MINDANAWORLD

MINDANAO’S BEST OF 2009

2010-01-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

As the year is about to close, I would like to highlight the significant events in Mindanao which brought “ good tidings “ to the island.

MEDA Bill
The Senate has recently approved the bill creating the Mindanao Economic Development Authority (MEDA) as the permanent agency that will integrate the island's socio-economic development. The previous passage of the bill at the House of Representatives heralds a longed-for development after efforts in pushing for the creation of a Mindanao development agency has been delayed for more than five decades. Previous advocacies for the creation of the first Mindanao Development Authority (MDA) dates back to 1960.

Senate Bill 3496 or the MEDA Bill is seen to integrate and harmonize peace and development efforts in Mindanao. It has also been pushed in view of the need for Mindanao to catch up with the mainstream national development. This “unfulfilled promise” will transform Mindanao from being a backdoor to becoming the county's frontdoor to greater opportunities, particularly in the East ASEAN region.

Without the necessary socio-economic, infrastructure and policy support which can be hastened by having a permanent development mechanism, Mindanao will not prosper. Given its vast potentials and strategic geographical location, Mindanao can now continue to thrive towards the fulfillment of the visions for its people. It's time!

North-South Mindanao Expressway
Mindanao logistics and infrastructure industry as well as some international players like foreign shipping industries, pushed a main corridor that would enable greater mobility of goods and people from the Northern to Southern Mindanao link.

The idea would be like the Davao-Cagayan expressway which would connect Northern and Southern Mindanao, two big economic centers in the region, that will propel Mindanao’s socio-economic development.

The said proposal was presented to the government during the first Mindanao Logistics Conference with the theme: “Southern-Northern Mindanao Logictics Corridor: Key to Fast Track its Economic Development.” last November 25 to 26 in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

Mindanao is yet to have an integrated logistics and transportation plan. The plan should figure significantly with the recent infrastructure boost in Mindanao, wherein major infrastructure were recently built like the Mindanao Container Terminal, along with the expansion of seaports and airports, and improvement of national roads.

“It is high time for Mindanao to have something like a logistics corridor given that infrastructure development in Mindanao is being fast tracked, and most especially since MEDCo is now currently formulating the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework Plan,” said Usec. Virgilio Leyretana, chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo).

Zamboanga-Sandakan Route
With the continuing confidence in the potentials of trade, tourism and investment in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), the carrier Zest Air is now plying the Zamboanga-Sandakan, Malaysia route three times a week. After suspending operations April 2008 (then as Asian Spirit), the 56-seater MA60 modern ark aircraft resumed its first flight in November of this year.

MOA signed to fast track Cotabato -ARMM Joint CIQS Task Force initiatives
Usec. Virgilio Leyretana, Chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) led the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, Security (CIQS) equipment support turnover and MOA signing ceremony last October 19 at the Estosan Garden Hotel, Cotabato City. The turnover and establishment of the CIQS task force are part of the BIMP-EAGA Support Team (BEST) on CIQS Project's initiatives to improve port security, facilities, and promote trade and investments in Mindanao.

Mr. Pedro Quiñones, Joint CIQS TF chairman said that the formalization of the task force through the signing of the MoA is a big leap forward towards modernization and sophistication in deterring terrorism in their respective areas of operation.

“Given the support and concern of our political and economic leaders in the Cotabato and ARMM we are assured, more than ever, to hold on together with them leading the way to peace and progress”. Quiñones said.

Included in the MoA are their agreements on the sharing of responsibilities for CIQS-related undertakings such as hosting and shouldering related expenses for the conduct of meetings and other similar activities.

To date, the task force has completed 11 training activities to improve coordination and partnership between and among the members of the CIQS group as well as further build their capacity to respond to key issues and concerns such as the necessity of securing ports and improving facilities.

Through the BEST on CIQS Project, a budget was allocated for the purchase of priority equipment that the task force members identified as necessary for service delivery and improvement of port operations.
Around Php500,000 worth of radio bases, handheld radios, metal detectors, UV lights magnifying glasses, megaphones, digital cameras, as well as a laptop and LCD projector were turned .
Mindanao techvoc sector crafts roadmap for 2010-2015
Amid the emerging realities and challenges facing the country's human resource, a five-year roadmap for Mindanao's technical and vocational sector was recently launched to serve as a blueprint and guide to enhancing competitiveness, viability and sustainability of the island's tech-voc industry.

The Mindanao Technical Vocational Education and Training (MinTVET) Roadmap for 2010-2015 is a five-year roadmap developed by the MinTVET sector through the support of the Philippines-Australia Human Resource Development Facility (PAHRDF), in cooperation with its stakeholders and partners.

The PAHRDF is a five-year, Php 2.3 billion (A$60 million) initiative of the Australian government through AusAID. The facility aims to assist national and local government agencies, academic institutions and private organizations in addressing key organizational needs. It also enables them to provide better services and institutional management through short and long-term human resource development programs.

The MinTVET roadmap targets workers in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and in the agri-fishery sector as new training segments and focuses on improving the marketability or acceptability of graduates based on hiring requirements of increasingly discriminating traditional job markets.

The roadmap is the first of its kind in establishing a positioning strategy to ensure the long-term survival and viability of private Technical-Vocational Institutions (TVIs) in Mindanao. It is also geared towards developing techno-preneurs as well as encourage industries to open their doors and businesses to accept TVET graduates for areas of work that would require certain levels and skills.

The MinTVET Association noted Mindanao's vast human resource as an important factor in the region's continuous progress and expressed its support for the creation of the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework plan.

The outputs of the roadmap will be incorporated into the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework Plan currently being formulated by the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) as an updated framework plan shall guide peace and development efforts in the island-region for the next 10 years.

Happy New Year ! May peace always reign in Mindanao !

(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)

The Successor Generation of Mindanao

2009-11-25T18:36:00.001-08:00

Turning adversities into opportunities has always been one of the top most principles of a good leader. Thus, a group of young professionals from all regions of Mindanao joined efforts to come to conceptualize a common goal consequently giving transcend to the program called “The Successor Generation”.

The Successor Generation program as a concept is a borrowed idea from Coalition of Development – Non Governmemt Organizations or CODE-NGO’s “Kami Naman” program. This an eight-month course designed to train second-liners or middle managers of Caucus of Development NGO’s (CODE-NGO) member networks. The idea behind is not only to equip middle managers with knowledge and information they need to come up with sound decision, analysis and courses of actions but also equip them with necessary skills and expertise that will help them run and manage their own organizations in the future.

Taking off from CODE-NGO’s initiative, the Technical Assistance Center for the Development of the Rural and Urban Poor (TACDRUP) expanded the idea of coming up with its own Successor Generation program not exclusive for NGOs but a design that is open enough to absorb all interested young professionals of Mindanao. This concept is aligned to TACDRUP’s program and its role as catalyst in consensus building efforts in Mindanao, like the Kusog Mindanaw.

The Kusog Mindanaw Experience
The creation of Kusog Mindanaw (“Strong Mindanao”) in 1994 had so far brought a couple of roundtable conferences centered on peace and development for Mindanao. This multi-sectoral coalition, whose creation was spearheaded the late Mr. Rey Teves and Fr. Eliseo “Jun” Mercado, Jr., OMI, was primarily established to promote peace and development, and begin a process of increasing the voice of Mindanawons in national policymaking.

Kusog Mindanaw proceeds on the basis of and is guided by the spirit of unity in diversity. It seeks tohighlight points of unity rather than of disagreements.Proceeding from minimum consensus among Mindanawons, Kusog Mindanaw aspires to build a criticalmass that will undertake concerted action that can secure for Mindanao. It is just due in terms of politicalparity and economic equity.

The Challenge
In the last Kusog Mindanaw roundtable conference held last May of this year, conference participants coming from heads of major religious groups, business networks, military, legislators, non-government organizations, media, and academic institutions of Mindanao were looking for the participation of the youth and the young professionals. While the forum tackled pertinent issues securing Mindanao’s future but those that will benefit their discussions i.e. the youth were not well represented in the forum.

On the one hand, the youth including the young professionals comprise more than half of thepopulation of not only Mindanao but also the entire country. Yet, no mechanisms are there that cantruly represent collective views of the young on specific Mindanao issues without being suspected to bepartisan or allied to a particular group. On the other hand, there are a lot of thematic and issue-basedorganizations that are youth-led, yet, none are representative of a Mindanao-wide “consensus”.

Hence,the challenge is on how to direct and organize all these efforts leading towards a common vision forMindanao.

Picking from these realities, TACDRUP pushed through with the idea of consulting the regions on whether there is a need to organize a Successor Generation i.e. designed for Mindanao young professionals geared towards a continuing leadership formation. Fortunately, all regional consultations (e.g. Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, Digos City, CARAGA, SOCSKSARGEN, etc.) positively responded to the idea and were looking forward to coming up with a mechanism that can consolidate all the efforts that are already done locally. Furthermore, there is a hope and aspiration from the group to hopefully influence policies and the policy makers in the near future to the benefit of Mindanao and its people. Hence, a Mindanao Young Professionals (MYP) Forum is born.

Defining the MYP Forum: Its Vision-Mission-Values
In August 25, after so many months of organizing and doing regional workshops, MYP Forum crafted itsVMV (Vision-Mission-Values) to give direction and definition of the group as Mindanawons vis-à-vis theirrole as professionals in making peace and development truly a reality in Mindanao.

Their vision is to become a leading network of young professionals committed to work for a better Mindanao ; and their mission is to facilitate a pro-active and consensus-building forum of young professionals that will helpin nurturing the next generation of Mindanao leaders to become dedicated in advancingMindanao Agenda including peace and development.

They will be guided with the principles ofCOMMITMENT for MINDANAO: SUGA-I!Which stands for Commitment for Mindanao, Sustainability, Unity in diversity, Good governance, Accountability, and Integrity.

They have plans of conveninh annually the Mindanao Young Profs Forum representing the (6) six sectors (i.e.business, religious, civil society, local government unit, national agencies and academe) to concretizethe Mindanao agenda and identify key issues affecting their sector and Mindanao, ingeneral and to mobilize sectors for policy advocacies and organize sustainable programs/activitiesaddressing specific issues in their communities; and to organize capacity-building programs to better prepare young leaders to assume strategicroles in the future.

Perhaps this successor generation of Young Mindanao Professionals will bring about the era of peace and development that we all have been dreaming for in our island.

(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)

WILL THERE BE A POWER CRISIS IN MINDANAO?

2009-09-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

Each and every businessman who recently attended the 18th Mindanao Business Conference in Koronadal City last week expressed serious concern over the truthfulness as to whether there will be a power crisis in Mindanao. The Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed this in a statement and further revealed that if the government and companies concerned will not provide a solution by the end of the year, the problem might get worst.

Certainly, there is a shortage and the critical period has been known to the government especially from the DOE’s point of view as early as 2007. The critical period had already started this year and we are facing an uncertain situation. The officials of the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) admitted that Mindanao is inevitably headed towards a crisis of very serious proportions. Mindanao’s major cities—Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Butuan and Zamboanga will experience darkness, if no concrete actions to avert the power crisis will be done.

