GMA Names Ex-AFP Chief AS Special Envoy To BIMP-EAGA

New BIMP-EAGA Special Envoy Efren Abu, right, speaks with consultant Femy Calderon, left, as Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana and Cora Ginete, MEDCo Director for Special Concerns, listen. (MEDCo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 09 Jan) President Gloria Arroyo named a former military chief Gen. Efren Abu as special envoy to the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA, officials said Monday.

Jesus Dureza, chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo),said Abu's appointment was supported by different business groups not only from the Philippines, but abroad.

Mrs. Arroyo appointed Abu last month in Kuala Lumpur during the ASEAN Summit and the 2nd BIMP-EAGA Leaders Summit.

Abu vowed to push for bolder participation of Mindanao and Palawan in the BIMP-EAGA, Dureza, also the Presidential peace adviser, said.

He said he briefed Abu about the latest developments in the BIMP-EAGA.

"As special envoy to BIMP-EAGA, General Abu will assist President Arroyo inidentify policy directions and development initiatives relative to the participation of Mindanao and Palawan in the BIMP-EAGA."

"He is also tasked to provide advisory assistance to the Office of the President and MEDCo, on matters relating to the harmonization of Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) rules, regulations and procedures in the subregion," Dureza said.

Dureza said Abu is also expected to participate in talks and negotiations involving BIMP countries for the formulation and implementation of cooperation initiatives in the growth area.

"This is a challenge for me because I am facing a new kind of job, but I will do my best to contribute largely to the development of Mindanao," Dureza, quoted Abu as saying, Monday.

The Philippines recently launched the BIMP-EAGA Support Team on CIQS (BEST on CIQS) project, a two-year capacity building program for MEDCo and custom, immigration, quarantine and security agencies in southern Philippines and is geared towards strengthening cross-border ties among the BIMP-EAGA countries.

BEST on CIQS project aims to contribute to the improvement of security and stability in BIMP-EAGA through capacity enhancement, according to Dureza.