On March 31, the farmers put up a barricade in Kidapawan City to call for the intervention of the provincial government to increase the prices of their produce, among their other demands. (Danilda Fusilero/davaotoday.com)
TAGUM CITY—Independent vice-presidential candidate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero has proposed to allocate 30 percent of the present national budget, or roughly about P1 trillion, to Mindanao as an immediate economic relief to the region should he wins in the May 9 elections.
“Sa pamamagitan nito mas makakahabol at makakasabay ang Mindanao sa pag-unlad ng bansa, pag-unlad na matagal nang tila naging mailap sa ating mga kababayan dito,” said Escudero, who took the “Gobyernong may Puso” campaign to Marawi City in Lanao del Sur and Iligan City in Lanao del Norte.
Escudero believes that the proposed appropriation will ramp up the economy of Mindanao. He claims that Mindanao—hosts 10 of the country’s poorest provinces—has been getting lesser attention from the national government compared to Luzon and the Visayas.
The camp of Escudero said that at least P25 billion will be earmarked for each province in Mindanao in the first year of the Poe administration “to help them catch up with the projects and developments in the two other major regions.”
“Sa pamamagitan nito mas makakahabol at makakasabay ang Mindanao sa pag-unlad ng bansa, pag-unlad na matagal nang tila naging mailap sa ating mga kababayan dito,” said Escudero.
He added that the 30-percent planned budget for Mindanao, which will be the biggest in the region’s history if implemented, will be used to build infrastructure, create jobs, and improve basic health and social services, among others.
For 2016, the government has earmarked P380.9 billion, or 12.69 percent of the P3.002-trillion national budget, for Mindanao, which accounts for 34 percent of the Philippines’ total land area. The amount represents a 30.4-percent increase from its last year’s allocation, according to Escudero.
On the contrary, Mindanao’s share of the 2016 budget is smaller than the National Capital Region’s 15.24 percent share (P457.5 billion) and 19.79 percent share of Luzon (P594 billion), but is bigger than the 9.51 percent allocation (P285.4 billion) for Visayas.
Escudero said Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) will get P66.6 billion; Northern Mindanao (Region X), P78.8 billion; Davao Region (XI), P67.1 billion; SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII), P63.2 billion; CARAGA P51.7 billion; and ARMM P53.5 billion, respectively.
Pouring investments in Mindanao, which have been scarred by years of political and armed conflict, is important to pursue the elusive peace and prosperity for the region.
“Kailangang ng mga Mindanaoan ng kaagapay upang tulungan itong makaahon. Sa Gobyernong may Puso, dapat walang maiiwan. Sabay-sabay dapat,” Escudero explained.
On BBL, Escudero vowed will build on the gains in the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to achieve an all-inclusive peace in Mindanao.
“Dapat ituloy na natin ang nasimulan (sa BBL). Marami nang kasunduang nagawa, dapat mag-move forward na tayo mula sa mga kasunduang ito,” he said.
The draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) remains pending with Congress mainly due to the failure of the proponents to consult with other stakeholders apart from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Escudero was batting for a more inclusive and meaningful consultation with local government units, non-government organizations, indigenous peoples, religious groups and rebel groups, among others for the Mindanao peace process. (davaotoday.com)