You can just image what will happen to cities like Davao, Cagayan and Zamboanga who have been heavily selling their cities as the future “ICT (information Communication Technology) Hubs for BPO’s (Business Process Outsourcing). BPO businesses thrive best in areas where there is assurance and permanence of sufficient power supply. What will happen to the tuna canneries in Gen. Santos and to the sardine plants in Dipolog without continuous supply of power?

The entire Mindanao will expect to have long hours of brownout if the power crisis cannot be averted on time. Power supply is crucial to the existence of businesses and investments in the island. We will all suffer tremendous losses; more so with the small and medium sized businessmen who may not be able to afford the cost of expensive generators. This scenario may further result to scaling down of enterprise activities which can lead to unemployment and eventually an increase in poverty

Power Demand of Mindanao
The present demand of Mindanao’s five key cities is put at 484MW while the peak demand of power users is expected to hit an average of 5.76 percent in the next five years. A strategic approach as proposed by the DLPC presented a 13.1 percent reserve capacity in order to enable the Mindanao grid to supply the total power demand of the island. This approach is based on the theory that the grid must maintain a reserve capacity equivalent to the capacity of the biggest generating plant so that in the event that a single plant fails, there would still be enough to supply 100 percent of the requirement of the power users.

Moreover, the DLPC projects that the gap between the requirement and the reserve capacity of 13.1 percent will gradually deteriorate over the next five years. Mindanao is now feeling the crisis since the 13.1 percent power reserve during off peak to ensure continuous supply of power has already dropped to one percent.

Contradicting Statements

On the contrary, the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) said that research shows there is no power crisis in Mindanao. In fact, the Philippine Energy Plan 2004-2014 report of the DOE indicated a total surplus power of about 373 megawatts for the Mindanao grid. The report also indicated that there is enough power supply for the deficits of both Western Mindanao (62MW) and Southern Mindanao (233MW) which comes from the surplus power of 670MW in Northern Mindanao. FDC also found out on its own research that there is, in fact, a low demand for energy because of the current economic turmoil that is being experienced on a global scale. Most industries are slowing down operations due to the slowing down economy, thereby reducing demand for power.

Action Agenda to Avert the Crisis

However, the government identified an immediate solution by putting up three new power plants but it would take about three years to get all of them done. Among the three projects are the Sibulan Hydro, which is currently being completed, the Mindanao 3 located at the peak of Mt. Apo which is almost done and the Kabulig Hydro which is experiencing some problems. Even if these guaranteed power plants are completed, they will still project a shortage of around 400 megawatts (MW). In addition to these three plants, the Conal Holdings Corporation, owned by the Alcantaras, has unveiled a $450 million coal-fired power plant in Sarangani Province to be up by 2013. This plant is expected to generate up to 200MW of power which would be enough to sustain the requirement.

There’s another theory that this looming power crisis is caused by “transmission constraints” which is already being addressed by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. And that, as of April 2008, there is a 382.1MW reserve which is enough to supply whatever imbalance that may occur in power supply and demand. We are being supplied with 1,933.4MW as total installed capacity of power generating plants in Mindanao while 1,682.1MW is the dependable capacity. Plus Hedcor Sibulan and Conol Holdings in Sarangani Province supply an additional capacity of 242MW. We actually have more than enough, if this is the case.

Clearly, power shortage is a looming threat. This is the time that business, government and the various groups of the civil society should work together to avert this crisis NOW before it is too late!

(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)

A NEW GENERATION OF MUSLIM LEADERS

2009-07-29T01:42:00.000-07:00

Last 16 July 2009, I was invited as a resource speaker for the a simple reunion of former and present Congressional Internship Program for Young Muslim Leaders (CIPYML) in Davao City. I had the opportunity to personally talk to many of them and I was impressed by their in-depth understanding of the problems pertaining to peace that had been hounding us in Mindanao for centuries. All of them are already employed in different public and private offices and are holding important positions and so I believed that the training program would enhance their abilities to influence the way other people perceived the Mindanao peace problem to be.

My advocacy work for Mindanao has given me opportunities for inter-actions with different groups of people- from businessmen and women, professionals, members of non-government organizations (NGO’s) and even politicians. Often times, I am surprised by their wrong understanding and interpretation of our problems in Mindanao. Because of this, despite my busy schedule, I really try to accept as many speaking engagements because this is a very effective way for people to see Mindanao in a different light.

CIPYML Program Internship
This program offers opportunities for young people from Mindanao’s Muslim community to undertake internships in the Philippine House of Representatives, where they will have the opportunity to observe and gain first-hand experience in public policy formulation. The internships have a four-month duration and are offered to recent graduates of colleges and universities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict affected areas of Mindanao who have the potential, in the future, to assume leadership positions in business and government

The goal of the program can be summarized into three words; ENHANCE, EXPAND, PROVIDE. The aim is to enhance the commitment of young people within the ARMM and conflict-affected areas in Mindanao to democratic values and institutions by increasing their knowledge of the process of policy formulation and legislative processes. And in the long term increase their appreciation and understanding of the work that has to be done to fast track the peace process.

Planting the Seed of Change
True enough that change starts from within. I applaud the leadership and initiative of these young Muslim leaders as they view the resolution and the progress of Mindanao will be achieved through the programs they would formulate and implement .These are the young leaders who will plant the seed of advocacy that economic development is a much better alternative than rebellion and the use of arms.

The program also aims to continuously increase the number of young Muslim men and women in Mindanao who have a broad understanding of national issues and democratic governance. Mindanao’s problem can only be solved by the people of Mindanao themselves. Awareness and understanding of both cultures and the respect of each other’s opinion plays a vital role in the peace process.

These leaders as they are being trained, gains a broader knowledge that Mindanao is a diversified region with a huge potential for economic progress that waits to be harnessed. Knowledge is power as they say, and it is true.

The Selection Proces
This program is divided into two major components; academic enrichment and leadership enhancement training. But before they get into the program Potential youth Muslim leaders undergoes a rigorous screening process before they are accepted as CIPYML Interns.

During the first phase of the screening process, student’s academic standing, leadership potential and their contribution to their community are taken into consideration for the selection. Soon after, the best 30 students will need to attend the “Introductory course on Government” at the Mindanao State University in Marawi.

From the group, only 25 of them will be given chance to participate in specially designed training programs covering various governance topics in Manila. They would also be given assignments to standing and special committees and subcommittees of the House of Representatives and some selected offices of the members of Congress.

Working in Congress
While working in Congress, the Congressional Representatives and their staff will have the chance and the time to socialize and interact with these young articulate Muslim leaders ; and giving the latter a huge opportunity to explain and further discuss the policy issues and concerns .These exposures provides them a broader perspective of the policies, deepening their awareness of the benefits that they would reap should the policy succeed.

They are also exposed to field visits to the government agencies and LGUs, preparation of special reports, policy studies and draft legislation and attend legislative committee briefings and plenary sessions.

USAID SUPPORT

The USAID GEM(Growth with Equity –Mindanao) funds 90% of the training cost and the remaining 10% is shouldered by MSU and the Congress.

To date, we have 168 young Muslim leaders that finished the said program. A few days from now, 3rd of August, the 9th batch of young Muslim leaders will embark to a new 4 month program. Most the graduates are now employed in different corporations, government agencies, NGOs, academe and policy makers, all of which aiming for a better Mindanao

I would like to quote Ambassador Kristie Kenney as she quoted US President Barrack Obama “The world is what you make of it, you don’t have to accept the world you’re given. You have the power to hold your leaders accountable and create institutions that serve the people… If we wait for some other person, or some other time, change will not come; there will never be a better time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change we seek.”

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

RO-RO YOUR BOAT TO MINDANAO

2009-05-27T19:14:00.001-07:00

Agricultural products is Mindanao’s top export top export commodity. In 4th quarter of 2008 the food export amounted to P 956,114,443.00 and growing at a rate of 22.28%.
In the recent meeting of the Export Development Council, where I sit representing Mindanao and the National Competitiveness Council with President Arroyo, the report of the council showed a slowdown or a decline in the export of agricultural commodities. The agriculture and food sector of Mindanao view this as an opportunity to re- focus their marketing strength to the local or domestic market. And this is where transportation and logistics will be very critical for us.
RORO(Roll On/Roll Off)ships are vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo such as automobiles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, trailers or railroad cars that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels. RORO vessels have built-in ramps which allow the cargo to be efficiently "rolled on" and "rolled off" the vessel when in port. The RORO project was launched around 2003 aiming to help entrepreneurs for a faster transport of goods domestically.
I was one of those who strongly supported the RORO program because I believed that these system of routes calledthe Strong Republic Nautical Highway(SRNH) offers an efficient and shorter way to travel to Luzon ,Visayas and Mindanao regions plying the western seaboard.
In her 2007 State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Arroyo identified the Ports of Balbagon and Guinsiliban of Camiguin for inclusion in the Central Nautical Highway, as these ports connect the SRNH to Mindanao.
Iloilo via Ivisan town is about 4-hour drive from Caticlan. One may drop by Roxas City (about 10 minute drive from Ivisan) to buy some fresh seafoods. When in Iloilo, one can drop by Guimaras Island to have a taste of Philippine's finest mangos before going further south to Bacolod, then to Dumaguete then finally board the RORO to the eastern part of Mindanao , Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte

Mambajao Port is the nearest RoRo point linking the Visayas to Mindanao via the port of Jagna in Bohol, while Guinsiliban Port connects Camiguin to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental to the mainland of Mindanao. The Benoni Port in Mahinog, also a RORO point and connects the province toMisamis Oriental via Balingoan Port.

The Central Nautical Highway of the SRNH includes Cagayan de Oro City to Balingaon, Misamis Oriental to Camiguin, Bohol to Cebu, Masbate and Camarines Sur towards Luzon.

Fish dealers from Zamboanga Cityprefer RO-RO ships over big conventional cargo ships due to faster ship turn-around time and more trips are available. RO-RO trips start as early as 5:00 am. In the afternoon, fish carriers can go back to Dapitan for thc next trip.

The port development in Dapitan is another great example of the cost efficiency of the RORO system. The grains bulk handling terminal within the port is poised to support the grains production (particularly corn) in the western part of Mindanao - mainly Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. Together, these provinces produce about 500,000 metric tons of corn a year.

With this project, entrepreneurs can reduce their product price as much as 50% of the current export prices since the shipping is easier and much cheaper than the conventional shipping practices. Spoilage of perishable goods is also reduced due to their faster transportation.

A cargo truck drives off the ferry from Zamboanga City onto the roll-on, roll-off (RORO) landing at Lamitan Port in Basilan. After USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program upgraded the port and outfitted it with the RORO ramp, vessels calling at the port experienced faster turn-around rates, transport costs were reduced by about a third, and RORO traffic in the province more than tripled.
The southwestern Mindanao RO-RO connections consist of the following routes: Zamboanga City - Isabel (Basilan) ; Lamitan (Basilan) Z ; Siasi (Sulu) ; Bongao (Tawi-Tawi). Agricultural produce such as sugar, rice, bananas, marine products, and seaweeds, are shipped from TawiTawi, Sulu and Basilan to Zamboanga City. Majority of these cargoes go all the way to Visayan and Luzon markets via western nautical highway.

