Mindanao lead agency inks development deals with ADB, Usaid

The Mindanao Develop­ment Authority (MinDA), the US Agency for Interna­tional Development (Usaid) and the Asian Develop­ment Bank (ADB) signed an agreement that will spur development in Mindanao, particularly in the South Central Mindanao Corri­dor (SCMC).

MinDA Chairman Luwalhati Antonino and Usaid-Philippines Chief of the Office of Economic De­velopment and Governance Daniel Miller led the sign­ing of the agreement that aims to push the SCMC as a primary food-basket, agribusiness and logistics hub, as well as a biodiver­sity and ecotourism focus area.

Another agreement was signed by Antonino and ADB Country Director Richard Bolt on the im­plementation of programs that will address specific issues in public and private investments in the SCMC, particularly in the so-called Bangsamoro areas.

“These projects will cement South Central Mindanao’s position as the country’s foremost agri­business and logistics hub,” said Antonino.

She added that the partnerships highlight the shared commitment to develop Mindanao and to improve the quality of life of all Mindanaoans.

The SCMC is com­posed of the Davao and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and Gen. Santos City) regions and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mind­anao (ARMM). It is one of the three development corridors in the Mindanao Development Corridors Program, which aims to position the island-region as a single, integrated econ­omy that is able to leverage and actively participate in Southeast Asia and the rest of the world.

Usaid’s agreement with MinDA will specifically facilitate for the develop­ment of a framework and conceptual plan for the establishment of an aero­tropolis in Gen. Santos City, a multimillion-peso project that will integrate the different points of entry in the SCMC.

The aerotropolis plans to develop some 200 hect­ares of the land surround­ing the Gen. Santos airport into an integrated complex that will include business parks, amusement parks, hotels, an integrated food terminal, food-processing and manufacturing activi­ties, and shopping malls.

Other projects iden­tified in the Usaid agree­ment are the creation of strategies for the network of ports, including the identification of function­al roads that will support the SCMC.

The agreement also seeks to draft the strategy for the development of the Ecotourism and Biodiversi­ty Cluster that will extend from Surigao del Norte (including Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin) to Davao Oriental in Mindanao’s Eastern seaboard.

“Our commitment to help strengthen the Mindanao Development Corridors is built upon partnerships forged many years ago to promote eco­nomic growth in Mindan­ao,” said Miller.

He added that this cooperation will directly support the spatial strate­gy of the Mindanao peace and development frame­work and will significantly contribute to achieving the Mindanao 2020 vision.

The Mindanao 2020 is a 20-year peace and development road map for Mindanao, which envisions to addresses the various challenges and opportu­nities of the island-region not only within the context of securing peace amid a history of conflict, but also in terms of harness­ing its inherently rich socioeconomic potentials, primarily for the benefit of Mindanaoans.

The agreement with the ADB, on the other hand, will facilitate the conduct of a study that will prepare the Bangsamoro areas in their anticipated participation in the SCMC. Active involvement of the private sector during the conduct of the study will be encouraged, while key interventions that will allow for the utilization of the corridor’s inherent potentials will be identified.

Priority pipeline projects that will include public-private partnerships (PPP) in South Central Mindanao and the Bang­samoro areas will also be identified in the study, including capacity-building initiatives among key staff to enhance capabilities in project preparation.

“The ADB is Mindan­ao’s long-term partner and we also consider the is­land-region as our home,” said Bolt, adding that “among the first projects of the ADB in the Philip­pines were implemented in Mindanao, which includ­ed road, hydropower, and ports-development proj­ects, as well as initiatives in strengthening agri-based industries through irriga­tion construction.”

The ADB assistance is also expected to enhance planning and the establish­ment of program monitor­ing and evaluation system for the Mindanao Devel­opment Corridors, while strengthening the links between MinDA and the Bangsamoro Development Authority.