Saturday, June 28, 2008 Mindanao gets 30% ODA funds By Joy Romares-Sevilla
MINDANAO is getting at least 30 percent of official development assistance (ODA) from donor agencies, this according to the executive director of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) in Friday's multi-stakeholders meeting and Mindanao-wide Consultation on Civil Society Organization and Aid Effectiveness.
"As to the distribution of ODA in the Philippines, 30 percent is given to Mindanao, 11 percent goes to Visayas, and 59 percent goes to Luzon," said Janet Lopoz, Medco executive director.
Lopoz added that Luzon is getting the biggest bulk of ODA since it is where the biggest infrastructures are located.
Lopoz said that of the 30 percent ODA extended to Mindanao, more than half of the percentage goes to infrastructure projects.
She, on the other hand, cited the most critical provinces that need more development assistance and these are Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Maguindanao, Zamboanga del Norte, Sarangani, Surigao del Sur, Basilan, and Surigao del Norte.
"These were identified as the most critical provinces because of their vulnerability to conflict," Lopoz said.
Meanwhile, Lopoz claimed that Medco is doing a continuous advocacy to gain more support from donor agencies.
"We're hoping to get good response from donor agencies, we cannot say that their response is satisfactory, but at least we're getting initial response," Lopoz disclosed.
Lopoz added that civil society organizations (CSOs) can be partners in ensuring aid effectiveness in Mindanao.
She said civil society can continue to champion advocacies for ensuring aid effectiveness in Mindanao; implement poverty alleviation projects to complement the government and donor agencies; and strengthen collaborative efforts and harmonization of development assistance by all sectors of society.
The meeting on aid effectiveness was organized by AidWatch Philippines, which is made up of CSOs and networks involved in monitoring and advocacy of ODA projects.
The concerns raised during the meeting will be discussed in Manila next month.