From a tourism perspective and for some one like me who loves to travel, the route allows you to hop from one island to another and enjoy the scenery in the comfort of your car. These can also promote domestic tourism.
Tourism professionals especially those from Mindanao should design better routes that would showcase breath-taking tourist spots without the hassle of worrying how to get to their destinations.
The project clearly gives entrepreneurs earn more and lose less. And maybe one day we can sing just like an old nursery rhyme with a twist “RO-RO-RO your boat, Gently down the Mindanaostream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Good Life is not just a dream.”

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

BUSINESS AT MAJESTIC MT. APO

2009-04-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

There has been hundreds of articles about how majestic and beautiful Mt Apo is. This Davao's unique natural wonder is the Philippines' highest peak at 3,144 meters. Its base covers about 72,796 hectares of mountain ranges that extend from Davao City, Davao del Sur, Northern Cotabato, Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur to Misamis Oriental. Apo means "grandfather of all mountains". It is an inactive volcano with no recorded eruptions. Mount Apo's attractions are thundering waterfalls, rapids, lakes, geysers, sulphur pillars, primeval trees, endangered plant and animal species and a steaming blue lake.

Holy Week is a one of the best time for climbing Mt. Apo. I remembered that I was invited to climb Mt Apo several times in the past ; but I had to declined since I was told that I would need weeks of preparation which would include intensive exercise and jogging.

TOPOGRAPHY & GEOLOGY
The Mt. Apo Natural Park covers parcels of lands situated in the municipalities of Magpet and Makilala and City of Kidapawan in the Province of North Cotabato; municipalities of Bansalan and Sta. Cruz and City of Digos in the Province of Davao del Sur, and in the City of Davao, all in the Philippines.

The Mt. Apo , Mt. Sibulan and Mt. Talomo volcanic edifices are the major mountain ridges in the park. The peak of Mt. Apo has an altitude of 3,142 meters (10,311 feet) above sea level, the highest in the Philippines . The highest elelvation of Mt. Talomo is 2,674 meters above sea level while Mt. Sibulan has an elevation of around 1,322 meters above sea level.

Mt. Apo Natural Park has a typical volcanic terrain. Its features exhibited within the park area are cinder cones ( Mt. Talomo , Apo complex), volcanic plateaus (Todaya Plateau now known as Kapatagan) and breached craters.

ECONOMIC PROSPECTS
More than a million Filipinos from the three surrounding localities depend on Mt. Apo for livelihood, mostly from agriculture products due to its fertile slopes. Almost 50 percent of the park’s area has been converted into agricultural production.

Natural rubber is abundant on the mountain. In 2003, rubber was the top export earner for Mindanao, registering sales of US$44.2 million from production volume of 32.8 million kilograms. The mountain is ideal for the growth of rattan, one of the most sought materials for making furniture. About 10 percent of the total abaca production comes from Southern Mindanao. Majority of which is grown within the feet of Mount Apo.

Another product of Mount Apo’s generous soil is Abaca. The Philippine contribution of the export market of abaca fiber is about US$ 84 million. On the average, the farmer only gets 500 kilos per hectare per year but Southern Mindanao especially within the fields of Mount Apo hit 750 kilos per hectare per year although potential yield is at 3,000 kilos per hectare per year given the necessary and appropriate farm inputs.

Banana, another top exporter of Mindanao, also grows lavishly within its slopes. Aside from being traded in the market, the supply is sufficient enough to accommodate local consumption within the surrounding villages.

Mount Apo also emits sulfur from its summit. Sulfur is another commodity that is being harnessed and traded in the market.

Since Mount Apo is declared as a Natural Park, it is also one of the hot destinations for tourists. Although the National Government does not charge anything for climbing the mountain, the local villagers benefit by having day jobs such as trek guides and assistants. One trek guide/assistant could go as much as Php 300.00 - Php. 500.00 depending on how much stuff do they need to carry for you for the climb.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Mt. Apo is considered critical to the sustainable development of Mindanao because it is a vital watershed of major river systems that are sources of freshwater requirements for agricultural, domestic, and industrial users in Central and Southern Mindanao, specifically the provinces of North Cotabato and Davao Sur, and Davao City.

The Mount Apo Natural Park has also been subject to destructive uses that have severely compromised the ecology. Extensive illegal logging operations, indiscriminate extraction of non-timber forest products like rattan, wildlife poaching and even ranching have further eroded the pristine ecological value of the area.

Environmental consciousness has gained a foothold in both the public and private sectors. A number of initiatives have evolved to preserve and manage the nature park. What has developed is a menu of stakeholder approaches that respond to some specific aspect of biodiversity and sustainability issues. These include management zoning, resource assessment, resources protection/habitat preservation, habitat restoration, environmental awareness campaigns, and institutional support programs to enhance the capability of the different stakeholders.

Efforts to conserve Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP) in South-Central Mindanao is getting a needed support which started with a workshop for MANP stakeholders under the aegis of the USAID-funded Philippine Environ-mental Governance Project (EcoGov), which is implemented with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Mount Apo is a symbol of Mindanao’s towering potential for growth. It reflects a diversified ecosystem that generates not only a source of food for the locals but livelihood as well.

(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)

WOMEN OF MINDANAO – MOVERS OF THE ECONOMY

2009-03-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

March is a celebration of women’s power and so I would want to give honor and recognition to the women of Mindanao who continue to be its greatest resource and treasure. These women play a very important role whether as guardians of peace or movers of business and investments in the region.

There are many women that I had met in my advocacy work for Mindanao. These women are so successful in running their own businesses but more significantly these are the women who went out of the comforts of their air-conditioned offices and the luxury of their homes ; and contributed their talents and skills in the community that they do business in and helped improved the investments in Mindanao.

In the business and the chambers of commerce arena, there is Elena U. Haw who is the current Vice President for Mindanao of the Philippince Chamber of Commerce and Industry and recently was considered as the point person for Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). Haw was part of the Philippine delegation who joined President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 5th BIMP-EAGA Leaders Summit late last month in Thailand. Elena had made it her passion to work for the development of small businesses particularly those in agriculture, corn and hog raising in South Cotabato where she is from.

Ann Pamintuan and Leny Castillo are outstanding business women in the furniture and handicraft sector. Both women spend all their energies honing their craft, looking for new markets, joining foreign trade exhibits and always manage to bring home the big orders assuring jobs for all of their workers and their families. Anne is also the only Asian featured in the International Design Yearbook 2002.

There is Davao hotelier, Mary Ann “Baby” Montemayor who steers the private sector in the promotion of tourism in Davao City. While Chair of the BIMP EAGA Tourism Council, Baby had inspired many women in the travel sector from all over Mindanao to think “ out of the box “ and not to be discouraged every time there are negative events that seems to hamper the growth of the sector. She continuously brings in innovative ideas as she tirelessly moves around ensuring that tourism is at its best anywhere in our island.

Ten Outstanding Women of the Nations (TOWNS) Awardee, Evelyn Abellera Magno is the first woman Rotary governor from Mindanao. Evelyn is the Chair of their family owned university in the city of Davao and as an educator, I personally had seen how she had touched the lives of many of her students, particularly those coming from the poorer communities. This woman is everywhere – from medical and dental missions, giving out assistance during disaster and calamities and to helping others find better opportunities in life.

Charita Puentespina, Sally Luenberger and Fanny Yuhico had transformed their love for orchids into a very lucrative business and in so doing had employed and also trained hundred of men and women to put up their own livelihood in flora and fauna.

Women are always trend-setters and we can easily spot them in the restaurants and food businesses in Davao City. I really admire the vision of Charito Lizada who set the trend in the “barbecue” business thirty (30) years ago. Following her footstep was her eldest daughter, Amylou Lizada Aarts who started the “ tapsilog” concept in the city and made it into a chain of eateries. The “lechon manok” was introduced to the city by another woman who seems to be always on the go and that is Lena Benedicto. The coffee shop business in the city was started by Larcy Gatchalian who made famous the “durian coffee” The businesses of these women were copied and imitated by many, but despite all the competitions they found fulfillment knowing that they had motivated many to follow the trend that they had set. At the end, what is important is that jobs were given to multitudes of people.

In the small town of Tandag, Surigao is where you will find Annie Ty, a businesswoman in construction and housing and who also happens to be the President of the Tandag Chamber of Commerce and the prime mover of the Red Cross. She plays a very important role in the development of investments and generation of jobs in such a far flung area.

Zamboanga del Norte is home to Rosa Lim who is the president of a rural bank and owns a sardines production plant and she plans to increase her production by 100% and export volume by 20% next year, thus giving more jobs to her workers, mostly women and their families. Lawyer and educator Marycel Engracia owns and operates a school in Zamboanga City and generously shares her expertise to many other technical schools in their region for them to improve their training delivery.

Mindanao’s top jeweler mother and daughter, Emilia and Eileen Sitjar established their own foundation that grants educational scholarships; likewise Emilia also is the head of the Divine Mercy Apostolate in Davao and has her hands full going around the different parishes doing works of mercy and propagating the devotion to the Divine Mercy.

These women had worked in partnership with many of the business organizations in Mindanao seeking ways and means to accelerate the economic momentum through the programs that they are implementing . Both Milalin Javellana of Philippine Australian Human Resource Development Facility (PAHRDF) and Myrna Lim of the Women in Education and Development of Cotabato City ensures that their development programs have a social component and responsibility to ease poverty in the area where they implement their projects in partnership with business groups.

There are many more of these kind of women who do business with a heart . They realize that more than making profits in their businesses; it is also their responsibility to nurture the community where they do their business.

These women are to be admired for their outmost creativity and their ability to make very quick decisions amidst an economic turmoil. Their capacity to survive is being constantly tested, more so when you do business in Mindanao. All of them will never allow anything to break their spirits and their will to succeed; and that is what makes Mindanao women different!

(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)

JOJI BIAN JOINS ROSTER OF ESTEEMED BUSINESS PEOPLE

2009-03-01T22:43:00.000-08:00

Businesswoman Joji Ilagan-Bian shares her life and her passions in Go Negosyo’s third book “GO NEGOSYO: Joey Concepcion’s 55 Inspiring Stories of Women Entrepreneurs” launched on February 26 in Manila.

Launched by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the book focuses on successful women entrepreneurs, their confidence as good role models and inspiration to the Filipinos. These women were selected from various fields and industries like fashion, tourism, health, beauty, among others.

Apart from Bian, the book features other women entrepreneurs that come from both micro- and large-scale businesses. Among them are Zenaida Tantoco of Rustan’s, Milagros Yee and Clarita Go of Goldilocks, Elizabeth Lee of Universal Motors Corporation, Vivian Sarabia of Sarabia Optical, Gladys Reyes of KSA Magic, and Jennilyn Antonio of Ehje’s Peanut Butter.

Go Negosyo’s first two books were the “Go Negosyo’s Inspiring Entrepreneurial Stories,” was recognized as the number one bestseller in the non-fiction category of National Bookstore, and the “Go Negosyo’s Inspiring Entrepreneurial Stories Celebrity Edition,” which has also climbed the ranks of National Bookstore’s Top Four Bestsellers.

