text HADER GLANG
The 15th Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) concluded Saturday with a 9-point agenda, which underscores the advocacy for the holding of a plebiscite on Charter Change and support for President Arroyo’s ‘super region’ concept.
Describing the three-day confab as “successful,” Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) chairman Romeo Serra said delegates from private and government sectors have committed on the following MinBizCon’s road map for 2006-2007.
These included: Shift to a federal system of government; accelerate the implementation of priority infrastructure projects; reliable and affordable power supply in Mindanao; revitalize the Mindanao mining; reduce domestic shipping costs; competitive Mindanao Small Medium Enterprises; Mindanao as a hub for e-services in the BIMP-EAGA; gainful employment for TVET graduates; and accelerate the tourism development in Mindanao.
Under the new agenda, the MinBC through the local chambers of commerce, in coordination with Kusog Mindanaw and local civil society organizations, committed to embark on an extensive information and education campaign meant to enable a more informed business sector and civil society.
“We will continue to participate in constant dialogue with Mindanao stakeholders on the proposed shift to a federal system through various conferences particularly organized by Kusog Mindanao,” said Serra, who also chairs the Minbizcon.
He said it was also the consensus of Mindanao business leaders to study the merits and specific implementing guidelines of the government’s ‘super region’ concept, particularly focusing on the role of the private sector in its implementation and the accompanying coordinative mechanism of the concerned government agencies.
For public sector, the Local Government Units in Mindanao committed to submit manifesto of support signifying their unified call to expedite Charter Change and the Mindanao Legislators Association as well as the Confederation of Mindanao Governors, Municipal and City Mayors to strongly lobby for the shift to a federal system of government after signifying their support in several conferences on federalism.
Mindanao local leaders through the Confederation of Provincial Governors, City Mayors and Municipal Mayor League Presidents have joined the growing call for Charter Change. This was officially affirmed during the CONFED Reorganization Meeting held last August 4, 2006 in Davao City, according to Serra.
Meanwhile, the MinBC passed a resolution urging the Department of Transportation and Communication to adopt the phased improvement and transfer development strategy for the new Zamboanga international airport.
Tessie Uy-Sebastian, MinBC vice chairman and Zamboanga Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and Industry regional governor, said the socio-economic development of region IX and neighboring provinces is anchored on a modern and efficients inter-moday transport system.
“Air transportation provides the fastest means of mobility for people, goods and services,” Sebastian stressed.
The Zamboanga International Airport serves as the area’s international hub in this part of the country and gateway to the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
Its eventual tranfer and modernization will enhance operational safety and service effeciency in order to cater to bigger aircraft and traffic for safe and efficient international and domestic travels, according to Sebastian.
President Arroyo highlighted the concept of the super region in the State of the Nation’s Address (SONA) last July, 2006 in her effort to “fix what is wrong in our country and our economy.”
Ms. Arroyo said that the government could already fund the Medium Term Public Investment Program (MTPIP). She added that the government would enhance the competitive advantage of Mindanao and it is the priority for agribusiness investments in the south. (ZS)
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