Editorial: A special dev’t program for Mindanao

Editorial from the Manila Bulletin (Nov 3): Editorial: A special dev’t program for Mindanao

Mindanao today has possibly the best opportunity to catch  up with  the rest of the country. For the first time in our history,  we have a president from Mindanao – Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City. The two chambers of  Congress are led by Senate President Koko Pimentel of Cagayan de Oro and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao.

President  Duterte  launched  last Saturday  in Cotabato  City  a Comprehensive Reform  and Development  Agenda  for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and other conflict areas in the region, with a promise  that the national government  will  bring in more funds for development  and   growth  than ever before. Mindanao,  he said, could become the richest region of the country because of its abundant natural resources and its vast agricultural lands.

But Mindanao is also  the region with the greatest peace and order problem  today. The Armed  Forces are  now  conducting a drive against the Abu Sayyaf, with 38 now killed in the ongoing offensive  by  Task Force Sulu and the Army 11th Scout Ranger Company.  Abu Sayyaf, it may be recalled, drew  international  condemnation when it beheaded  kidnap victims from Canada and released other hostages from Indonesia only upon payment of ransom.

Elsewhere  in Mindanao,  an uncertain peace reigns in areas where the  government  has reached out to the Moro Islamic  Liberation Front, the Moro National Liberation Front,  and the New People’s Army. These  three  major  armed groups are now  meeting with representatives of the Duterte administration which has  specific programs for them, including a federal  system of government that will give the Moro leaders more than the usual authority of autonomous  regions.

The problems in Mindanao are many but not insurmountable  and  the new administration should succeed where previous ones have failed.  Today President Duterte is engrossed in the campaign against  drugs all over the country. He is also striking out for a more independent  foreign policy.  He has  called for a massive infrastructure spending program that should push national development to new heights.

But his heart, surely,  is  closest to Mindanao. This  long-neglected third region of our country, always a  “land of promise” that has not been fulfilled. During his speech in Cotabato  City, he spoke of the promise of agriculture, pledging to  provide tractors and  fishing boats to the people.  In the short term, he directed the Department  of Social Welfare and Development  to  focus on projects that will help the people fight poverty and hunger.

We  look forward  to this special program for Mindanao. It will help balance  national efforts for the various regions of the country and  boost  that southern island’s  contribution  to  total Philippine  growth and progress.

http://news.mb.com.ph/2016/11/03/a-special-devt-program-for-mindanao/