The third book will be available in leading bookstores nationwide starting February 26. (source mindanao daily mirror, date: March 2, 2009)

MORE PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES NEEDED TO REVITALIZE BIMP-EAGA TRADE

2009-02-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

Last week two of my old friends , Ms. Shelley Sondakh, Executive Director of the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei- Indonesia-Malaysia- Brunei , East Asean Growth Area) and Ms. Hannah Mandagi , Director of Manado-Bitung Integrated Development Zone visited Davao and met with me to renew old ties . Over a cup of coffee with Davao based Indonesian Consul General Lalu Malik Partawana, we reminisced the “good old exciting days “ of the BIMP –EAGA during the time of Pres. Assistant Paul Dominguez where the private sector of the four (4) countries were at its best in promoting and initiating educational, cultural, tourism and business exchanges. Pres. Arroyo will be the speaker of a BIMP EAGA Meeting on February 26, 2008 in Thailand and she is expected to re-affirm the Phil government’s commitment to the EAGA initiatives. It would need much more than government support more so during these hard times to make the businessmen excited again about the prospects of these cooperation.

First, there is a need to bring back to the arena the real business players who can ensure that there is support on the ground . The Philippine Chambers of Commerce –Mindanao together with the thirty (36) Chambers of Commerce in all cities and provinces of the island had lost touched with the BIMP-EAGA since the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) had never consulted or invited them to be part of the regional cooperation since 2004. I am glad that because of the intervention of the PCCI leaders through Pres. GMA; the Vice President-PCCI Mindanao, Elena Haw will be part of the official delegation of the President next week. I hope that this will be a start of the active participation of the chambers of commerce of Mindanao to the BIMP EAGA.

Just recently, Davao inaugurated its new P420-million port expansion of the Sasa Wharf. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in Davao City is all set for the entry of more cargo vessels from the South East Asia, Middle East, United States (US) and the BIMP EAGA. In 2007 alone, the port facilitated a total of 3.2 million metric tons of cargo shipments for both domestic and foreign markets. Southern Mindanao Port District manager Abdussador Sawadjaan is very optimistic that this development will result to an additional of P30 Million in revenue. The expanded port now can serve eight (8) cargo vessels at one given time. Sasa Wharf, holds the distinction as the premier export and import hub in Mindanao. It ranks fourth nationwide in terms of container cargo traffic and container volume performance.

Tuna exports may had declined in Gen. Santos but the exports of livestock and frozen meat had not been badly hit. Some P3.3 billion worth of livestock and assorted frozen meat products have been shipped out from General Santos City . In his annual state of the city address, Mayor Pedro Acharon pointed out the city sent out P1.4 billion worth of livestock and P1.9 billion worth of assorted frozen meat products. For live animals, there were 199,659 heads of swine shipped out in 2008 with a value of P1.1 billion; 6,765 heads of cattle for P175.9 million and 4,907 heads of carabaos for P98.1 million. For frozen meat products, pork reached 13 million kilograms (kg) with a value of P1.4 billion; beef generated P385.7 million at a volume of 962,564 kilograms; and poultry (chicken) products was valued at P99.3 million at a volume of 1.1 million kilograms. General Santos City has several swine farms accredited to export cut pork meat products to Singapore. This city was the second largest swine producer last year in the country, next only to Bulacan.

The Mindanao Rural Development Program 2 (MRDP2) of the World Bank is now being implemented in Mindanao and I am glad that they had installed safety nets so as to avoid corruption in this P 8 billion project. The Department of Agriculture and the Local Government Units (LGU’s) who were part of the project formulated an anti-corruption plan which is “embedded” in every phase of the project.
The first phase which had a funding of P 400 million involved 5 provinces and 32 municipalities and the 2nd phase had 27 provinces and 225 municipalities. The LGU’s themselves were responsible for bidding out the projects to local contractors.
The special allocation for MRDP for 2009 is P1.3 Billion; with 50-50 sharing agreement / counter-part funding from the LGU’s. It is projected that there should be a 20% increase in income of the participating households in the first 5 years of implementation.

The Cocoa farmers of Malagos and Calinan in Davao City were jumping with joy when Askinosie Chocolate in the United States used the Davao 77% dark chocolate for its newest premium chocolate line. The chocolate from Davao was described as “ dark and deep with a touch of toastiness; its dry like a full bloodied, well-aged red wine”. One single Davao dark chocolate bar was sold at $ 7.50 while a pack of 5 at $ 35.00. For the first time in 25 years, the cocoa beans found its way to the USA and this will create new markets for the farmers. But the farmers’ happiness with this new found market was short lived. According to the organizers of the Mindanao Farmers Community Development, it is the middlemen or the traders that is reaping all the benefits. Cocoa beans that were bought from the farmers at a measly sum of P 25.00-P91.00 per kilo are being passed on by the traders at P 141.00.
It would be good for the farmers and the traders , together with LGU and the agriculture department to sit down and develop a sustainable marketing plan ensuring that the farmers will also get an equitable share from this transactions. These problem is nothing new – corn and crop farmers always complain about the presence of middlemen and traders who “exploit” them since most of the time, farmers do not have the capital to plant, process , store or even transport their produce to the market. And the middlemen/traders will always be around to fill in that gap – and of course the there will always be a price to pay for that intervention.

Congratulations to my lawyer Mary Ann Arnado , a Mindanawon peace advocate who is this year’s Ninoy Aquino Fellow for Public Service. Mary Ann is secretary-general of the Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus (MPC) wand was awarded the fellowship last February 5 at the Peninsula Manila Hotel. She said that
she owed this distinction to the selfless, tireless and passionate grassroots leaders who have always inspired her to take bolder steps and be more creative in finding ways to resolve the armed conflict in Mindanao. Together with the hundreds of Bantay Ceasefire volunteers who are in the war zones risking their lives to protect women and children who are caught in the armed conflict , Mary Ann, is indeed one of the many “peace heroes” of Mindanao.

(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)

THE MEDCO STORY

2009-01-27T22:36:00.000-08:00

The Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) was established on 19 March 1992 through Executive Order No. 512 signed by then President Corazon C. Aquino. The aim is to promote and coordinate the active participation of all sectors to effect the socio-economic development of Mindanao through a holistic and integrated approach. The council was placed under the supervision of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process.

It was also created to address the need to promote and strengthen interregional linkages, ensure the integrated viability of the programs and projects in Mindanao.

Medco was designated to work with the local government units, which will serve as frontline entities, to help realize the development of specific geographical areas.

The agency was likewise created to address the need to promote and strengthen interregional linkages to ensure the integrated viability of the programs and projects in Mindanao, with the local government units as frontline entities that will realize the development of specific geographical areas.

The Business Chambers of Commerce of Mindanao partnered with MEDCO in promoting investments and economic activities. I had also the opportunity to work closely with the first MEDCO Chair, Paul Dominguez and later on with Jess Dureza, who is now the legal Counsel of Malacanang in my economic advocacy work for Mindanao

The agency became a source of pride for Mindanawans. When ever I am invited to talk about investments and businesses; I would never fail to mention MEDCO and its role in enhancing trade and commerce; but more significantly is that it is only in Mindanao that you can find such a body whose mandate is to focus only in our islands’ economic development and poverty reduction.

On May 15, 2000, then President Joseph Estrada signed EO No. 244 mandating MEDCo to act as the official and permanent Philippine Coordinating Office (PCO) for Brunei Darussalam Indonesia the Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). It maintained the close ties among the members of BIMP-EAGA. And it did serve the purpose of its creation; the development of Mindanao.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed EO 757 on 13 October 2008, placing MEDCo under the oversight of the National Economic Development Authority as it aims to be aggressive with a more focused approach for the continuing economic growth of Mindanao.

Today, NEDA will now have general supervision over the agency in formulation of continuing and integrated socio-economic development plans, policies and programs as well as the exercise and implementation of its regular functions.

The transfer of MEDCo to the oversight of NEDA resulted to different reactions from Mindanao. Many were surprised about it and questioned the motive behind the change of set-up. Business sector claims that MEDCo would be more effective and relevant if they would not be placed under NEDA. History would show that MEDCO really served Mindanao very well.

MEDCo on the other hand, had been very successful on handling gigantic tasks which is not limited to project development and management. It also was able to source fund not only for its agency but its projects. Their staff is known to reach even the smallest and most remote town in Mindanao. Close consultations with people from the different regions of the island had been MEDCO’ s strength.

Over the years MEDCo maintained its credibility to the foreign funding agencies mainly due to the integrity of its staff and the projects it had launched. MEDCo certainly knew how to walk their talk.

They had maintained a valuable database of statistics vital to making critical decisions for economic development. Its database became the only source of information to gauge Mindanao’s growth. Anything about Mindanao can be responded to by this agency.

It is very hard to compare the projects of NEDA and MEDCo. But as it seems MEDCo had far out-run NEDA for a mile. MEDCo became a clearing house for Mindanao projects for development. It is effective and efficient in representing the country in the BIMP-EAGA and in other international bodies.

Currently, a house bill is pushed proposing to create the convert MEDCo into Mindanao Economic Development Agency. The bill aims for the consistency and continuity of policy support. "Historically, there’s no consistency of policy support. The consequences of that are the loss of time, energy... and continuity in terms of programs and projects," USEC. Leyretana, the current MEDCO Chair said.

(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)

MINDANAO MOVING FORWARD IN 2009

2009-01-05T18:44:00.000-08:00

The year 2008 played a very significant milestone for Mindanao. Amidst the fear of global economic recession, we had proven in the past that we are able to withstand challenges and obstacles. Local and foreign investments overflowed in Mindanao that it can now be considered the priority location for business due to its natural resources and highly skilled human resources.

Mindanao, specifically Davao City, is now considered the Next Generation ICT hub. According to the study conducted by XMG Global Off-shoring Leadership Study, 3 years from now the city will be emerge as one of the top sites for off-shore business processes. It came in par with other locations like Montevideo, Uruguay; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Casablanca, Morocco. It also revealed that the city is considerably higher than other Tier-2 off-shoring cities globally. The city boasts its various educational institutions yielding a higher number of Information technology (IT) and BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) qualified graduates than Subic, Clark and Baguio by 689%, 278% and 40% respectively. The JIB e-Academy, Davao and Mindanao’s largest call center agents’ training school could hardly cope up with the demands of contact centers from Manila that had put up offices in Davao City.

Davao City’s population is 71% higher than Cebu City, 499% larger than Olongapo-Subic City 333% higher than Angeles-Clark City and 340% larger than Baguio City. The city’s estimated workforce is twice of Cebu, 9 times of Subic and 7 times of Clark and 6 times of Baguio. This has not even taken to account the manpower pool at the nearby cities and provinces of Davao City.

As of today, the city already has around ten (10) BPO centers and is expecting more BPO’s to open since there are two (2) giant mall companies, Ayala in partnership with Anflocor and Robinson’s that will set up IT/BPO parks and is expected to open late 2009. The creation of the parks will generate more jobs and attract more investors to consider Mindanao as a new business destination.

The abrupt spread of IT/BPO parks within the whole of Mindanao created a lot of opportunities for its locals. Mindanao can now be considered to be one of the fastest rising cities in the country. It may have already gone even beyond Metro Cebu.

A government-owned telephone company also eyes Mindanao as an investment destination for its expansion. MEDCo Undersecretary Leyretana said that the representatives of Telekom Brunei Berhad (TelBru) already met with Davao City’s ICT players.

TelBru board chair and delegation head Dato Paduka Hj Othman expressed the company’s interest in exploring possible partnerships with the Information Technology-Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) sector in Mindanao.

