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Monday, December 08, 2003
$60M earmarked for Minda 5-year peace, dev't plan
By Christie Enriquez-Uayan
AT LEAST $60 million is earmarked by the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) for the implementation of several projects in Mindanao under the five-year sustainable peace and development plan.
The amount, channeled through the government and the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (Gem) 2 program, involves a $25 million budget for the construction of community, small and medium scale infrastructure projects and a $35 million allotment for various activities and projects, such as export promotion, accountability and transparency in governance, policy modification assistance, education improvement, and business organizational development.
GEM 2 program deputy chief of party John Dalton said they hope to build up to 500 small and mid scale infrastructure projects, like water systems, warehouses, boat landings, solar dryers, culverts, bridge and roadway upgrades and repairs, community centers, within the remaining four years of the GEM 2 program.
A joint project of the government and USAid, Gem 2 program kicked off in the latter part of 2002 and is expected to expire in 2007. The first phase of the program started in 1997.
Dalton said while they work throughout the Mindanao region, majority of the projects will be installed in the conflict-affected areas and will be undertaken hand in hand with the local government units, cooperatives and community groups.
Port, road and bridge improvements will also be erected as part of the programs to improve the livelihood of the impoverished farmers and fisher folk.
Income of the farmers and fishermen in Mindanao, which is home to most of the poorest areas in the country, is further improved with the implementation of the Target Commodities Expansion Program (TCEP) of GEM 2.
Agriculture workers are introduced to latest farming technologies to increase productivity and competitiveness, while market linkages are established to allow them greater access to both domestic and if possible, foreign markets.
To date, growers in Mindanao are being trained to grow non-traditional commodities, among them bell peppers, sweet corn and peas. These crops are among the commodities that might be grown in the country and are in demand overseas.
Limited financial assistance is also extended by Gem to farmers' organizations, cooperatives and other groups under a cost sharing basis.
Dalton also said education is a main concern in the poor areas, especially within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) where illiteracy rate hampers the development of the area.
Gem 2 provides assistance in improving education planning, improving school administration and teacher performance besides linking with appropriate government agencies and private sector in building additional schools and coming up with programs to enhance the learning system in Armm.
(December 8, 2003 issue)
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