Improved intra-EAGA transport system pushed

DAVAO CITY – Government officials and business leaders are batting for an improved transportation system within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

The transportation ministers of the four BIMP-EAGA member-countries met here yesterday to tackle how to further enhance the transportation system within the geo-economic sub-region to encourage more cross-border travel.

Formally created in 1994, the BIMP-EAGA comprises the sub-national economies of East Indonesia, East Malaysia, Brunei, Mindanao and Palawan, which has a combined market of over 57 million consumers.

Discussions in the EAGA Transport Ministers’ Meeting also included issues on air service network, sea linkages and possible bus routes connecting key points in the growth area.

The First BIMP-EAGA Airlines Forum was also held here the other day where representatives of airlines servicing EAGA routes discussed opportunities for borderless travel and the move to liberalize air transport services in the sub-region.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza spearheaded the transport ministers’ meet which was also attended by Pehin Abu Bakar Apong, minister of communications of Brunei Darussalam; Jusman Syafi’I Djamal, minister of transportation of Indonesia; and Dato Long See Wool, deputy secretary-general of Malaysia.

The transport leaders formally endorsed a work plan that would be taken up during the BIMP-EAGA Senior Officials and Ministers’ Meetings scheduled here in October.

The work plan includes the results of consultations with the air, sea and land travel sectors in the BIMP-EAGA.

It also touched on the status, challenges and future direction of the BIMP-EAGA transport sector from the perspective of both the government and private sectors of the four member-countries.