Mindanao’s Communications Technology has gone greater heights as before. There are already 749,217 installed fixed telephone lines in Mindanao and 33 percent of which are subscribed which translates to a total of 247,344 fixed telephone subscribers across the island-region. It is still continuously developing due to the recent investments of foreign BPO players.
With this developments and investments Mindanao has placed itself in the ICT/BPO investment destination map. Looking forward Mindanao might be their top priority.

Mindanao is also known for its natural abundance of its agricultural resources and products. Within 2008, the state-run Land Bank of the Philippines facilitated Php 17.2 billion loan-exposure to Mindanao. The loan was used mostly by Mindanao farm growers for their expansion and upgrading for their facilities.

Coconut oil remains to be Mindanao’s top export product making up at least 31% of its revenue for the first half of 2008. It posted a value of $481.10 million during the first quarter which is about 106% increase compared to last year’s figures on the same period.

Banana made it big by posting $204.86 million, a 4.7% increase as to last year’s statistics. Banana chips exports from Southeastern Mindanao were the only ones spared when Chinese authorities confiscated banana product shipments from Philippines reacting to a report that it contained high levels of the preservative sulfur dioxide.

Other top export-revenue generators are the organic chemicals such as lauryl, cetyl, and stearyl alcohol which generated $78.83 million, flat-rolled iron products and non-alloy steel with $67.31 million, iron ore agglomerates (sinters) at $ 66.05 million, nickel ores at $ 64.57 million, preserved pineapples at $ 55.34 million, tuna at $ 50.23 million, and fresh pineapples at $ 30.29 million.

Canned tuna remain another top export product for Central Mindanao. It reached $136.60 million on the first half of the year alone.

Mindanao’s top export market is the United States of America which gets at least 25% of all the export products. Mindanao earned over $378.65 million, a 63% increase over last year for exports to US alone.

MEDCo had identified some Mindanao’s other major export markets such as the Netherlands for coconut oil (crude and refined), China for nickel ores and coconut oil, South Korea for organic chemicals and fresh bananas, Malaysia, Iran, Taiwan and Singapore.

Recently, Mindanao’s export revenue from Indonesia posted $34 million compared $4 million last year, which over 800% increase for Mindanao’s flat-rolled products of iron and non-alloy steel, rice in the husk suitable for sowing and other anionic washing preparations..

It also gained a 70% increase in export revenue from Taiwan coming from $ 18 million last year to $ 31 for just the first semester of this year Mindanao’s organic chemicals, natural rubber and fresh bananas.

One way or another Mindanao has proven that even with the turmoil of a supposed war or economic recession; Mindanao can go leaps and bounds with its economy. Our rich natural resources and the strong confidence of the Mindanawans will always be our armour against all odds.

(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)

THE GOLDEN PROVINCE OF MINDANAO

2008-12-08T17:26:00.000-08:00

Compostela Valley, called Comval is a province located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. This 4th newest province of the Philippines used to be part of Davao del Norte until it was made independent in 1998. It might interest you to know that this province was the location for the movie, I Come with the Rain starring Hollywood star Josh Hartnett

Majority of the inhabitants are migrants from Cebu and other Visayan provinces. The cultural minorities in the province include Mansaka, Mandaya, Dibabawons, Mangguangans and Aeta groups such as the Talaingod, Langilan, and Matigsalug.

Comval occupies a total land area 4,667 square kilometers; 24.7% of the total land area of the Davao Region. The province is rich in agricultural lands planted with coconut, bananas, white potatoes and mineral deposits which is mostly gold.

ComVal province, particularly Monkayo town, is the gold-mining center in the Southern Mindanao Region with its gold rich mining areas in Diwata of Monkayo, Bango of Compostela, Masara of Maco, Inupoan of Nabunturan, and Boringot, Diyat and Kingking of Pantukan.

The Jewelry industry of Comval

From the year 2008 to 2012, Philippine jewelers are eyeing exports of $400 million to the world's markets, according to the Guild of Philippine Jewelers. The World Gold Council (WGC) has cited the Philippines as the third biggest gold producer in Asia, next to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and the 14th world's highest gold producer.

Some 100,000 workers are employed by the country's jewelry industry with gold and silver sourced locally from various gold mines in Camarines Norte, Davao Province, and Compostela Valley, according to WGC.

Gold and silver coming from various gold mines in Mindanao are expected to help boost the growth of the Philippine jewelry industry.

Because of the abundance of mineral deposits the province of Compostela Valley is now focusing on developing their jewelry industry. The gold and silver that will be used in the production of jewelries will be sourced within the province – from the gold rich area of Diwalwal and Monkayo.

Jewelry Cooperative

The province has also started cashing in on its precious minerals deposits by adding value to raw materials. The artisans of the province, through their cooperative, the Diwalwal Artisan Entrepreneurs Cooperative in the gold rush Diwalwal, Monkayo, have started making their jewelry like rings, pendants, necklaces and other similar items.

The cooperative can produce at least 100 pieces a month by processing raw gold and silver into jewelry pieces which are artistically designed and can compete with those made in Manila or in other countries. These pieces are reasonably priced since the gold and other precious stones used are found in the province

The provincial government is also very supportive of the industry. I learned that Gov. Arthur Uy and Cong. Zamora; both a strong advocate of the jewelry sector have set aside a significant fund to help develop the industry. This will go to the training of the artisans and craftsmen so that they can develop their skills and artistic abilities to manufacture and design beautiful pieces of jewelries that may be exported in the future.

The local business community is bullish in its pursuit to develop Comval as
Mindanao’s jewelry capital inspired by the experience of Meycauyan in Bulacan, an area where there is no gold reserves but has a very strong jewelry making industry.

The Solidarity Ring

The solidarity ring, a symbol of unity and oneness among the people of Comval is found in the capitol lobby. It is 18-karat two-toned ring with an interior diameter of 5 inches and exterior diameter of 6 inches, made up of 1.18 kilograms of gold of shining finish and 308 grams of 99.9 percent pure silver of diamond finish and weighing 1.488 kilograms,
The solidarity ring also is the best centerpiece of the province biggest jewel and assets – the gold deposits that changed many of their lives since the precious metal was found in their province in the 1980’s.

There are now many initiatives to harness the strength of ComVal in jewelry-making and among them is the P3.5- million jewelry-making skills training center that will soon rise in gold-mining town of Monkayo, Compostela .

Developments such as these should be given more focus by both the national and local government since these will result to more jobs and investments in the country side. When our people are gainfully employed and are able to provide for food and education to their family; then peace will truly be in our midst.

(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)

MINDANAO CLOSE TO THE HEARTS OF MIDDLE EAST

2008-11-25T18:19:00.000-08:00

The Mindanao Chambers of Commerce sent a full delegation of businessmen representing all the major cities and provinces of the island to the recently concluded 34th Philippine Business Conference held in Manila Hotel. Perhaps, because of our distance from Manila; it is always with great anticipation that we look forward to hearing Pres. Arroyo’s speech during the closing ceremonies. And we would listen intently whether the President would drop a word or two about Mindanao. And for the past many years ; she never fails to do so.

Shock Absorbers of the Economy

This year her speech focused on the measures being undertaken by the country to cushion the impact of the recession in the United States. She elaborated that the Philippines has a number of shock absorbers. Among them are our solid banking system ; our projected expatriate inflows was 10% growth; but actual growth so far is 18%. Even if the American economy would sink, the expatriates in that part of the world are in sectors that are less sensitive to recession . These are the teachers, nurses, information technology related workers and caregivers.
The Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector will balance off the slow growth in merchandise exports. In addition, pump priming will happen in many sectors and industry ; more so in agriculture, housing, infrastructure, lending support to small and medium sized businesses.

Middle East Relationship to Mindanao

Pres. Arroyo said that the “ Arab engine is up due to the past five years of costly oil. This is has led to the construction boom in the Middle East and a surge of remittances.
What really caught our attention was when she said “, In addition, the fact that the Philippines has a Mindanao close to the hearts of the Middle East, opens up opportunities not only for Mindanao but for the entire country.”

One of the markets that Mindanao has not fully developed is the Middle East, with its countries known not only for their “black gold” but also for their modern infrastructure facilities.

Opportunities for Mindanao

In recent years, the Middle East, most notably the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Dubai, has risen to greater heights in terms of investments. However, it was only recently though that Mindanao has slowly gained access to the Middle East markets.
Based on the report of the Bureau of Customs in Davao, the Middle East, in September, collectively brought about $5.763 million in goods from the region, the third among the top 10 countries that were destinations of exports from the region, next only to Japan and Malaysia.

For the Middle East, the bulk of its imports from the Davao Region during the period was fresh bananas with a value of $4.893 million with a volume of 17.758 million metric tons. The figure even excluded the banana imported by the United Arab Emirates which had a value of $447,521.

Even the controversial Iran rose to the fifth position with a value of $4.975 million, or 28.625 million metric tons of goods from the Davao Region, particularly fresh fruits like papaya and pineapple.

The figures would have been bigger had the figures from other regions were available. Nevertheless, the figures were already indicative that the Middle East markets have started taking notice of Mindanao as a big producer of products that its people need particularly as a supplier of food and fruits.

POSSIBLE INVESTMENTS FOR PEACE

Another notable development was the visit of a technical team from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia whose task was to find areas where they can invest. The seven member team, headed by Ahmed M. AlSadhan of the kingdom’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, arrived in Davao City late last month. They proceeded to Mati City, the capital of Davao Oriental, to discuss with Gov. Corazon N. Malanyaon the possibility of investing in rice and corn production. Gov. Malanyaon and Mati City Mayor Marie Michelle Denise Rabat gladly briefed the visitors about the province.

The development is one good start for people of Mindanao, particularly its leaders, to consider looking into intensifying trade between the island and the Middle East. People in Mindanao, particularly its local government and business leaders, should start discussing with leaders of the countries within the Middle East region on where they can invest to help the island fully develop its potentials..

Known for their help in achieving peace in Mindanao as most of these countries are members of the Organization of Islamic Conference(OIC) . This is the body that has facilitated peace talks between the Moro rebel groups and the government. I believe they are also interested in helping Mindanao develop into one big producer of the products that they will need – from food, hand made toys, gifts and house wares, furniture’s and furnishings and even in the area of medical , cultural adventure and eco-tourism.

Middle East would be one of the best trading partners of Mindanao not only in business but more importantly in peace and development.

(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)

AUSTRALIA’S RENEWED FOCUS IN MINDANAO

2008-11-10T17:27:00.001-08:00

The Australian government is one of Mindanao’s active partner through their various aid programs in education, manpower and skills , gender equity and micro-enterprise support. Today, I am personally involved in Aus-Aid’s human resource development program called Phil-Australia Human Resource Development Facility(PAHRDF), in my capacity as Chairperson of Mindanao Technical Vocational Education Federation (MinTVET). PAHRDF is continuously supporting MinTVET in the training of teachers of technical vocational schools through a scholarship grant in Australia in various fields.

So, it was without hesitation that I immediately accepted the invitation of Mr. Albert Garcia, President of the Philippine Australia Business Council (PABC) when he invited me to attend the business session and luncheon with their counterpart, the Australia Philippine Business Council (APBC) to represent Mindanao. This was during the 2^nd Philippine-Australia Ministerial meeting held in Manila last Oct. 9, 2008.

