EDITORIAL - Peace and prosperity

It is the hope of all Filipinos that following the signing of a peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, peace will soon sweep through Mindanao.

With peace soon to prevail in the air, many see the country's second biggest island's economy to take off. For advocates of the peace process, it is high time for Mindanao to shine.

Blessed with natural resources, the government usually relies upon Mindanao for some of the country's agricultural supply. In fact, the huge island down south has always been considered as the next food basket in the Philippines.

However, decades of Moro uprising had turned the island into a wasteland. For years, Mindanao has been left in the sidelines as Luzon and the Visayas marched towards economic progress.

The island used to be called the land of promise, the next big thing in the country's effort to attain a developed nation status. But investors are reluctant to take risks as business opportunities are almost zero.

The deteriorating peace and order also took a toll on Mindanao's tourism industry. Although the island is replete with tourist spots that are some of the best in the country, they hardly appeared on the list of foreign tourists who prefer safer places in Luzon and the Visayas.

Now that the peace pact has been eventually sealed, we do hope that peace and prosperity will eventually have their chance in Mindanao. But peace and prosperity will not come unless there is unity.

Now that the government is done sealing peace with the largest Muslim separatist group, it should return to the drawing board to start the campaign to lure other rebels to join the bandwagon of peace.

Real prosperity will never be attained unless of course there is unity among all stakeholders in Mindanao. Therefore, it is vital for every Mindanaoan to take an active role in keeping the peace train running.