By Lilian C. Mellejor
DAVAO CITY, Sept. 8 (PNA) — President Benigno Aquino III on Monday assured to make Mindanao a convergence for trade and opportunity as he lauded the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) for bringing the Mindanao Inclusive Agribusiness Program at a time when the government is seeking to transform the island from a Land of Promise to the Land of Promises Fulfilled.
Speaking at the membership meeting and launching of the inclusive agri-business program of PBSP at the SMX Convention Center here, Aquino said the program outlines clear strategic imperatives towards harnessing the resources of Mindanao for the common good.
The President received from PBSP a book on Inclusive Agribusiness Investment Portfolios and the signed Memorandum of Understanding between PBSP and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) for collaborative programs on advancing the implementation of socio-economic opportunities for Mindanao, He said that points raised by PBSP for the national agencies to implement are welcome input.
“We both work to make Mindanao a more attractive area for investments,” he said.
He was also optimistic that the people look forward to a Mindanao that will serve as a true convergence point of trade and opportunity.
“I am also glad to see that government is not alone through this endeavor. Through the Mindanao Inclusive Agribusiness Program, PBSP and its member companies and supporting agencies seek to engage the private sector to invest in Mindanao by helping build the capacities of its small farming communities, thus enabling them to capitalize on the rich resources and the many opportunities available in the region. The objective for all of us: to build a Mindanao that can catch up in the soonest possible time, and, by so doing, create a regime of opportunities where no Filipino is left behind,” he said.
Aquino said he is committed to the realization of the promise for Mindanao and the government is continuously finding ways of maximizing the long-held prospects of growth for all stakeholders.
“Clearly, we must boost Mindanao’s capacities, so that they themselves may catch up and contribute to our economic growth.
Aquino also outlined the interventions given by the government as he recognizes the potential of Mindanao as top source of rubber, cacao, pineapple, banana, coffee and coconut with over 40 percent of the country’s food supply and more than 30 percent of the produce the country trade domestically come from Mindanao.
He mentioned that a total of 3,491 kilometers of national roads, and 208.4 kilometers of farm-to-market roads in Mindanao have been constructed, upgraded, or rehabilitated.
He said that from 2011 to 2014, over P99 billion was allotted for the construction of vital infrastructure in the region; while for 2015, P63.13 billion has been proposed for infrastructure in Mindanao.
He said the improvement of 161.3 kilometers of the Digos-Kidapawan-Pagalungan-Cotabato Road, together with the rehabilitation and strengthening of 39 bridges, was completed.
He also mentioned projects like the Basilan Circumferential Road and the Lake Lanao Circumferential Road Project in Lanao del Sur.
The President said P16.2 billion has already been released for the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of 410 kilometers of road networks under the Mindanao Logistics Infrastructure Network since 2011.
He said the infrastructure plan will link airports and seaports to the various food production and processing areas in Mindanao aimed at reducing transport cost for the people.
The President pointed that the government’s strategy is to connect rural farmlands to hubs of commercial activity, reduce dependence on middlemen, thus allow our farmers to gain more from their produce.
President Aquino said the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) continued to offer their respective programs such as the High Value Crops Development Program to help build post-harvest facilities and provide equipment for the production of coffee, cacao, and rubber for the region; the Shared Services Facilities (SSF) project to give the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) , who are often the first consumers of agricultural produce and raw materials, better access to technology and equipment, allowing them to move even higher up on the value chain.
Aside from agriculture and trade, the President added that government is nurturing an atmosphere on building genuine consensus and trust that are fundamental in the pursuit for peace in Mindanao.
The President said Mindanao should be freed from the vicious cycle of poverty, political patronage, and underdevelopment which has “fueled the discontent of our brothers in the Bangsamoro.”
“We can look forward to a Mindanao that will serve as a true convergence point of trade and opportunity not only for the Philippines but also for our region,” the President said. (PNA)