The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is poised to receive a substantial funding boost under the Marcos administration for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, contradicting earlier claims of a looming slash in its allocation.
Data from the National Expenditure Program (NEP) show that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has proposed P363.409 million for MinDA in 2026 — P96.049 million higher than the P267.360 million proposed under the 2025 NEP.
This represents a 36% year-on-year increase, underscoring the administration’s recognition of MinDA’s strategic role in Mindanao’s growth.
Mindanao Lawmakers Close Ranks Behind MinDA
The Mindanao bloc in Congress — a coalition of lawmakers from the island’s six regions — has pledged unified support to ensure that the higher proposed funding for MinDA remains intact or is even increased as the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2026 deliberations move forward.
Legislators from Davao, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region emphasized that MinDA remains vital as the primary coordinating body for Mindanao development, linking infrastructure, investment, and peace programs with national planning.
Historical Budget Trend Shows Rising Support
For most of the past decade, MinDA operated on modest funds, often below P200 million. Budget records show its NEP allocation was P52 million in 2010, gradually increasing to P170 million by 2019.
The turning point came in 2020, when both the House of Representatives and the Senate began augmenting MinDA’s NEP budget through the Committee on Appropriations (CICA).
These legislative add-ons grew significantly, with P109 million added in 2024 and an unprecedented P339 million in 2025 on top of the NEP allocation.
With the 2026 NEP already raised by 36% under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s proposed budget, lawmakers say they are optimistic about sustaining and even expanding this trend. The Mindanao bloc is eyeing additional amendments to reinforce MinDA’s infrastructure coordination, investment promotion, and peace and development initiatives.
MinDA Grateful for Strong Congressional Backing
MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno welcomed the development, expressing gratitude to legislators who have consistently championed the agency’s mandate.
“We are deeply grateful to our Mindanaoan champions in Congress who have stood firm for what Mindanao truly deserves,” Magno said. “Their support for MinDA’s budget is not just about numbers — it’s a bold affirmation that Mindanao matters. Together, we will ensure that no part of our island is left behind.”
Magno said the increased allocation would enable MinDA to accelerate investment facilitation, public-private partnership (PPP) projects, and peace and development programs in conflict-affected areas, while also coordinating big-ticket infrastructure projects vital to Mindanao’s long-term growth.
Budget Deliberations Still Underway
While the NEP reflects the Marcos administration’s proposed spending plan, the General Appropriations Act — the final version of the national budget — is still undergoing plenary debates in the House and Senate.
Lawmakers say this leaves room for further increases as amendments are introduced.
Observers note that with the 2026 NEP already starting at P363 million, any additional allocations from the Mindanao bloc could push MinDA’s final 2026 budget higher than ever before. This development, they say, invalidates claims of a looming budget cut and shows growing institutional recognition of MinDA’s role.
If approved, the higher allocation will mark one of the largest year-on-year jumps in MinDA’s history, strengthening the agency’s ability to drive infrastructure, investment, and peacebuilding initiatives critical to Mindanao’s development agenda under the Marcos administration.
