The Central Bank of the Philippines published remarks by Monetary Board Member Rosalia V. De Leon highlighting Northern Mindanao as a growing investment destination, arguing that the region’s economic progress signals that investors can look beyond the country’s traditional centers and “all the way to southern Philippines”. De Leon delivered the comments at the Philippine Economic Briefing in Cagayan de Oro City on 20 October 2025. Northern Mindanao recorded gross domestic product growth of 6.0% in 2024, above the national average of 5.7%. Around 300 participants from the financial and business communities, civil society organizations, academe, and media in the Mindanao region attended, alongside officials from other government agencies.