Kota Kinabalu: Things are looking bright for the BIMP-EAGA initiative with a peace accord due in southern Philippines.
The Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area could play a major role in the blueprint for the Bangsamoro establishment.
Trouble in southern Philippines has long been a stumbling block in the initiative, which was launched in 1994, and despite some progress since then, the ambitious plan to be an economic force in the region has yet to reach its full potential.
When Philippine president Benigno S. Aquino III and Moro Islamic Liberation Front leader Al Haj Murad Ibrahim sign the accord on Monday, to be witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, it could set the pace for realisation of the BIMP-EAGA dream.
MILF political affairs chief Ghadzali Jaafar recently said the accord could at least stop people from leaving southern Philippines and help in the transformation process to develop the Bangsamoro as a replacement for the failed Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao "experiment".
Tanjung Kapor assemblyman Datuk Teo Chee Kang said this was where BIMP-EAGA could come into play with the many plans it had rolled out.
"In Kudat, for instance, there is a plan to introduce a ferry service linking the district to Brooke's Point on the island of Palawan in the Philippines."
He said those plans are now in the final stages to start the roll on-roll off ferry service.
"With the peace accord in play, this augurs well for the service to flourish."
Sandakan-based businessman Datuk Albert Lim revealed another effort to harness the BIMP-EAGA potental through the Sandakan-Zamboanga Business Council which was introduced more than 10 years ago.
"Trade has always been active between the two ports from the past and maybe the peace accord could spur more activities in the future."
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