Friday, December 07, 2007 Ledesma: Spaniards investing in Davao Oriental? By Jun Ledesma Sunbursts
SPANIARDS want to invest in Davao Oriental. That is what Governor Cora Malanyaon is saying to convince her political constituents in justifying her trip to Spain and elsewhere in Europe. The first and the last time I heard of outsiders wanting to invest money in the East Coast of southeastern Mindanao was a Moroccan and a descendant of Limahong. They ran for politics and, like Cora, made it with not much of a hitch.
An innocuous story which appeared in Thursday's Sun.Star also stated that a Hispanic business group went to Mati to explore possibilities of doing business in the province. Because of this, so the story goes, President Arroyo invited Governor Malanyaon to join her trip to Europe. Well, I want to believe this sweet talk. This reason is a xerox copy of the rest of legislators who, have no role in that presidential visit but kibitz.
I wonder whether any investor at all will be lured to putting their precious money in Davao Oriental. The biggest potential of the province is its vast natural mineral resources. But the provincial government has come out with a policy that makes potential investors think thrice before investing money to develop the potential of mining industry there. From what I heard everyone, from the small town officials to the big time provincial government influential nincompoops to arm-wielding MILF commandos not to mention the ever-present extortionists among the NPAs. I know of a small time mining operator who wasted all his savings and time to mine something from a barren mountain somewhere in Davao Oriental. No one bothered him when he was still doing the dirty job. When he started hauling a few tons of ore to the port all the brutes who smelled money on the small scale mine operations wanted to have a share. In fairness to Governor Malanyaon this infamy and greed did not happen during her watch.
The miner, who is an ex-priest, had all the necessary papers to operate but his money was not enough to satisfy the "terrorist band" that pounced on him. The last time I hear of him, he went back to farming in remote Zamboanga del Sur. He swore he will never venture in Davao Oriental again.
See what I mean? I do not know whether Governor Cora can dismantle the matrix of corruption, high and low, in the province. I do not know whether the military authorities can keep the MILF forces within the confines of their territory. I do not know whether the PNP can stop the extortion activities of the NPAs. I do not know whether the port authorities of Mati will be happy to just let a vessel sail after finding everything to be legitimate.
Governor Malanyaon should first make the provincial government policy clear on matters involving mining and tourism operations. After which she should give the investors the assurance that their operations should not be subjected to harassment from various quarters that I have already mentioned.
