BUSINESS IS STILL ON THE GO IN MINDANAO

We are surrounded with news reports about the current peace situation in some of the areas which are a part of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Again, as a Mindanaoan, I refused to say that the entire Mindanao is in trouble. However, we cannot discount the fact that whenever ARMM is wounded, the entire Mindanao bleeds. We are angered and at the same time very, very disappointed at the way the peace issues and concerns are being handled. There are just too many players from government, military, politicians with varied interests who are all dipping their hands into the problems. And the irony is that, most of them are not from Mindanao or have never even been to any of the ARMM areas.

I am very passionate about being from Mindanao; wherever I go, whether here or out of the country, I always tell business people I meet how beautiful and how comfortable life is in Mindanao. That Davao City is a perfect blend between urban and country life.

Yesterday, I was interviewed for a magazine that will be published by Go Negosyo where forty (40) businesswomen will be featured. I was asked by the writer whether I am planning to expand my school businesses in Manila and without batting an eyelash, I said that my pre-school, Tumble Tots and JiB eAcademy will be my only schools in Manila; my plans for expansion will be in Mindanao because I believe in the potentials of the island and besides I am a Mindanaoan.

Mindanao Today

Despite the bad publicity that it is getting due to the aborted signing of the controversial memorandum of agreement on the ancestral domain between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Mindanao ‘s business and agriculture sector is upbeat.

In 2007, Mindanao has a population of approximately 18 million ; and an inflation rate of 3%; much lower than the national inflation rate which is around 5%-6%. Our balance of trade is USD 1.5 million; exports at USD 2.4 million and imports at USD 1.2 million.

Topping our agricultural exports are bananas at USD 401million; coconut oil or copra , USD 366M; pineapples, fresh and preserved, USD160M; dessicated coconut, USD 46M and of course tuna at USD54.55M. The top ten export destinations are Japan because of our bananas and tuna; USA, Netherlands, Korea, Taiwan, China, Malaysia. Singapore, United Arab Emirates and Iran

FEEDING MINDANAO (RICE AND CORN)

The data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics showed that Mindanao posted increases in corn and rice production with corn harvest registering about one-fourth higher than the volume during the same period last year. A notable improvement, indeed.

The data showed that rice production during the period increased about 4.78 percent to 999, 212 metric tons during the period from 953,metric 623 tons during the same period last year.

The highest growth in rice production was registered in the Caraga Region with 12.85 percent, although Central Mindanao was still the biggest producer during the period with 38 percent of the total production.

Corn production, on the other hand, was at a high of 883,409 metric tons during the period, way above the 722,269 metric tons produced during the first quarter last year. Again, Caraga registered the highest growth at 56.55 percent, but Northern Mindanao produced 36 percent of the total production, followed by Central Mindanao with 32 percent.

Production of rice and corn is expected to be sustained as the national government is rehabilitating irrigation systems in the island that will cover 2,000 hectares of rice fields.

The data also revealed that fisheries production for Mindanao was at a high of P18.83 billion with about 618,976.03 metric tons. Highest contributor to the production during the period was aquaculture at 342,356.41 metric tons. In value, fish production during the quarter hit P18.63 billion, although the biggest producers were the commercial fishing companies.

(Joji Ilagan Bian is a strong and respected advocate for the development of the region. She is Chair of Joji Ilagan Foundation ( www.jojiilagancareercenter.com) ; President , Phil. Call Centers Alliance and Mindanao Tech Voc Schools Association; Mindanao Rep, Export Development Council. Email comments jojibian2@yahoo.com)