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Economic solution
THE conflict and uncertainty in Mindanao requires a government response that will encourage continued investments and ensure the security of the livelihood of millions.
A lot of the problems we are now dealing with in Mindanao are a result of years of neglect of the needs of our countrymen in the area. Providing a sound environment and giving our citizens greater economic stability will go a long way in reducing conflict and eventually attaining peace in Mindanao.
Remember the botched controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain during the Arroyo administration? It was a political means of dealing with an otherwise economic problem. The same can be said of the succeeding Aquino administration’s Bangsamoro Basic Law. The current Duterte administration is crafting its own version of BBL.
Our policymakers must look at things squarely and find the appropriate solution to raise the quality of living conditions in Mindanao. Poverty is feeding unrest and violent extremists are exploiting the situation.
Almost a decade ago, a bill was introduced in the Senate seeking the conversion of Mindanao into a free port and special economic zone to promote the island’s development and provide jobs and income for the people there. What happened to this? It could yet be a viable socio-economic response to the ongoing conflict between the government and Islamic separatists.
Recent events in Mindanao drive home the fact that the status quo counterinsurgency and anti-poverty strategies have failed to resolve the conflict in the south. Of course, there are no quick-fix solutions to the long-festering conflict. Still, the government must persevere in its efforts to end the dispute through peaceful means. The resolution of the Mindanao conflict and the plight of thousands of Filipinos affected by the dispute must remain high in the government’s priority list.
Certainly, a purely military solution will not solve the conflict in Mindanao. The implementation of other programs and development projects that include education, health and livelihood, among others, in the conflict areas, could help.
A massive infrastructure program for Mindanao can be a key to spurring growth, too. Higher road density leads to lower poverty incidence. Mindanao has an existing national road network of 7,815 kilometers, but bulk of the region’s road infrastructure, about 60,000 kilometers, is considered local, with only 5.5 percent paved. More roads mean more access for both sellers and buyers. More roads will pump-prime local economies through investments and tourism.
By increasing economic activities in Mindanao, we will be providing opportunities for the region to maximize its potential as a major growth area. An accelerated infrastructure development can bring to fruition the long-held belief that the region is the country’s land of promise.
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