MinDA Pushes Railway, Property Valuation Reform to National Agencies

Summary

• MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno confirmed the region's business resolutions from the 35th Mindanao Business Conference will be elevated to national agencies for action.
• Priority list includes the Mindanao Railway System, energy security, renewable energy investments, and reforms to the investment environment.
• MinDA has begun pilot property sector development studies in Mindanao and will expand them to other major cities with local business chambers.
• A new MinBiz Policy Watch mechanism, signed with the Cagayan de Oro Chamber and PCCI Mindanao, will track follow-through on each resolution.

News Content

Speaking at the conference closing in Cagayan de Oro on Aug. 13, Magno assured Mindanao's business community that recommendations built through consultations with chambers across the region will be brought to the appropriate national agencies "especially for action." On infrastructure, he cited the Mindanao Railway System, noting MinDA has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Transportation and established a dedicated Mindanao Railway System desk. The business sector also pushed for implementation of the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act — a direct lever on land pricing transparency — and MinDA responded that pilot property sector development studies are already underway. On energy, Magno committed to convening the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee co-chaired with the Department of Energy, and said the agency is facilitating solar and biomass investments with Korean, Japanese, and Qatari investors, some already at site selection stage.

Real Estate Outlook

Railway alignment planning and RPVARA implementation are the two most consequential signals here for landholders: corridor cities along any confirmed Mindanao Railway route stand to capture early appreciation, while standardized valuation improves financing and exit certainty for Cagayan de Oro and Davao investors.