Marcos: Stronger Mindanao means stronger PH

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr on Thursday pushed for a stronger Mindanao amid calls for the separation of the region from the Philippines.

''A stronger BARMM means a stronger Mindanao. A stronger Mindanao means a stronger Philippines bringing us closer to achieving our agendas,'' Marcos said in his speech during the 17th meeting of the national government - Bangsamoro government Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) in Pasay City. 

He emphasized that Bagong Pilipinas would be incomplete without a progressive Bangsamoro region.

The IGRB is one of the intergovernmental relations mechanisms of the national and Bangsamoro governments established under the Bangsamoro Organic Law. 

The body is primarily tasked to coordinate and resolve issues between the two parties, particularly those related to the intergovernmental relations, through regular consultation and continuing negotiation in a non-adversarial manner. 

At present, the IGRB is led by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Bangsamoro Government Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal as co-chairperson. 

Marcos' speech came days after former President Rodrigo Duterte raised the idea of Mindanao seceding from the Philippines through a process based on gathering signatures.

A former mayor of Davao City who served for multiple terms, Duterte said it was Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez who first pushed for the "desirability of Mindanao seceding from the Republic of the Philippines." —KBK, GMA Integrated News