Open letter to President Duterte

DEAR President Duterte,

Mindanao has been considered as one of the richest islands of the Philippines. It has immeasurable wealth on culture and natural resources. But amidst its abundance, it is threatened by news of rebellious groups that create stigma to the image of Mindanao. The amount of attention it gets right now is tantamount to any opportunities as your Excellency is a Mindanao-an.

This island of the archipelago has great potentials once being developed. And it will link the bursting potential of Mindanao’s resources will spur its economic development.

On that note, we would like to endorse our 5-point Mindanao Strategic Development Plan that mainly addresses the potential of Mindanao.

Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry, Sector Development

There must be an intensified promotion of existing agri-industrial economic zones in Mindanao and create avenues for new ones. One way to attain this is to strengthen the initiatives on creating agriculture, fishery and forestry (AFF) and natural resources related courses human capital and enforce the maximum utilization of national programs relevant to this.

Tourism Development

Tourism has relied heavily on its natural attractions to entice visitors, but has left out one possible niche: its rich cultural heritage. An optimized tourism highways initiative will pave way for a tourism circuit. Each circuit will showcase the richness of Mindanao from Highlands to Islands and the best ways to explore them. Tourism shall have twin themes of nature and business to cater to both economic and leisure objectives of domestic and foreign tourists.

Energy Security

Energy security is also crucial to the continues growth of industries in Mindanao. From 2008 to 2017, Mindanao’s peak demand is projected to rise an annual average of 4.4 % (DOE, 209). Unless the energy capacity of Mindanao is increased, power shortages will occur and threaten the growth OF Mindanao’s production sectors. It is a must to have an accelerated exploration and development of renewable energy sources in Mindanao should be given and use.

Peace Building

A lot of Filipinos are afraid to go to Mindanao believing that there is uncertainty on the region’s security. Implementation and monitoring of community – based peace and development programs particularly on conflict – affected and vulnerable areas would minimize, if eradicate, fear in Mindanao. The creation of initiative on the process must be continued. This will ensure that policies are bias-free and peace building programs that cater to the needs of Mindanao-an.

Good Governance and Stronger Partnership

Mindanao’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) from 2002 to 2009 grew by 4.3 % higher than the national Visayas (4%) and Luzon (4.2%). Despite this growth, Mindanao’s share in the total output of the country remains low compared to Luzon and NCR. We, from Mindanao has been very contingent and hopeful to have equal treatment to each islands of the Philippines and be competitive like people from the other islands of the archipelago and we encourage to increase Mindanao’s share from the National budget. This in turn will boost the morale of the people especially that they feel the importance given to them by the government in return of the contribution we make for the country’s economy.

The great potential of this native island is not only to become the center for commerce of the country but as well as the top producer of goods for the neighboring countries in Asia and for the world will be put to waste once this strategic development plan will not be addressed. Each and every Mindanao-an never gets tired in putting high hopes for this country especially for Mindanao, we entrust and believe to an elected native of what we call the Land of Promise.

Sincerely yours, NDDU MASTERAL STUDENTS Jannie B. Natividad Genmark Ayuste Armel Adanza Stefan Babera Paul Anthony Frugalidad Joraine April Aparyt Erick Sabanal Jaypee Destacamento Charlie Bayan