As I had mentioned in my first Development entry, "Development: How Much is Too Much," the word "Development" is hummed like a mantra non-stop by a government drunk on corruption and inefficiency. Likewise I acknowledged that Development need not be a dirty word or something to fear as long as it is handled in a sustainable and socially/culturally sensitive manner. This has rarely, if ever the case. The new Administration (President Aquino) seems to have his heart in the right place though he has an awful lot on his plate, naturally.If President Aquino can walk the walk, not just talk the talk things will behin to look a lot better.
On November 29. 2010,President Aquino was presented with a briefing paper on the new Mindanowan framework for Development. Entitled,"Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework Plan."This new framework is being touted as the direct successor to"Mindanao 2000"(launched during the Ramos Presidency),which is set to expire at midnite,New Years Eve and like its predecessor isn't a "plan" per se,but rather serves as a touchstone for subsequent planning."Mindanao 2020"will last for the duration of the Presidential term,and unless superceded by the plan of a successive administration,until the year 2020.
The jist of the "plan" revolves around 10 central points:
I) Dismantlement of PAGs (Private Armed Groups,aka"paramilitaries") which will help towards a"gunless"Mindanao.
II) A first tier infrastructural and transportational system that will efficiently move goods as well as people.
III) Reasonable and sustainable development of,and maintenance of Mindanowan natural and cultural resources.Such interaction with the island's resources will be approached with respect and ultimate concern for the environment as well as of respect for ways in which to maximise benefits for islanders themselves.
IV). Institutions will be rebuilt,or otherwise developed to be field natural illness,disease and other dangers.
V) Strengthening of intra-regional links culturally,socially and economically with special consideration towards ASEAN Nations so as to strengthen existing cooperative relationships.
VI) A strong, competitive economy with inter-cooperative elements that are up to date technologically and industrially. Mindanao will be positioned as both a national and regional leader economically.
VII) Respect for all Mindanowans' personal as well as cultural dignity.
VIII) More culturally sensitive education without necessarily relying upon the orthadox Philippine model used here to fore.
IX) Respect for cultural diversity
X) All Mindanowans will enjoy marked materiel and cultural improvements in their lives.
Number III makes me sincerely and incredibly happy simply because the President is paying it lipservice though it is a totally meaningless gesture.The paper is meant to covey a framework, a methodology for change.Instead it is simply a child's wish list for acid washed change.All the Politically Correct bile makes me want to hurl my kalamansi (for foreigners, it is tiny sour citrus fruit that together with soy sauce forms THE Philippine's most popular condiment. Please don't ask me about "banana ketchup").It is exceedingly easy to articulate a list for Santa Claus (getting off some holiday themed comments) but much more difficult to figure out a way in which to obtain these things for ourselves.This "framework"doesn't offer a single piece of substantiative information.I did a manage to squeeze a great laugh though out of MinDA's (Mindanao Development Authority) Luwalhati Antonino's comments post-ceremony.First I need to say that I acrually respect the woman a great deal.As I have mentioned in at least one other entry,Mrs.Antonino together with Congresswoman Daisy Fuentes of South Cotabato Province and the late Mayor of Zamboanga City (and mother to its current mayor) Clara Lobregat formed an informal political alliance against the MNLF,and later MILF political depradations.Many probally recall the Pinol brothers of Cotabato,(then) Mayor Lawrence Cruz of Iligan City,Lanao del Norte Provibce and Ms. Lobregat's son,Mayor Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City.These men,great heroes in my perspective,alone were responsible for saving the nation from a midnite dissection via MoA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain).That terribly flawed document which directly violated the Philippine's 1987 Constitution would have allowed the MILF to build a direct launching pad for their rape of the entire island.Without the Emergency Petition by those 4 Mindanowan politicians the Arroyo Government would have crossed the proverbial Rubicon and all hope for Mindanao would have been lost.Is is THAT serious.The Petition was accepted by the Supreme Court who then immediately granted the Petitioner's request for a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order),which was issued in August of 2008.Immediately afterwards the Court set about determining the legality of the Moa-AD and eventually issued its Ruling that October,negating the document as Unconstitutional.The 3 afore mentioned women,Clara Lobregat,Daisy Fuentes and Luwalhati Antonino similarly took action over very serious issues and did so almost 20 years before those men did.Like those men they deserve so much more than a little seen footnote in Philippine History.
OK, with that out of the way... After the unveiling of the briefing paper I just discussed Ms. Antonino was asked to offer. some more information on "Mindanao 2020." Offering her comments on the fly, via SMS (texting) she offered that the projected outlay (cost) is pegged at a whopping 60 Billion Pesos over the course of those 5 projected years. That really wouldn't be much of an issue, certainly not at this pre-implementation/pre-allocation stage BUT...as I have pointed out, that "plan" was nothing but fluff!What was it that the Bard said about Denmark (no offence to any Danish readers, Hey, what makes you think that 1 of the 3 people who will ever read this wouldn't be Danish?).
