Peace deal to boost tourism in Mindanao

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines  --- The Department of Tourism is anticipating an “eco-tourism boom” in Central Mindanao as one of the dividends of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB).

The CAB, signed last March 27 in Malacañang by the government’s chief negotiator, Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, and her counterpart in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Muhaquer Iqbal, is the final GPH-MILF peace deal.

Nelly Dillera, DOT’s regional director for Region 12, said investors would be willing to pour in capital  to develop the eco-tourism potentials of provinces in Central Mindanao once peace sets in as a result of the GPH-MILF peace overture.

Dillera said they anticipate improvement in the number of  foreign tourists to Southern Mindanao with a durable peace accord between the government and the MILF in place.

“The establishment of the Bangsamoro government, as one of the objectives of the CAB, will surely improve the eco-tourism climate of Region 12, bring in more investors and, as a consequence, generate employment for the people,” Dillera said.

Region 12 covers the adjoining provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and the cities of Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong, Cotabato, and Gen. Santos.

The provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, and Marawi City, which are all in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, have socio-economic ties with the provinces and cities in Administrative Region 12.

“Although Region 12, as a whole, is not part of the main areas that are included in the proposed Bangsamoro territory, the region will benefit from the creation of the Bangsamoro region,” Dillera said.

Dillera said the involvement of various international peace advocacy groups and foreign donor entities in the GPH-MILF peace initiative is a big boost to efforts of creating a good investment climate in the proposed Bangsamoro homeland, via the newly-crafted CAB.

The Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) is set to submit to Malacañang on April 14 the draft Basic Bangsamoro Law (BBL), which is needed to enable the creation of the new Bangsamoro political entity, through a plebiscite in areas the MILF wants to group together as a Moro homeland.

The BBL, once enacted by Congress and ratified via a referendum, will abolish the ARMM to pave the way for the creation of a Bangsamoro entity.

"Peace in the Bangsamoro area is the number one requirement of tourists (who plan to visit here),” Dillera said.