Philippine President Benigno Aquino III
Multi-stakeholder groups representing Mindanao’s business, youth, local government and legislative group, along with civil society, security and private groups, formally handed over to President Aquino the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework in a ceremony held 30 November in Malacanang.
A sequel to the Mindanao 2000 Development Framework crafted in 1995, the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework is the updated roadmap that will guide Mindanao’s strategic peace and development directions from 2011 to 2030.
“The Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework deserves praise for the holistic research they have conducted and the insight they have provided toward the formation of a region where successes demonstrate the fulfillment of your potential,” President Aquino said in his speech at the Mindanao 2020 presentation.
He added that the formulation of an updated Mindanao development framework only proves the fact that “more work must be done” in Mindanao as poverty still plagues the island-region despite the gains it has achieved over the past fifteen years.
“Today is the beginning of Mindanao’s rebirth,” he said, urging all Mindanao stakeholders to “make Imperial Manila a thing of the past” and together rally behind the effort of fulfilling the growth potentials of Mindanao.
To help fight poverty, President Aquino said he will put Mindanao at the core of government’s social development and poverty alleviation programs, such as the Conditional Cash Transfer Program, which is already targeting substantial coverage areas within the ARMM.
Aside from immediate intervention, he will also set long-term programs for the Internally Displaced Persons now that development partners such as the European Commission are ready to support another phase of the program for internally-displaced people in Mindanao.
Agricultural development will also be pushed in Mindanao, transforming it into a modern agricultural center while harnessing its rich mariculture and halal industry potentials particularly in ARMM.
As a focus area in the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines-
“The Mindanao 2020 is a living document that hopes to reflect a development framework that looks into its impact not only on economic growth but on addressing the potential causes of conflict and violence,” said Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
The Mindanao 2020 has been formulated with direct inputs from eminent persons, experts and ordinary Mindanawons through various platforms such as quick survey, focus group discussions, roundtable discussions and key informant interviews all across the six regions.
The results of more than 300 FGDs undertaken by Konsult Mindanaw, along with the Mindanao Agenda of various groups such as AFRIM, Mindanao Peace Weavers, PCID as well as sectoral plans, regional development plans, and resolutions of Mindanao conferences are now part of the Mindanao 2020 formulation.
Facilitating the formulation of the Mindanao 2020 Project is spearheaded by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in partnership with the Confederation of Provincial Governors, City Mayors and Municipal Mayors League Presidents (CONFED) Mindanao, Mindanao Lawmakers Association, the Regional Development Councils in Mindanao, and the Regional Economic and Development Board of ARMM.
The Mindanao 2020 project is funded by the Philippine government with assistance from donor agencies such as the Australian International Development Agency (AusAID), The Asia Foundation and USAID-GEM.
Brain Trust Inc., a consulting firm headed by former NEDA Director-General Dr. Cielito Habito also helped in the formulation process of Mindanao 2020. (MinDA)
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