Press Release
July 10, 2009

Rallying for peace and securing for the progress of Mindanao
ANGARA CALLS FOR A MINDANAO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Amidst recent conflicts in Mindanao, Senator Edgardo J. Angara today plants for a development agenda for the southern Philippine region by proposing the Mindanao Economic Development Authority (MEDA).

"Integrating the economic and social development of Mindanao in the national plans is a much needed action. A Mindanao-wide agency that sees through implementation of its transformation process, one that looks beyond the regions and integrates all development efforts at a Mindanao-wide level should be established," said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

"Despite somewhat sustained economic growth and GDP rate, growing economic inequalities continue to fly around Mindanao. The recent and continuing conflict in the southern part of the Philippines shouldn't cause for the slow progress in the region. Rallying for peace is one thing while setting goals for progress is another," he added.

In the past decades, development planning and development interventions in Mindanao were implemented in a fragmented manner. During that time, disintegrated and highly uneven development enveloped Mindanao as each region competed for scarce resources coming from Manila instead of complementing each other's economic strengths. Mindanao was also seen in the past as a mere supplier of food and raw materials to the factories and burgeoning cities of Manila and Cebu.

Moreover, according to 2006 data from the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), Mindanao remains the poorest among three island groups in the country. Poverty and subsistence incidence was also recorded to be highest in Mindanao with poverty incidence reaching 38.8 per cent compared to lower poverty incidence rates in Luzon (20 percent) and the Visayas (33 percent).

"Through the Mindanao Economic Development Authority (MEDA), we can advance economic and development growth in Mindanao by integrating, promoting, coordinating, and facilitating the active participation of all the stakeholders will contribute to its development," informed Angara.

Angara also emphasized that this kind of institution will ensure that Mindanao's agenda will be within national priority and objectives.

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