Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Agency: Northern Mindanao biggest Mindanao economy
NORTHERN Mindanao region has the 3rd highest per capita (per head) gross regional domestic product (GRDP) among all regions in the country, coming next to the National Capital Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
"It also remains to be the biggest regional economy in Mindanao," Regional Director Myra V. Balandra of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said.
"In fact, we are now starting to reap the tide of confidence and that our economy is due for a full swing towards economic takeoff backed by the tough economic reforms and revenue measures put in place by the President," she added.
Balandra said the social payback would be flowing down in terms of better paying jobs, improved infrastructure and enhanced social services, cutting across the alleviation of poverty and hunger.
Meanwhile, the Regional Nutrition Council-Northern Mindanao continues its advocacy for the local government unit's adoption of the Garden of Go, Grow and Glow Foods (G4) as a practical strategy to alleviate poverty and combat malnutrition.
"You do not need to have a piece of land in order to plant vegetables. Just make use of those empty sacks or those discarded plastic shopping bags. Fill it with soil and instead of planting flowers, plant vegetables," urged Balandra.
People can at least plant eggplants, okra, string beans, onions, camote tops, pechay, etc. so they don't have to go to the market and buy them, she said.
"It will also address the need to educate the families not only on of the aspect of the nutritional needs but also on how to manage their household waste because those bio-gradable wastes can be turned into organic fertilizers," she emphasized.
The project, she said, has already been adopted in the households and in the barangays of the region, which have put up communal gardens for the purpose, after it was launched in July, last year.
Particularly, the LGUs of the region had given the project favorable support when it participated in the Search for G4 Outstanding Barangays, this year, initiated by the Regional Nutrition Council in cooperation with the private sector. (Trends)
