The Russians Are Coming...

Secretary Jesus Dureza, right, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, points to Ibragim Sharifkulov, of MOSPHIL Aero Incorporated, various existing air linkages within Mindanao and the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) during a recent meeting in Manila.

Mindanao's airline and tourism industry takes another big leap as a Filipino-Russian owned airline company, Mosphil Aero Incorprated, gears up in setting new direct flights to Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and the Republic of Palau.

Ibragim Sharifkulov, president of Mosphil Aero Inc., said the airline company is putting up international and domestic flights that will primarily service passenger and cargo traffic in Mindanao.

"Our expansion in Mindanao is part of the company's mission to provide air travel and cargo services to potential tourist destinations in the Philippines needing reliable means of transportation," Sharifkulov said.

In addition, Sharifkulov specifically identified Zamboanga, Jolo, Tawi-Tawi and Davao as key areas being targeted by Mosphil Aero in Mindanao.

Secretary Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, said that establishing more domestic and international air links are vital in accelerating economic activities and promoting tourism for the entire island region.

"Mindanao is a strategic place for airline investments due to the increasing number of domestic and foreign tourist and investors along with the existing BIMP-EAGA economic cooperation," Dureza said, adding, the government and business sector are working closely to promote flights with countries of BIMP-EAGA countries in the South.

At present, the BIMP-EAGA roadmap to development currently aims to increase trade, investment and tourism in the sub-regional cooperation within a period of five years.

The BIMP-EAGA was created in March 1994 to increase trade, tourism and investments among the member countries of the growth polygon with Mindanao and Palawan as one of the key focus areas for cooperation.