Honorary Consul for Finland Antonio Peralta said on Friday that foreign investors remain bullish on Mindanao, stressing that accurate information and consistent messaging are key to sustaining investor confidence in the region despite renewed security concerns following the Bondi Beach attack in Australia last month.
Mindanao was again tagged by some foreign reports as a “terror hotspot” after claims surfaced that the Bondi Beach attackers, father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram, had allegedly traveled to the Philippines and underwent “military-style training” in Mindanao prior to the attack.
Peralta said such claims unfairly single out Mindanao and undermine decades of peace-building and good governance efforts.
He also said that the Bondi Beach incident should be viewed as an isolated case and should not be used to revive outdated narratives linking Mindanao to insurgency and terrorism.
“I’d like to look at what happened in Australia as an isolated incident in that country. But again, the messaging must be consistent that Mindanao is totally insurgency-free,” he said during the Business Insights media forum at NCCC Mall Ma-a.
Peralta emphasized that misinformation continues to affect both local and foreign perceptions of Mindanao’s investment potential, including among Filipinos from Metro Manila and Cebu who still associate the region with instability.
“The best way to address the situation is having the right information. That is the only way you can debunk half-truths or, sometimes, outright lies,” he said.
To ensure consistent and fact-based communication, Peralta said European foreign chambers and the diplomatic community are strengthening coordination with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), which issues quarterly reports on peace and order across the region.
He said these reports are shared with embassies in Manila to provide an accurate picture of conditions on the ground.
He added that 14 European consulates have already begun meeting regularly to discuss developments in Mindanao, with plans underway to organize a quarterly forum that aligns messaging from government, business chambers, and the diplomatic sector.
Peralta said confidence in Mindanao’s future remains strong, with expectations that more foreign consulates will establish a presence in the region within the next two years, alongside increased inbound trade missions exploring new business opportunities.
“We are still bullish about Mindanao. It’s about time we correct the narrative and highlight that this is a viable investment destination, backed by years of good governance and growing economic activity,” he said.
Peralta reiterated that labeling Mindanao as a terrorist training ground is inaccurate and does not reflect current realities.
“This area is generally peaceful. And that peace, combined with good governance, is the reason why more investors are now looking at Mindanao as a place to do business,” he said.
