By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA June 28 (PNA) — Secretary of Interior and Local Government Manuel “Mar”Roxas advice Mindanaoan business owners to redeem their land’s promise, progress, and prosperity to inclusive economic growth and development that can be accelerated in the entire Mindanao region.
Roxas made this appeal to the more than 300-member businesses of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) during its 6th Annual General Membership Meeting held recently at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City. In his speech, the secretary also laid down his vision for better cooperation between local businessmen and the national and local governments.
One of the most salient points that Roxas raised was the peace and order situation in Mindanao, which he divided into two areas: “conventional criminality,” referring to robbery, theft, and other criminal activities that can be addressed by local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP); and the long-standing history of armed conflict between the government and insurgent groups.
“We know where we came from and we know that what we want is peace. Otherwise, the promise of Mindanao will continue to be an unredeemed promise,” Roxas stressed.
He raised this crucial point because many of the businesses in the region depend on the number of tourists visiting the southern provinces, as well as on the amount of investments poured in by stakeholders from outside Mindanao.
These factors, in turn, depend on the stability and security in the region.
Roxas also mentioned the “indiscriminate” labeling of Mindanao as an “unsafe” place to travel for outsiders.
“Until we are able to solve this comprehensively and permanently, that view of instability will always be there,” he said.
The Secretary also shared his insights regarding the ongoing public debate on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which will soon be voted upon by members of Congress.
He urged all Mindanaoans, especially those involved in businesses, to “take an active role, and make a decision” that will reflect the will of everyone in the region, especially those who have suffered from armed conflict.
International humanitarian organizations have counted up to 150,000 deaths in Mindanao due to armed conflict in the last 50 years.
“We hope that you, the business leaders in Mindanao, become very engaged and participative in this debate,” Roxas told the DCCCII members.
“The BBL is not the ‘be-all and end-all.’ It is a tool to attain stable and reliable peace,” he emphasized. (PNA)