Press Release
August 27, 2009

PEACE, DEV'T IN MINDANAO HOSTAGED TO POLITICS - CHIZ

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday said the next president should bring together all stakeholders in Mindanao to craft a development agenda that will not be hostaged to any change in administration.

"Whoever gets himself or herself elected the next President in 2010 will have a steep mountain to climb, especially in addressing the long-standing problems of Mindanao," he told media at a Presidential Forum on Mindanao in Davao City.

"Only an all-stakeholders approach will lead to the long-sought peace and meaningful development in this region, not Imperial Manila's "urong-sulong, atras abante" approach since we gained independence," Escudero said.

The 39-year old lawmaker said the country's development will greatly be accelerated if authority is devolved to the lowest level of government.

He said that regions and provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays should be able to act on their problems without waiting for Malacañang's imprimatur.

To achieve this, Escudero stressed the need for the next administration to increase the share of local governments in the internal revenue collections from 40 to 60 percent in the next six years.

The latest National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) figures show that the contribution of Mindanao to the country's overall output is roughly 17.7% compared to the budgetary allocation of only 11 to 14% being given by the government to the region.

In his speech, Escudero also said the next president should accelerate infrastructure development to and from and within Mindanao. This will bring down the cost of transportation that will in turn increase incomes for farmers and producers and lower prices of basic goods for consumers.

He pointed out the strength of Mindanao's economy lies in agricultural production as the sector contributes around 38% to the nation's agricultural output.

The island produces around 60% of total national corn harvest of 6,921,000 metric tons, 56% of total national coconut production of 15,295,000 tons, 24% of national palay (paddy rice) production of 16,815,600 tons, more than 70% of pineapple (2.2 million tons national production) and banana harvests (8.686 million tons national production) and more than 40% of fishery and aquaculture production.

Despite this, Mindanao is still mired in poverty. Data from the NSCB shows that 38.8% of its population lives below the poverty line compared to lower poverty incidence rates in Luzon (20%) and the Visayas (33%).

"We must reverse this lamentable, unjust situation," Escudero said. "Our people in Mindanao, Basilan, and Sulu have suffered long enough."

News Latest News Feed