Friday, March 02, 2007 Mindanao dev't thrust tackled in Cebu forum By Joy Romares-Sevilla
A TOP official of the World Bank on Wednesday said Mindanao's peace and development programs will be discussed during the Philippine Development Forum (PDF) slated next week in Cebu City.
Joaochim Von Amsberg, WB country director for the Philippines, said during the Club 888 press forum that one of the concerns to be tackled in the forum is how to improve and develop the existing projects that would promote peace and development in Mindanao.
He said the World Bank has been taking its role to support Mindanao for the past years to become a more developed area.
"Our single objective and our extreme concern in helping not only Mindanao, but also the Philippines, is to lessen the poverty," Amsberg said. He was quick to add that, "the Philippines is somehow overcoming poverty today."
"To improve the investment climate, security is an important factor and the forum is a key to support not only peace, but the development in Mindanao," Amsberg said.
Amsberg said during the forum, a technical group will also discuss how to support the local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao.
The Mindanao Working Group (MWG) will spearhead the proposal of putting up a peace and development fund, adaptation of community driven projects, and providing incentives for exemplary local government units during the forum.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said it is very important to capacitate the local government units in order for them to be more productive and for development to reach the communities.
He said the people have to ensure the sustainability of peace on order for development to be sustained as well. (With CPM)