PABC is one of Mindanao’s strongest partner, despite the fact that all, if not most of their members are Manila based businessmen. Since 1975, PABC and the APBC had implemented trade initiatives to enhance the bilateral partnership and much has also been achieved for the past 38 years of cooperation.

Renewed Partnership in Mindanao

The total foreign trade in Mindanao increased by 24% in 2007 which was valued at US$3.745 billion from US$3.0 billion in 2006. Export earnings grew by 23% valued at US$2.593 billion. Our total imports increased by 27% from US$901.54 million in 2006 and US$1.153 billion in 2007. Unfortunately. Australia is not one of our top ten export partners .

To quote PABC Pres. Garcia, “Unfortunately from a trade perspective there is still much work to be done by the Philippine side to reduce the trade gap.” The huge difference in trade figures in Australia’s favor strongly suggests the indifference by Phil. Business to seriously consider Australia as a lucrative and profitable export market. “.

The PABC is pushing both the Phil. and Australian government‘s bilateral relationship to focus in Mindanao as its principal beneficiary. It is time that our traders shift their attention from Manila and traditional business partners and look again very closely further south into the BIMP EAGA (Brunei –Indonesia-Malaysia-Phil. East Asean Growth Area) and then beyond to the Northern Territory of Australia.

Mindanao exporters should also look at the Northern Territory as the geographic gateway to Australia using the Darwin –Adelaide railway as linkage to the markets of South and Western Australia. This southern direction also points at export markets of the Pacific island economies which are the non - traditional markets, not only for Mindanao exports, but for the Phil. as well. These are the smaller nations like Papua, New Guinea, Noumea, Tonga, Vanuatu and Nuie.

Specific Sectors: Mining, Cattle Fattening and Ship Building

Mindanao also buys its cattle from Australia and “fattens” them in their farms. As a result, there is value in jointly developing a “halal” food industry.

PABC further advocates for the naval and maritime cooperation for peace and development to put into optimal use two significant Phil and Mindanao resources – our rich mineral and human resource relative to ship building technology, facility management and information and communication technology.

An official from the Board of Investment said that around October of this year, there were two(2) Australian mining companies that had started exploring minerals in Agusan del Sur and Surallah, South Cotabato. There is also the mining partnership between Asiaticus Management Corporation (Amcor) and Australian mining giant BHP Billiton which had a joint venture agreement to explore ore deposits at the Pujada Nickel Project in Davao Oriental. Australian Mining firm, Indophil is at Tampakan, South Cotabato .With ore deposits of over 12.8 million tons of 0.6 per cent copper and 15.2 million ounces of 0.2 grams per ton of gold; the Tampakan Copper and Gold Project is reportedly the biggest of its kind in Asia.

The PABC recommends that the mining firms incorporate a food security program to alleviate poverty as part of their social responsibility in the community where they operate

Tapping Mindanao’s Highly Skilled Human Resource

Australia must also contribute in practical terms to Phil. and Mindanao’s skills development. This country is one of the favorite of Filipinos who wants to work overseas because of its attractive migration incentives. PABC is pushing that Australia also contribute significantly to the technical skills and manpower education. As a result, we are also continuously ensured of a robust pool of manpower despite the toll due to rapid migration for better work in other countries. It is suggested that there must be an equivalency program between Australia education in higher and technical education.

Lifting of Travel Advisories to Mindanao

The Australian government ‘s travel advisory to Mindanao is a big hindrance to the realization of all of these objectives and initiatives. The PABC is asking Australia to clearly make a distinction between generally peaceful investment friendly cities such as Davao and Cagayan de Oro and to lift the negative advisory to these cities for a start. The other Mindanao cities such as Gen. Santos, Zamboanga, Butuan and Surigao, after a sufficient period of observation, can follow. These negative advisories are a great barrier to investments.

(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)

IMPROVING LOGISTICS FOR MINDANAO’S AGRI BUSINESS (2nd of 2 parts)

2008-10-20T20:28:00.000-07:00

The agriculture sector continues to be remarkable in its performance mainly due to the fact that the island is within a typhoon-free zone. Production of crops such as banana and pineapple had substantial growth rates during the year. Staple food such as rice and corn have registered growth rates due to end of the drought induced by the El Nino

phenomenon. Currently, 37% of the total Mindanao output comes from the agriculture sector while 36% is from the services sector. The remaining 27% of the total output is from the industry sector.

Roads are important components to agricultural growth .The major road projects in Mindanao are mainly intended to bring farm produce to the market faster and at least cost and to cut travel time for travelers. These projects, which will be constructed until 2010, are being built for a total cost of P12.868 billion.

The Dinagat Island Road Network in Surigao del Norte involves the improvement and rehabilitation of 15 kilometersof the main road that shall connect the municipalities of Cagdianao and Loreto, Dinagat, San Jose, Basilisa, Libjo, and Tubajon. At a cost of P100 million, the project is divided into nine (9) sections. Construction started in April 2007 and the project shall be completed towards the end of this quarter.

The Surigao-Davao Coastal Road Project involves the rehabilitation and improvement of 448 kilometers of road at a cost of P6 billion. It functions as the main trunkline for the coastal municipalities that leads further to the Pan-Philippine Highway. Currently, the Manay - Mati Section in Davao Oriental is 93% complete, while the rest of the other sections are also undergoing civil works. The project is expected to be completed by May 2010.

The Zamboanga West Coast Road with a total length of 169 Kms. (begins at the boundary of the municipalities of Gutalac and Baliguian and traverses southwest along the western coast of the Zamboanga Peninsula through the Municipalities of Baliguian, Siocon, Sirawai,and Sibuco and ends at the Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga City ; has a total project cost of P 3.428 Billion with an overall accomplishment of 7% andwill be completed on December 2009. The P 385.40 Million initially released to the project is composed of ten (10) on-going sections with an accomplishment of 35.85%. However, the implementation of the project was hampered due to bad weather conditions.

Upi-Lebak Road, is an 88km project that traverses the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat. It shall provide access to the centers of agricultural, industrial, fishing, commercial and tourism activities in Mindanao. The whole project will be completed by October 2009.

INCREASING INTER-ISLAND TRADE

Southwestern Mindanao Roll on-Roll off (RORO) connections are Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur Isabela and Lamitan in Basilan, Jolo and Siasi Island in Sulu

Agricultural products like fish products, fruits and vegetables, rubber are shipped to Zamboanga City from Basilan (Isabela). Inbound cargoes to Basilan include rice and palay, flour, bottled cargoes, manufactured goods, food and other consumer products. Volume of cargoes had increased from 19,000MT in 2006 to 27,000MT in 2007. Passenger traffic between Zamboanga and Basilan is also in an uptrend; from 268,000 in 2006 to 298,000 in 2007.

The Ozamis-Mukas RORO route facilitates the travel of students to the universities in Ozamis City. Before the establishment of the route, students used to spend P500/week for lodging. Now, they only spend P160/week on RORO fare.

RORO has reduced transport cost in Mindanao and has resulted to increased mobility of people which resulted to growth in domestic tourism.

With all of these developments in infrastructure, Mindanao will be able to sustain its economic momentum inspite of all of the odds. There may be events that seems to beyond the control of businesspersons like me; but we all continue to have confidence in our region and this can be clearly seen with the many new investments, both big and small in the countryside. In Davao alone, there is the new Robinson’s Cyberpark which will soon be the hub of businesses in ICT (information communication technology) and the Ayala Shopping Mall and ICT Park which is now under construction. For us in business, all is well in Mindanao.

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The Mindanao Chambers of Commerce and Industry headed by VP-Mindanao, Ms. Elene Haw, came in full force to participate in the 34^th Phil. Business Conference of the Phil. Chamber of Commerce and Industry chaired by Ambassador Alfredo Yao, a firm supporter of Mindanao . It is these Chambers all over the island that makes these businesses thrive in their regions; it is them who continuously invests in their areas that results to jobs and better living conditions.

(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)

BUSINESS IS STILL ON THE GO IN MINDANAO

2008-08-25T18:57:00.000-07:00

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.

CALL CENTER FOR MUSLIMS

2008-08-25T18:48:00.000-07:00

It’s the call center era nowadays. We see call centers sprout like mushrooms in our country, and more Filipinos are getting trained or employed as call center agents.

At a time when U.S. companies are increasingly going abroad to source "sophisticated, mission-critical functions" because of a shortage of highly educated professionals in developed countries, the Philippines has become one of the preferred destination for these American companies, according to a study by Duke University, in North Carolina, and the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.

And for good reasons because the Philippines has one of the highest literacy rates in the East Asian and Pacific area, with 92% of the population 10 years of age and older are literate. For these companies seeking to outsource, lower costs, high literacy rate, culture, and employee loyalty are the country's appealing factors.

Filipinos are more attuned to Western culture than most Asians; majority of the population can understand and speak English, thanks to a long history of contact with the United States, including several decades of American colonial rule. Call center employees find it easy to relate to Westerners and adapt to a variety of accents. Most call center employees receive intensive training to acquire the accent of the country that they will be calling.

In Mindanao, the call center industry has only just begun. Cagayan de Oro has three of the 10 call centers in Mindanao with over 800 call center representatives, while Davao has over 700 employees from three call centers. This growth is expected to double by next year.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is also catching up in the call center boon. There’s a huge labor potential in the ARMM for call center and business outsourcing. This labor force could cater to the Middle East companies.

In response to this untapped potential of the Muslims to work as call center agents, a Davao-base Call Center and Language School , trained native Muslims in Barangay Waan, Cabantian, Davao City in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Barangay officials. Waan is predominantly populated by Muslims and is an hour drive from the city proper. The free training aimed to create awareness and expose our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters to the best-in-class call center management technology that leads to better coaching and performance.

It started last November 6, 2006 with four (4) weeks focusing on English Language Proficiency lessons and an additional month long training in call center operations where they had hands-on-experience in making and answering calls.

All 51 participants are college graduates; some have a career in teaching and banking already, while others are unemployed. Now that they finished their basic call center training, a new door has opened for them.

The Muslim graduates are now very happy with their achievements ; they will have more access to job opportunities in the business process outsource sector with their newly found skills- English grammar, pronunciation, articulation and diction.

One student expressed that she can now use her speaking skills in dealing with their foreign customers at the bank, although she is open to a career in the call center industry. Another student, currently teaching Arabic studies in Waan, is excited to apply his learnings to his current profession.

Among the major challenges they encountered when the program was just starting was speaking with a neutral accent. They now boast of an improved accent, and higher self confidence in public speaking than when they first started.

This recently concluded training has now disproved the prevailing notion that ARMM workers have low level of skills and are not trainable. Provided with proper access to ICT and the right training, I believe that workers in the region are source of huge economic potentials that remain untapped until now. We want to prove that the ARMM is also a source of highly trainable and world competitive human resources. All we need to do is give the people access to technology and harness their potentials.

Establishing contact centers in Muslim Mindanao will help generate sustainable jobs, reduce unemployment rate, and eventually bring down poverty level in the region where armed conflict has slowed progress in the past.