I should segue into a riff about the great accounting skills displayed by General Garcia (in a recent AFP entry) but intelligent people should have gotten my inference by now.
Speaking of"Mindanao 2020,"last week in Cagayan del Oro City in Misamis Oriental Province,a second Developmental framework was released.At a special gathering of 100 varied stakeholders organised by NEDA (National Economic Development Authority).NEDA has 5 Regional branch offices on Mindanao corresponding to the island's 5 Regions (the 6th, "ARMM," or, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao has its own version of NEDA due to that Region's highly autonomous nature).
Known as,"MSDF 2010-2020"(Mindanao Strategic Framework for Development),it wad spearheaded by NEDA-RDO (NEDA Regional Development Office) Assistant Director Marcelina Bacani.ARMM's"RED and PB"(Regional Economic Development and Planning Board) offered significant input as did all 5 NEDA branches on Mindanao.Basically,there are 5 main areas of focus:
I) Peace Building
II) Good Governance with strong partnerships in both the public and the private sector.
III) Industrialisation based upon sustainable resources
IV) Social Equity
V) Capable Logistical Support
As unveiled by Leon M. Dacanay Jr.,Director of NEDA Region 10 (the region covering Misamis Oriental Province,where this unveiling took place),with the keynote speech given by Secretary of SEP (Socio-Economic Planning) Cayetano W. Paderanga the "plan"has a 9 year shelf life,expiring in 2021.Like the preceeding"plan"this too is meant only as a touchstone for planning.Since I have a Shakespearean theme going (the "Bard" of course being William Shakespeare),I will simply say, "Much Ado about Nothing."
Also last week, MinDA announced that it was partnering with NAMRIA (National Mapping and Resource Information Agency) and JICA (Japan International Cooperative Agency), which is largely equivalent with the American USAID programme.The 3 entities will work on the production of a digital topographic map of the entire island in 1:50,000 scale.Not only will this be the first digital map of the entire island,it is Mindanao's first topographic map as well-as the first governmentsl mapping since the 1950s.Of course up until the present we have portions of the island that are completely untouched and unexplored.If you notice, NAMRIA's full title includes the phrase,"Resource Information."This of course infers that Japan is not engaging in this endeavor out of altruism but out of a concerted effort to be the first foreign power to exploit here to fore pristine portions of the island.This becomes a lot more apparent when you find that Japan is entirely footing the bill to the tune of 690 Million Pesos (almost $14 Million).
The Philippine Left (and often the Right as well) are perrenially obsessed with American exploitation of Mindanowan resources,and to a lesser degree,with Aussie (Australian),Canadian and Western European designs.One never hears about the Japanese and they have almost a large as hold in terms of volume,economic investment in exploitable segments and in positioning themselves as widely as possible,sans the American PR machine that spouts off everytime USAID or its subsidiary GEM (Growth in Equity Mindana) unveils another foot bridge.
In December, 2006 Japan began laying it on hot and heavy in Morolandia (MILF environs) with the implementation of "J-BIRD" (Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development),which by the way has a portion of the map project as well (MILF slush fund).
When discussing Development a common misconception is that it only applies to physical or economic issues. Development of course also covers the political spectrum.Case in point, Bukidnon Province's Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) will once again bandy about the controversial,yet increasingly unavoidable subject of expansion (and contraction) when it resumes post-Xmas.On the scheduale for that 1st post-holiday session,January 06,2111 will be the long discussed creation of the Province's 4th Congressional District. Bukidnon Province has 2 cities (Malaybalay and Valencia),20 towns and 464 barangays.By Mindanowan standards this qualifies it for "bursting at the seams,"though when compared with Central and Southern Luzon that becomes downright laughable.The proposed 4th District will take Pangan-tucan and Kalilangan from their current 1st District,Valencia City from its current 2nd District,and Kadingilan from its current 3rd District.
The current initiative was generated by a Resolution authored by the Majority Leader of the Floor,Nemesio Beltran Jr.in early 2010.The SP (Council) will hold a Public Consultation and has requested all LGU Executives (Local Government Unit Executives,equals municipal officials) down to the Barangay Captain level.Also on tap is another re-generated proposal that has the province being divided into 2 provinces along the lines of Agusan and Lanao Provinces.This idea was first introduced in the 1980s by current Vice Governor Jose Maria R.Zubiri Jr. The" LGU Code of 1991"allows for the creation of a new province when the proposed new province will encompass a contigious area of at least 2000 square kilometers,with a minimum population of 250,000 and with a generated income of at least 20 Million Pesos.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also developed a very similar plan while a Congressman representing Bukidnon's 3rd District (1998 to 2001).I suppose its a popular subject at the Zubiri diningroom table.At the time Zubiri had been blocked by fellow Bukidnon Congressman (at the time),Neric Acosta.Acosta represented the 1st District and feared weakening his own baliwick. In 2006, by then a Senator, he tried for a 2nd time and once again found Acosta blocking the way.
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