Mindanao, long seen as the ‘land of promise,” is emerging as the Philippine’s forerunner in economic development. The second largest island in the Philippine archipelago, with a total land area 102,000 sq. kilometers Mindanao is composed of 25 provinces, 27 cities, and 403 municipalities, grouped into six regions: Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX), Northern Mindanao (Region X), Davao Region (Region XI), Soccsksargen Region (Region XII), Caraga (Region XIII), and the Autonomous in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Blessed with a typhoon-free climate, abundant rainfall, numerous river basins and fertile soil, the island has been identified as the Philippines’ food basket, with a capacity to feed the whole country and the rest of East ASEAN. Basically agriculture-based and export oriented, it is the country’s leading producer of rubber, cacao, banana, coffee, coconut, corn, pineapple, carageenan, and tuna. A number of global agri-business firms, such as San Miguel Corporation, Nestle Philippines, Cargill, Dole and Del Monte are located in Mindanao.

Mindanao is an active player in the world market with major trading partners that include Japan, USA, Netherlands, Korea, and China. Cross- border trade within the EAGA is also increasing with a robust exchange of goods with Indonesia and Malaysia.

Mindanao is accessible by sea, air, and land transport. Major hubs are located in the key cities. Domestic and international vessels call at Mindanao’s major ports located in Davao, General Santos, Zamboanga, Polloc, Cagayan de Oro, Surigao, Nasipit, Cotabato, Ozamis, Pagadian, Dipolog and Jolo.

Palawan, an island-province in the Southern Tagalog region, is an acknowledged nature paradise and one of the world’s premier tourism destinations.

The Philippines’ largest province, Palawan features about 1,780 islands and islets of white sand beaches, emerald forests and deep sapphire waters off the Sulu and South China Seas. Its coastline is dented by coves and bays ideal for fishing and harbors, and is generally free from typhoons and far from geologic fault lines. At the heart of Palawan is quaint Puerto Princesa City, its capital, a 55-minute flight from Manila.

Palawan’s economy is agriculture-based with rice, corn and coconut as its major products. Its rich fishing grounds are sources of tuna, mackerel, lobster, shrimp, and carrageenan, among others.

As the only oil-producing province in the country, Palawan produces crude oil at seven oil fields off the northern coast. Natural gas reserves in the Camago Malampaya gas fields in the northwest are estimated at 3.0 trillion cubic feet.

Palawan’s abundant mineral resources offer great potential. Industrially valuable deposits include nickel, chromites, mercury, iron, saprolite, feldspar, talc, marble, silica, sand and gravel. Nickel ore is mined at Rio Tuba, Bataraza in Southern Palawan.