Mindanao resilient, can overcome challenges --
Antonino
DAVAO CITY, Feb. 8 (PIA) - Mindanao always has
what it takes to emerge from challenges, according to Mindanao Development
Authority chair Luwalhati Antonino in a statemet today.
“There is no island-region in the Philippines more
intensely challenged then and now than Mindanao, but its resiliency always
allows it to make headways at every turn,” said Antonino, head of Malacanang’s
think tank in the south.
The MinDA chair issued the statement amid
perceptions of uncertainty arising from recent realities affecting Mindanao,
which a major national broadsheet’s recent editorial has cited as “series of
unfortunate events.”
Among the pressing concerns it said that confront
the island include impact on the non-passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law,
rotating brownouts caused by transmission-related problems and low hydropower
output due to El Nino, which is also wrecking havoc on Mindanao’s agricultural
yield.
“We recognize these challenges as affecting our
dogged efforts to accelerate Mindanao’s overall socioeconomic growth, but are
in no way keeping us out of focus,” Antonino stressed.
She said that despite the impasse on the BBL,
there is a demonstration of commitment from various stakeholders to pursue
lasting peace, in which everyone can move forward for sustained development.
“What is important is we find means to interface
and coordinate on development initiatives, including private sector investments
so as not to derail delivery of benefits especially to conflict-affected
communities,” she added.
According to MinDA, the Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) posted sustained investment growth in the last three
years of the Aquino administration, with P1.4 billion in 2013 and doubled to
P3.86 billion in 2014.
“ARMM investments are on the upswing, jumping 60
percent growth last year at P6.5 billion pesos inflows from big-ticket
investments,” according to Atty. Ishak Mastura, chair of ARMM Regional Board of
Investments.
On the power situation, Antonino said a Task Force
was created recently by President Aquino to address long term security of
transmission assets in Mindanao, and complement ongoing government and private
sector efforts to improve the power supply situation.
"Addressing the Mindanao power situation
through long-term measures is a demonstration of President Noy Aquino's
commitment, such as allocating nearly P4 billion for Agus-Pulangi rehab. No
administration has ever invested this much to make Mindanao's cheapest source
of renewable energy reliable again," Antonino pointed out.
With the expected completion of initial phases of
several baseload power plants this year having combined capacity of over 600MW,
the Department of Energy expects Mindanao to enter into a regime of supply
excess for the first time since 2009.
While conceding that El Nino will certainly have
significant impact on Mindanao’s agriculture output, MinDA said the island's
diversified economic make-up keeps the region moving along growth path.
In 2015, six Mindanao provinces made it to the top
10 of the 2015 Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index of the National
Competitiveness Council (NCC), reflecting economic dynamism, government
efficiency, and infrastructure growth.
Under the Mindanao Development Corridors Program
being coordinated by MinDA, Mindanao has able to get between 25-30 percent of
national public works budget over the last three years, reflecting a steady
hike in Aquino government's infra spending for the region.
Mindanao’s competitiveness is also seen playing a
critical role in its contribution to the national growth. The island’s Gross
Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) has many times outperformed national average.
Its economy grew by 7.4 percent last year, from
6.3 percent recorded in 2014, and contributed 14.4 percent to country’s overall
growth.
“Mindanao’s real progress is hinged on the unity
of all its peoples, amid diversity,” Antonino said. (MinDA/PIA-Caraga)
