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Saturday, September 25, 2004
Arroyo to make Mindanao new center of attraction
PRESIDENT Arroyo has vowed to make Mindanao the agro-industrial center of the country.
In her speech during the 13th Mindanao Business Conference (Minbizcon), Arroyo said the island's development, an integral part of her 10-point agenda, would result in the creation of 10 million jobs, end the government's conflict with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and decongest Metro Manila -- hopefully leading to a balanced budget.
How would it be done?
One strategy is to locate a large portion of two million hectares being planned for development in Mindanao.
Another is to set up transport and digital infrastructure linking Mindanao to other parts of the country.
Already being expanded is the roll-off and roll-on (Roro) transport system using vessels and Roro-capable ports to lower the cost of transporting Mindanao's produce.
Yet another is the establishment of highways of commerce; trade linkages with suppliers in Mindanao to markets in Luzon and Visayas.
An example is the tie-up between Davao-based Nenita Quality Foods Incorporated and the Pampanga Meat Processors. Under the agreement, Nenita would supply 10 tons of boxed frozen meat cuts weekly to Pampanga's meat processors.
"This would open up a new market for Mindanao hog-raisers, and lessen Pampanga's dependence on imported meat," President Arroyo, herself a true-blue Kapampangan, said.
Another Arroyo plan is to establish new centers of government to decongest Manila and develop new areas of growth.
The government plans to relocate the main offices of several departments to different parts of the country.
The transportation department will go to Clark, former home of the 13th US Air Force and the site of the sprawling air transport facilities which can become an air hub for the country and the rest of Asia.
The Department of Tourism will be set up in Visayas, whose attractions include Boracay, Cebu, and Bohol.
Likely to benefit from this plan would be Mindanao, whose food and mineral resources make it an ideal host for the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Expected to boost Mindanao's chances is former Davao del Norte governor Rodolfo del Rosario, named by the President as adviser for new government centers.
Secretary Jesus Dureza, whose Mindanao Economic and Development Council office (Medco) has been elevated to full-cabinet status, will join Del Rosario in the new office.
"It is hoped that the expertise of these two gentlemen (del Rosario and Dureza) will help spread the food-basket role of Mindanao to the rest of the island," Arroyo said.
Del Rosario is credited for developing resource-rich Davao del Norte Province into one of Mindanao's agri-industrial powerhouses. Medco under Dureza's leadership has been at the forefront of Mindanao newfound economic dynamism.
The President's plan of action will surely be a big boost to Mindanao's longing for its proper place in a new scheme of things that will be dictated by relevance and urgency.
(September 25, 2004 issue)
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