planning for agribiz and mining

Mindanao business practitioners named projects and programs that can help improve the island’s opportunities in two priority sectors – agribusiness and mining – in a forum conducted at Davao City last January 26.

Action agenda seen to address identified concerns and improve the sectors’ performance were submitted to the Mindanao Business Council (MinBC), the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) and the Local Implementation of National Competitiveness for Economic Growth (LINC-EG) during their jointly-organized business forum.

Dubbed “The Global Financial Crisis, A Year After: Addressing Challenges and Increasing Competitiveness in Mindanao”, the forum presented three studies made by the Center for Research and Communications (CRC). Visiting CRC consultants discussed how Mindanao can address the negative impacts of the international financial crisis and increase the island region’s competitiveness as it emerges from the said crisis.

Coming from five administrative regions of Mindanao, business representatives gathered in the one-day forum which the MEDCo Chairman Virgilio L. Leyretana considered as an opportune activity for the area. In his message, Usec Leyretana conveyed that Mindanao has to address competitiveness and governance issues that have challenged business, investment and trade in the island. He added that the MEDCo, which is now in the process of preparing the Mindanao 2020 Plan, shall consider the results of the forum as an input to the development and peace framework plan for Mindanao.

Lending support to the activity is the USAID, which was represented by Mr. John Avila, who emphasized that he looks forward to seeing Mindanao catch up with mainstream national development and at the same time, to the whole nation waking up and getting competitive along with its Asian neighbors.

Among the specific agenda identified, the participants highlighted the need for the creation of a responsive minerals protocol, a certification system for small-scale mining standards compliance, refocusing of Mindanao priority agricultural product from rice to other high-value crops through market development and funding support, as well as easier access to short-term financing for seaweeds farmers and long-term financing for coconut farmers.

Showing optimism in the forum was Atty. Daniel Fitzpatrick, Chief of Party of the LINC-EG, who indicated that the policy-reform program is willing to work with the business leaders and business support organizations in their projects that will push for Mindanao’s development.