforts to strengthen small businesses. The plan seeks to improve the business environment, widen market access, and provide MSMEs—especially in underserved regions such as BARMM—with the tools to compete in larger markets.

Central to the agenda is the digitalization of MSMEs, with initiatives aimed at expanding access to e-commerce platforms, digital finance, smart logistics, and innovation-driven technologies. By integrating digital solutions, the administration aims to close the digital divide and ensure that enterprises in remote provinces can link to value chains, reach customers more efficiently, and expand beyond local markets.

The President has also called for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to MSME development, rallying the private sector and big businesses to provide mentorship, financing, and expanded linkages for micro and nano enterprises. He stressed that these efforts are crucial to making MSMEs more competitive globally, while fueling inclusive and sustainable growth in the country.