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DAVAO CITY — Bangsamoro Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno, and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) representatives have urged foreign diplomatic missions to review their travel advisories on Mindanao in light of recent developments in the region’s peace and security situation.
During a dialogue with ambassadors and consular representatives from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, and China, as part of the Mindanao Development Forum (MDF) 2026 here in this southern city, government officials called for a more updated and geographically nuanced assessment of security conditions across Mindanao.
The discussions focused on how existing travel advisories may affect tourism, business missions, investment opportunities, and international development cooperation in the region.
Macacua emphasized that Mindanao’s security situation should not be assessed as a single, uniform condition, noting that peace and security conditions vary significantly among provinces, municipalities, and communities.
He presented an overview of the security outlook across the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), stressing the importance of distinguishing areas facing continuing security challenges from those experiencing more stable conditions.
As an example, he cited the remaining high-threat areas within the four municipalities of the SPMS Box, which should not be taken to represent the entire province, the region, or Mindanao as a whole.
The Chief Minister underscored the need for travel advisories to reflect these geographical distinctions and the latest available security assessments.
National agencies present updates on peace and security
Officials from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), the National Security Council (NSC), and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) presented updates on the country’s peace and security landscape.
The presentations highlighted the importance of taking a broader approach to security — one that considers not only military and law enforcement operations but also economic stability, food security, energy security, and the conditions necessary for sustainable investment.
The briefings also addressed developments in the Bangsamoro peace process, the region’s transition to regular parliamentary governance, and continuing government efforts to address violent extremism and other security threats.
The Sep. 14, 2026, BARMM parliamentary elections were cited as a significant political milestone. Official figures released by the Commission on Elections showed an 84.34% voter turnout, with 2,018,478 voters casting their ballots. The elections marked a major step in the transition from the interim administration to an elected parliamentary government.
On the normalization track of the peace process, government and MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) representatives have continued discussions on implementing outstanding provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CBA). Publicly reported figures indicate that 26,145 of the 40,000 MILF combatants covered by the decommissioning process had undergone decommissioning by July 2024, while further progress remains necessary to complete the process.
The briefings also covered efforts to address terrorist financing. In February 2025, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) removed the Philippines from its list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring, recognizing the country’s progress in addressing deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime.
Officials emphasized that these developments should inform international assessments of the country’s security environment while recognizing that localized threats and continuing peace and normalization challenges remain.
Diplomats welcome updated information, stress citizen safety
The participating diplomatic representatives welcomed the security updates and expressed openness to reviewing their respective travel advisory systems in light of current information.
They nevertheless emphasized that the safety and security of their citizens remain paramount and that any changes to travel advisories must be supported by credible, sustained improvements in security conditions.
The discussions underscored the shared responsibility of Philippine authorities and local governments to maintain peace, address remaining threats, and provide reliable information to international partners.
MinDA and DFA representatives recommended strengthening regular security briefings for the diplomatic community, with greater participation from BARMM authorities to ensure that information from the region is directly reflected in international discussions and assessments.
BARMM seeks stronger diplomatic engagement
Macacua welcomed the prospect of closer engagement between foreign missions and the Bangsamoro government, emphasizing the importance of direct exchanges on the region’s security conditions, development priorities, and investment opportunities.
The discussions also opened opportunities for deeper diplomatic and economic cooperation.
China expressed interest in bringing officials to the country for engagement with BARMM, while seeking clarification on the relevant DFA approval procedures and whether special arrangements could facilitate official exchanges with the autonomous regional government.
Other diplomatic representatives highlighted their existing programs and development initiatives in Mindanao, particularly in BARMM, including support for agribusiness, access to basic services, and human capital development.
These areas were identified as important avenues for strengthening local economic opportunities and supporting the region’s long-term development.
The dialogue concluded with a shared interest in sustaining communication between the Bangsamoro government, national agencies, and foreign diplomatic missions.
For BARMM, the engagement represents an opportunity to ensure that international partners have access to timely, location-specific information as they assess travel, investment, and development cooperation in Mindanao. (/)