|
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Moving forward: The Mindanao Action Agenda
By Antonio R. Santos Sr.
MBC Updates
LAST year, the 13th Mindanao Business Conference presented a fresh approach to presenting recommendations for government action on the vital issues of the Mindanao economy.
Dubbed as the Mindanao Action Agenda, it offered a set of recommended public sector commitments that was patterned after the ten-point agenda of the President.
The coverage of the action agenda is from 2004 to 2010.
During the recently concluded 14th Mindanao Business Conference, we revisited the first year of the action agenda for us to review which recommendations for government action were addressed.
Likewise, this helped in identifying the gaps from the previous recommendations, which would be carried over as the priorities for 2005-2006.
The Mindanao private sector is very much pleased that the government addressed a significant number of our points for advocacy.
Primary of which is our call for the shift to a federal system of government. The President, in her 25 July 2005 State of the Nation Address, announced that Charter Change is one of the topmost priorities of her administration's agenda.
The review of the Constitution shall include the possible change in the form of government to Federal or Parliamentary or a combination of both.
We have also gained grounds in our advocacy for the power sector as the Department of Finance and the Department of Energy has restored Transco's proposed $850 million Capex Program, which would pave the way for the completion of the Maramag-Bunawan and Kirahon-Maramag transmission projects.
This would greatly augment the power supply in the Southern Mindanao area and allay our concerns on the looming Mindanao power crisis.
On our advocacy for the revitalization of the Mindanao minerals industry, in a landmark decision, the Supreme Court "decided for the greater good of the greatest number" and upheld the constitutionality of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
On last year's call for The Judiciary to expedite the resolution of the Mindanao Container Terminal Port (MCTP) debacle, the Court of Appeals in Cagayan de Oro City nullified an RTC injunction to stop MCTP operations.
The 14th MinBizCon Action Agenda: Priorities for 2005-2006 particularly focuses on the immediate goals that need to be prioritized within the near term.
It continues to present the commitments of the private sector as a proactive mover of change especially in helping create an atmosphere that is conducive to investments.
This year's priorities aptly complement the theme "Mindanao: Delivering the Promises" as a testament to the Mindanao business community's thrusts to provide continuity to its advocacies.
During the turnover of the Mindanao Action Agenda: Priorities for 2005-2006 to Secretary Jesus Dureza, he made it a point in his response that the Medco shall lead in the creation of a Technical Working Group that is tasked to pursue our recommendations as well as monitor the progress of our advocacies.
While we are euphoric over the success of our advocacies, more than anything else, we are challenged with the task of ensuring that our call for a massive support to Mindanao would be heeded.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (October 1, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
