Mindanao peace problem does not affect economy — gov’t

MANILA, Philippines - The government’s economic team doesn’t see the peace and order problem in Mindanao significantly affecting the country’s economy.

“The issue in Mindanao has been there for a long time. It’s been on and off. Mindanao is a window of opportunity for the country that’s why President Aquino has been committed to achieving peace in that area,” said Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

He pointed out that Mindanao contributes about 40 percent of the country’s total annual agricultural output and 20 percent of gross domestic product.

“We are putting a lot of resources to make sure we achieve lasting peace in Mindanao so it achieves its full potential,” Purisima said. “Geographically, the area that has issues is closer to other ASEAN members than Manila. And we see business as usual on the other side of Mindanao. Mindanao is a big island and the area that has some issues is just a small portion,” he pointed out. 

“The country recently exported for the first time bananas to the US and those came from Mindanao,” he added.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, for his part, assured the public that government is doing its best to end the violence perpetrated by armed followers of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari.

“We’re dealing with a manageable group, more and more territories are being recovered by the government. It’s taking long because of our primordial task of protecting lives. I don’t think this will drag on. The situation has considerably minimized,” he said.

Abad believes that the peace and order situation in Mindanao is unlikely to result in any major economic dislocation.  

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said the Philippines’ brand image is much stronger now, noting that there has been no cancellation of bookings from foreigners.

“This just shows that the country’s image is more buoyant and resilient than before,” Jimenez said.

The government earlier said it was looking to generate at least $1 billion worth of investments in southern Mindanao within three years from the signing of a peace accord. The investments could be in the education, banking and food sectors. 

The government is finalizing a peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. 

Closure of businesses feared

Organized labor fears a massive closure of commercial establishments and displacement of workers in Zamboanga City unless the hostilities are immediately resolved.

Federation of Free Workers (FFW) president Sonny Matula said the business community in the city has already lost billions of pesos and may be forced to permanently close their commercial establishments.

“With no production for almost two weeks these businesses may permanently shut down,” he said.

Matula said thousands of workers have not been getting their salaries since they have not been reporting for work.

 â€œSome employers were kind enough to pay wages through the work suspension, but this can’t go on forever,” he said.

Matula said Zamboanga City’s recovery from the armed conflict  might take sometime, and that workers could be deprived of potential and sustained income.

“The Aquino administration should create a ceasefire committee of prominent persons to start talks for a cessation of hostilities and for a political settlement,” he said.

Members of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) gathered and lit candles yesterday at Plaza Miranda in Manila to dramatize their objection to the fighting in Zamboanga City.

KMU secretary-general Roger Soluta said the government is carrying out the war against the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in an attempt to cover up the pork barrel controversy.

“We light these candles to call for an immediate end to the war and to call for vigilance among Filipinos,” he said.

“This war was launched in an attempt to divert the public’s attention away from the pork barrel scandal and is causing so much death and destruction.”

In a statement, KMU said the MNLF already held two peace marches in the past, but that they were met with violence from the military when it held the march in Zamboanga City for the administration to stem the public’s rising anger. – With Mayen Jaymalin, Paolo Romero