The ARMM has consistently had the highest rate of poverty incidence in the country, reaching 71.3 in 2000. Although the poverty incidence decreased to 53.1 in 2003 (all regions registered lower rates of poverty incidence during this year), the ARMM remains the poorest region in the country.

The pilot training in Waan show that Muslims too are interested in the call center training and perhaps in the future – a call center may decide to locate in the ARMM.

(Joji Ilagan Bian is a strong advocate for Mindanao ; Chair, Mindanaworld Foundation Inc; Mindanao TVET; Mindanao Rep , Export Development Council ; Chair , Joji Ilagan Foundation ; Former Chair of the Mindanao Business Council. Email comments to jojibian2@yahoo.com)

BUSINESS AS USUAL IN BASILAN

2008-07-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

For years, Basilan was considered a dangerous province in Mindanao because many have the perception that danger lurks in its every corner.

But then, organizers of the 4^th Zamboanga Peninsula Business Conference decided to hold these two day event, which took place last April 25-27, 2008 in the province with the main objective of highlighting both its investment and tourism potentials.

The event, considered the largest gathering of members of the business sector of Western Mindanao showed what the province has to offer for investment and tourism. There were over 102 participants coming from the chambers of commerce and industry of the cities of Dipolog, Zamboanga, Ozamiz, Pagadian and Basilan.

On its first day, a special session was conducted at the Isabela City Council Session Hall with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Philippine Chamber Development Institute as the main discussant on private-public sector partnership.

The opening ceremonies at the Juan S. Alano Compound's Julio Amphitheater was hosted by the city of Isabela where guests were treated to a banquet called “Pesong Kaam”, a Yakan term for welcome.

Main Business of the Day

Tackled during the summit of business men were sessions that discussed corporate social responsibility among companies, linkages between business and government; global trading and financial development for Mindanao. There were also representatives from Australian Aid’s Enterprise Challenge Fund and USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao who spoke about development oriented projects that the business sector can avail of.

The joint meeting of the of the Isabela City Small & Medium Enterprise Development Council (ICSMEDC) and the One Town, One Product Technical Working Group also took place with the desire of strengthening the partnership among government agencies and the city's private sector.

Yakan Crafts and Wares

The partnership with the Basilan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc. and the Isabela City Tourism Office and the Department of Trade and Industry – Isabela City and the Alano Group of Companies led to the inauguration of the Isabela City Pasalubong Center . The center was a show room of Isabela City's products, specifically the Yakan crafts and weaves, bamboo appliances and furniture and hand-woven mats. These are used in home furnishings which are at times featured in architectural magazines. If you want to get them for a bargain price;its time to go to Isabela.

The Isabela City Exposition and the Annual Isabela City Agro-Industrial Fair was opened with City Mayor Cherrylyn Santos Akbar leading the event held at the Plaza Rizal. Supporting the trade exposition were the delegations from Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga delNorte, as well as local producers' associations and local craft and livelihood organizations showcasing their products.

The Business Students of Isabela

To highlight the important role of the young and future entrepreneurs , the 1st Zamboanga Peninsula-Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao Business Camp for Business students of the different public and private tertiary educational institutions was held at the Juan S. Alano Memorial School, Inc.

The students were from the cities of Isabela and Lamitan, Zamboanga and Dipolog. The event also held a series of plenary sessions on entrepreneurship handled by the Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. – Asosasyon ng mga Nagkakaisang Kabataan tungo sa Pag-unlad at Kapayapaan and the Metro Basilan Junior Jaycees (MBJJCs).

Now who says life and business is dull in Basilan?

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August will be very busy month for the academe and the tourism industry of Mindanao. Davao City will be the host of the largest gathering of technical vocational schools, labor and business leaders all over the island. The 7^th Mindanao Human Resource and Skills Development Forum will be held on August 6-8, 2008 at the Mandaya Hotel. This years theme is “Beyong Borders.Meeting the Challenges of Change”. The main organizers is the Mindanao TVET Association and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)

The biggest tourism and travel exposition; the 3^rd Mindanao Travel and Trade Expo will be on August 8-10,2008 at the Shoemart Entertainment Center. This year’s theme is “Barkadahan sa Octo-break” and this will be participated by the Local Government Units of Mindanao, the Department of Tourism Regional Offices and Travel and Tour Operators

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SAILING THE BIMP EAGA SEAS

2008-07-08T23:17:00.000-07:00

The sea linkage between two trading points, or among several others, is very important considering that this is needed in hastening the movement of goods and products at a lower cost. Businessmen and traders will always want lower transportation cost.

I notice that while much has been taking place in the air linkages within the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines (BIMP) East Asean Growth Area (EAGA) in an effort to facilitate tourism promotion, the sea linkage proposals have not improved that much despite the signing of two memoranda of agreement last year among the four countries.

INITIATIVES

Based on the report of the Mindanao Economic Development Council, as a result of the meeting in April in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam, there was no significant movement in the sea linkages among the four countries.

However, the report mentioned some "flagship programs and projects" that the top officials of the four countries were considering,

Among others, the report cited the discussion on a proposal for a tariff reduction of the roll-on roll-off ship operation between Zamboanga and Sandakan, Malaysia. In that meeting, Philippine representatives wanted the Philippines and Malaysian governments to enter into a bilateral arrangements that will reduce port tariffs for their ports. For Malaysia, the agreement will be implemented in its Sandakan port.

The Philippines also requested that the ship be accommodated at a roll-on-roll off terminal.

SOLE LINKAGE and OTHER INITIATIVES

Today there is only the Zamboanga-Sandakan shipping route that is being served by two Zamboanga City-based companies, the Aleson Shipping Lines and the Sampaguita Shipping Lines.

The servicing of the General Santos City-Bitung, Indonesia route has been suspended.

The implementation of a memorandum of understanding on the "establishment and promoting efficient integrated sea linkages" was also one of the key points being explored. The officials for the four countries raised the issue of updating one another on the development of port facilities including the privatization of some of them. This is necessary because this will allow each of them to come up with their respective plans on sea linkages, taking into consideration the viability of using the ports of their trading partners.

The representative of the Asian Development Bank, the sub-regional advisor, was tasked to update the four countries on the pre-investment study that would identify the "shortfall in ports performance and capacity among the designated BIMP EAGA gateway ports and develop project priorities for bridging the performance and capacity gaps as mandated by the BIMP EAGA MoU on Sea Linkages."

There is so much has to be done to improve sea linkages and that it will take much time and political will for all the stakeholders , both government and private sector to make these sea linkages sustainable. Volume of traffic, both passengers and goods have to be present. More business activities have to be created.

I share the optimism of those who are involved in these endeavor, taking note of their efforts in promoting trade among the four countries.

As a leader of the Mindanao business sector, it is also my desire to see that every plan, big or small, finally takes shape to realize the dream of making the sub-region one big borderless economy.

FLYING THE EAGA SKIES

2008-06-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

Today, tourism is one of the key sectors that the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (EAGA) is given much emphasis. Not only because it increases people and business mobility but it is one of the fastest means of ensuring that intra regional cooperation and linkages will actually happen on the ground.

The Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) reported during the 14^th anniversary of the sub-regional group that several air linkages were being opened or on the discussion tables.

Among these linkages are the flights between Zamboanga and Sandakan which is being served by the Asian Spirit; and Malaysia’s Air Asia which flies from Kuching, Malaysia to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Several other airlines are also looking into possibly servicing other viable routes.

The attempt to establish air and sea linkages fits well into the desire of the four countries to intensify travel and tourism between and among them and encourage more business exchanges. But more importantly, the cost of travel must be reasonable and affordable for both business and tourism so that activities within the region will flourish.

There is a need for all the airlines to study their fare structure very carefully and to ensure competitiveness or else people from the regions will not be motivated to travel either for business or tourism. Budget fares can easily result to greater number of cultural and student exchanges; businessmen visiting theareas to explore what they can do together; more tourists shopping, eating and spending their money.

New Air Route

Just last week, Indonesia’s Wings Air, a subsidiary of Lion Air, has started its chartered flight between Davao City and Manado, a route that has been abandoned so many times because of very thin traffic.

This time the Indonesian government will exert efforts to help sustain the service by bringing in greater volume of goods from Manado, Indonesia. Indonesian Consul Gen. Lalu Malik Partawana who is based in Davao City informed us that his office will exert all efforts to support the new air route.

I am now in Bali, Indonesia enjoying the week with my family. I could had flown directly from Davao; if there was a much easier air routes and cheaper fares. But since there was none; we decided to fly from Singapore.

This is what I had discussed with the Consul when I visited him in his office in Davao City; that we should make the air linkages work this time; and this can be done by creating activities that would bring about movement of people from the Davao to Manado and other Indonesian cities and provinces. And rates of travel is a critical issue – it can be a deterrent if priced wrongly and a strong motivator if the cost is just right.

Fifth Freedom Rights

Load cargo has always been the problem in traveling in the sub-regional destinations. This is the factor that prompted the four countries to declare the implementation of the fifth freedom rights so that airline companies can service destinations within the sub-region outside of their assigned destination.

The four countries even approved the “multiple designation of airlines with no restriction on frequency and capacity” and the “adoption of sub-regional multilateral agreement on common airport tariffs,” hoping that this will trigger the travel intensity among the peoples of the sub-region and those that are visiting its beautiful tourist spots.

What Needs to be Done

Having been actively involved in the promotion of this sub-regional group in the past, I believe that air linkages are very much necessary if the four countries, or their designated areas in the sub-region. They can pushed budget airlines to look into servicing the routes between and among them. This will not only heighten the trade relations among the participants, but would even pave the way for them as a group to look for a bigger trading partner like China or Japan.

This is also very important to the tourism sector, especially now that the industry is looking into promoting itself as one big destination to tourists particularly Europeans who love to travel for days to several destinations. The linkages will serve as a come-on for these travelers to consider the BIMP countries as a single destination within the sub-region.

There is a need to massively promote successful partnerships or business ventures; initiatives and exchanges, cultural and educational linkages that is worth talking about. All of these must be brought up in the open so that the EAGA excitement will again be in everyone’s heart!

DAVAO LIGHT AND DABAWENYOS- FORMIDABLE PARTNERS

2008-06-09T19:12:00.000-07:00

While politicians and various sectors in Metro Manila are trading barbs over the high power rates, Davao City has been blessed with the best power utility. Davao Light and Power Company is the third largest privately-owned electric utility in the Philippines. It holds the franchise for distributing electric power to Davao City, the largest city in the world in terms of land area, as well as Panabo City and the municipalities of Carmen, Dujali, and Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte.

In 2007, the company sold 1.331 billion kilowatt-hours to 247,341 customers with a peak demand of 245 megawatts (MW). And while these experts and politicians were trying to go deeper into the so-called systems losses, our power utility here is surprisingly registering systems loss below what the government allows. Based on the data obtained from the company, its systems loss was at 8.8 percent, way below the 9.5% percent that government allows.

Systems loss is defined as energy loss due to technical problems and to pilferage. Under the law, a power utility whose systems loss goes beyond 9.5% is restricted to pass it on to consumers.

Davao Light maintains a 54.7 MW standby diesel power plant, operated as needed to stabilize voltage as well as augment the power supply of its primary generating sources. It makes use of a fully functional automated mapping and facilities management (AM/FM) system to track the location of electric distribution assets in its 3,561 square kilometer franchise. Also in place is a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, a facility that allows remote real-time data gathering and control of equipment in all power substations.

