“Muslim Mindanao deserves good governance that will reduce poverty, facilitate the delivery of vital social services such as education and health to the disadvantaged sectors”
THERE’S plenty of good news from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) after decades of armed conflict.
First, the poverty rate has declined from 39.4 percent in 2021 to 34 percent at present, and continues to go down, according to BARMM Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun in a recent media forum.
He credited this to the autonomy the region now enjoys under the Marcos Jr. administration, which he said has “produced results.”
Since the national government has targeted to reduce poverty incidence in the entire country to single-digit level by 2028, the current BARMM leadership is hopeful it can meet this target as well.
Second, because of the vastly improved peace and security situation, BARMM is now attracting more investments that can further reduce poverty incidence.
Pendatun cited the P3.1 billion worth of investments in 2023 that translated to 1,927 job opportunities.
Since the start of this year, investments in Bangsamoro have already reached about P3.5 billion, he said.
The BARMM leadership is now exploring the possibility of developing natural gas and other natural resources in the region, particularly in the Liguasan Marsh.
Third, the current administration has expressed full support for socio-economic development of Muslim Mindanao.
In fact, according to Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., BARMM can contribute to the country’s food security as its agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries sectors are thriving,
A third of the country’s total volume of fisheries and agricultural products actually comes from BARMM.
Fourth, with peace restored in BARMM after many years armed hostilities, the tourism sector is slowly but steadily growing.
Last year, the region welcomed more than 558,000 tourists, at least 1,394 of whom were foreign nationals.
Pendatun said in the past foreign tourists did not want to visit the region because of the unstable peace and order situation, “but nowadays, they’re showing interest and this will boost the local economy.”
In April, the Bangsamoro Airways began operating across the region, catering to passengers in Cotabato City, Zamboanga City and Sulu province.
But there are challenges that need to be addressed, Pendatun pointed out.
Among these is the rotational power interruptions that deter investors from coming in.
Big cities like Cotabato do not experience power interruptions especially if there are privately-run electric utility firms.
The BARMM leadership wants to ensure stable power supply in their area of jurisdiction to attract more investors.
The lack of adequate and reliable power supply keeps investors from putting up business enterprises in the region, but Pendatun is hoping the BARMM leadership can address this and enhance the potentials of the entire region as an investment hub.
“What we were able to achieve from 2019 to 2023 in terms of attracting investments is triple that of what the previous ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) generated in its 20-plus years of existence,” the BARMM leader pointed out.
Socio-economic development programs are likely to be further enhanced in BARMM by next year when the peace process marks a milestone when it holds the first BARMM parliamentary election on May 12 based on the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro autonomy forged under the Noynoy Aquino administration in 2012.
However, the 16th Congress, with President Marcos still a senator then, failed to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law when it adjourned in 2016.
Republic Act 11054, also known as the Organic Law for the BARMM, was signed into law in July 2018, replacing the ARMM.
The law was ratified by twin plebiscites in February 2019, immediately followed by the creation of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
The forthcoming BARMM parliamentary elections and the results of the voting will tell us very clearly whether autonomy for Muslim Mindanao will lead to genuine change.
Muslim Mindanao deserves good governance that will reduce poverty, facilitate the delivery of vital social services such as education and health to the disadvantaged sectors, and ensure a brighter future for all Muslim Filipinos in Mindanao. (Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)
