THE construction, agriculture, and the real estate sectors in Mindanao have continued to perform well despite the imposition of martial law in Mindanao since May 23, 2017.
Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) president Vicente Lao said martial law has not significantly affected the business climate in Mindanao.
Shortly after fighting erupted in Marawi on May 23, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law for 60 days.
This was extended to the end of 2017 and further to the end of 2018 to allow the government to wipe out insurgency and other threats in Mindanao.
“As what we can observe, the business sector in Mindanao is not affected by martial law even after a year of declaration. In Mindanao, it is business as usual, different from the fear of those from Luzon,” said Lao.
He added that they notice a lot of investments coming in the sectors of construction, agriculture, and real estate.
“We can say that these attractions towards investors are happening because Mindanao economy is currently booming as well,” said Lao.
In a report by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Davao Region, construction-related jobs are among the current in-demand jobs in the region primarily because of the “Build, Build, Build” program of the administration.
“It is interesting to note that for this year, construction-related works take the lead in our in-demand jobs. Last year it was call center jobs. Although customer service jobs are still in the top 10, it doesn’t anymore the most in-demand in Davao Region. Construction jobs already are,” said Dole Davao focal person Marlito D. Ayala in an earlier interview.
Lao added that the general business climate in Mindanao continues to flourish and has not experienced decline related to the effects of martial law.
In the tourism sector, stakeholders said the martial law declaration affected arrivals only in the first two months. By the third month, tourist arrivals increased.