High-end computers, sophisticated software, and other devices are being used to speed up meter reading, streamline billing, provide efficient and prompt response to customer inquiries, generate management information, and analyze electrical grid information.

In anticipation for the increase in demand of power within its service areas, the company has also signed with sister company Hedcor Inc. an agreement that will allow it to buy power produced from the power plants of the latter in Sibulan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur

and those that it will build in Suawan, Tamugan and Panigan in the hinterland of the city.

And until late last month, the main man behind the company was a young and energetic executive known for his humility and candidness. Luis Alfonso Y. Aboitiz, known to friends as “AL” who at the time of his death was at the helm of the company’s operations .

In the past when the power firm would petitioned for increases; Al would do the explaining himself instead of turning over the responsibility to his subordinates. Armed with his power point presentation, Al would patiently discuss the issues on hand to the business sector and leaders of progressive organizations. He would answer every question even those irrelevant ones.

Under his leadership, the company was also known as among the leaders in corporate social responsibility work, having done so many community-related activities from education, health and enterprise development for the people within its service area.

But one achievement that Al was always proud of is the city’s emergency system which is the Central 911 which was patterned after the US and Canada.

The project was conceptualized in collaboration with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte using the Electronic Computer Aided Dispatch system of the power utility in responding to distress calls. Today, 911 is Davao’s partner in saving lives.

His untimely death not only meant a lot to his family and his company but also to the city which has benefited from his leadership. This maybe late but this column extends its condolences to the family that Al left behind. He will be remembered well by all Dabawenyos.

SULU’S RESPONSE TO GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS

2008-05-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

From well-oiled automatic rifles and smoke grenades, the Tausogs in Luuk, Sulu are now arming themselves for a different kind of war – a battle for full stomach and patience – to win over the scourge of poverty where it breeds terrorism.

Security officials in the country has been alarmed by the reality of food shortage that triggered riots erupting worldwide and is now gauging the security implications of the crucial rice and food situation in the country.

The Tausogs in this island of more than half a million Muslims are armed not with weapons, but farm implements battling to save themselves from the looming food crisis the country is facing.

Luuk, which literally means, ”low elevation”, was established in 1918 when Maas Kamlon, a very famous Tausog warrior fought against the government. The province is among the poorest provinces in the country and registered with the lowest human development index. It lagged behind in terms of economic development and the people here lived in a lonely island of poverty but ironically in the midst of a vast ocean of natural resources.

Agricultural Revolution

The Tausugs are now in the midst of what they call an agricultural revolution and are planting hundred of hectares of farms with cassava, corn and vegetable.

People here are now conscious enough and know very well the consequences, that if eventually supplies of imported of rice will decrease and will come in trickles, they can always eat cassava as an alternative.

Because they consider cassava as their staple instead of rice, the farmers are able to slowly cushion the impact of the soaring rice prices.

The local government led by Mayor Abdurahman Arbison, together with his Father and the entire government, rallied the people to engage in livelihood projects by tilling their lands and planting them with cassava and other crops, Arbison said that in the advent of a global rice shortage, people in Sulu need not to worry anymore, as they can always go back to their staple which is cassava and since they have an abundance of it ; they can even export it if needed.

Aside from planting essentials, fisher folks at its coastal area here are also concentrating on lobsters (tiger) and groupers (lapu-lapu) culture at sea.

The only fishpond in Sulu is found in this coastal town; and employs people from Iloilo in the Visayas (Ilongos). They manned the fishpond and at the same time teach bangus culture to the locals.

Ilongo’s are known in the Visayas to be industrious and are experts in cultivating fresh water seafoods to include tilapia and sugpo(prawns), however, the Tausogs are not used to eat fresh water fish but is now learning and beginning to like it.

Developments in Sulu

Access roads to near by municipalities connecting to the center town are now under construction and are to be operational before the end of this year. Roads to this areas before it was concreted, were not accessible due to big holes, mud -like soil and boulders of rocks.

Leisure Park, a few hundred meters away from the Tanduh Batu Port which is also adjacent to more than a kilometer from the Boulevard by the Sea is nearing completion.

When operational the park’s centerpiece is a Water Fountain complete with colored light bulbs that will illuminate the rolling and sprouting water above 12 feet from the ground.

The lighted Boulevard by the Sea has a walkway in the side of the riff-raff shoulders to accommodate early morning joggers and sunset lovers who are expected to troop the area.

Opposite the boulevard will rise a Sports Complex complete with Basketball and Tennis Courts with many indoor games.

More commercial stalls around the area will be built in uniform models to accommodate goods and products to be sold at bottom low prices that will showcase native and indigenous products.

Sulu had hosted the visit of two heads of states, two (2) Philippine Presidents, Pres. Gloria Arroyo and Former Pres. Joseph Estrada; and the son of the Great Libyan-Arab Jamahiriya Col. Muammar Khadafi.

Personally, Sulu is one of the areas in Mindanao that continues to attract me. I know so many business people that would really want to go and explore Sulu and see for themselves the economic progress that is now happening. Do it. Now is the time.

(My thanks to fellow MIndanaoan Mr. Ed General of MindaNews for the information in this column).

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

OPPORTUNITIES IN BIO FUEL PRODUCTION

2008-05-14T19:22:00.000-07:00

With the prices of petroleum products breaching the $100 a barrel barrier, many of those in the fuel industry have started considering other alternatives. Our government had passed Republic Act 9367, the Biofuels Act, a law that mandates both the government and the private sector to lower dependence on imported fossil fuels and find alternative sources.

The law also states that diesel fuels should be blended with one percent bio-diesel, while gasoline fuels should be diluted with about five percent of bio ethanol. The blending will increase to two percent in diesel fuel by February 2009 and 10 percent of bio-ethanol by 2011.

Another intention of the law is to increase economic activity in the country considering that bio-diesel and bio-ethanol are both products of plants or agriculture activities.

Under this program, the Philippines is looking into becoming the global leader in the bio-fuels industry by 2011 through accelerating production of these products; as this will also result in self-sufficiency and at the same time protect the environment.

Based on the data from the Agribusiness Land Investment Center, blending one percent of bioethanol to gasoline fuels will result in $168 million in annual foreign exchange savings; while doubling the amount blended will mean $482 million in foreign exchange savings.

The same data also shows that blending diesel fuel with one percent biodiesel, usually the cocomethyl ester from coconut will result in $50 million annual savings; while doubling the amount blended will result in $133 million savings.

Under the implementing rules and regulation guidelines of the law, the Department of Agriculture, the lead agency in implementing the program; was tasked to identify and develop viable and quality feedstock; develop a national program for the production of crops for use as feedstock supply;ensure increased productivity and sustainable supply of biofuel feedstocks; publish information on available and suitable areas for cultivation and production of biofuels crops; and undertake the identification and publication of potential areas suitable for expansion.

Biofuel Production in Mindanao

What is notable is that the areas identified for the production of both products are Mindanao provinces.

The provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Basilan, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, Compostela Valley, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, Isabela City, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, North Cotabato, Sarangani, Shariff Kabunsuan, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del sur, Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay are the production centers for bio diesel. Majority of the areas that are part of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are in this short list.

If one reviews the list, an obvious conclusion can be drawn that Mindanao is capable of producing the entire biodiesel requirements of the country. About 893,000 hectares in the whole region can be planted with jatropha, coconut and oil palm, the main sources of biodiesel.

Sources of Bio-ethanol

The same provinces can also be planted with cassava, sugarcane and sweet sorghum; the main raw materials for bioethanol. The Agriculture Department has identified about 701,000 hectares of land in Mindanao for these plants.

In Davao Oriental, for example, Gov. Corazon Malanyaon has pushed for both the production of cassava and oil palm and the rehabilitation of coconut considering that the province is the top producer of copra.

At present, six companies have already been accredited for biodiesel production with their total production of 252 million liters annually. Four other companies are also seeking accreditation.

On the bioethanol program, the country’s potential production could reach 794 million liters a year and that several companies have committed to buy locally-produced bioethanol.

To be able to produce the target, the existing sugarmills could be converted within 18 months; while the conversion of greenfield facilities will take between two years and 30 months.

Under the program, the target is to replace 10% of imported gasoline with bioethanol and this would result in P10.4 billion in saving within the next three years. The Philippine Fuel Ethanol Alliance estimates that bioethanol requirements for the next 10 years of 3.7 billion liters will be equivalent to 51.71 million metric tons of sugarcane.

At present, Mindanao accounts for 19.1% of the total sugarcane production in the country at 72,319 hectares of the total 377,182 hectares. This further validates the fact that Mindanao, with its vast agricultural land, can produce more than the country requirements.

Will we in Mindanao be able to capture these opportunities? Will we be able to translate these into jobs in the countryside? We all know that the answers are within ourselves.

Mindanao Must Lead In Rice Production

2008-04-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

Mindanao is considered the food basket of the country as it contributes about 40% of its total agricultural production. This is because aside from having the most fertile soil in the country, it is also shielded from storms that devastate the farms in other parts of the country.

On rice production, based on the data from the International Rice Research Institute, Mindanao contributes 23% of the country’s production, the biggest among the rice producing areas. Not bad considering that the island is also a top producer of other agricultural products like copra, corn and banana.

In the report of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, the production of the island last year reached to 3.74 million metric tons with Region 12 being the largest producer at 1.186 million metric tons, or nearly one-third of the total production of the island.

The region is composed of Sarangani, the Cotabato provinces and Sultan Kudarat with North Cotabato producing 449,202 metric tons, higher even the production of Region 11 which could only produce 427,184 metric tons.

This is because most areas in the Davao Region are either planted with banana and coconut, its top two exports. Some of the rice farms were even converted into banana plantations.

Another Mindanao region considered as big rice producer is the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Based on the report, the region produced 615,780 metric tons last year.

Third biggest last year in terms of rice production was Zamboanga Peninsula with 553,759 metric tons and Northern Mindanao came in fourth with 501,892 metric tons. The Caraga Administrative Region even surpassed the Davao Region after it registered 455,838 metric tons in rice production.

Yet the island, just like the rest of the country was caught flatfooted by the recent development in the rice industry as prices of commercial varieties have continued to rise since the start of the year.

We don’t want to lay the blame on anyone, but we believe both government and the private sector could have anticipated this problem of insufficient supply that we are all confronted with if only ample attention was given to the irrigation infrastructure and post harvest facilities in many areas of Mindanao.

Several programs have been implemented in Mindanao, including the Mindanao Rural Development Program and several others directed at the improvement of productivity of the farmers in the island, but there is more that has to be done.

There is the $90 million World Bank-funded program aimed at improving necessary infrastructure facilities not just for rice farmers but for other sectors as this will also result in improvement of their productivity which will eventually translate into better life for the farmers.

Some top experts of both the government and private institutions have also pushed for adoption of hybrid rice varieties to increase productivity. It is time that the government, as well as everyone, move in the same direction in improving our food sustainability.

We need a concerted effort to address food supply, particularly of the staple, so that we will be independent from other countries that learned the science of increasing their productivity from us. Now is the time.

We also hope that the government implement other basic programs that will address food sustainability and empower farmers to become not just main tillers but also profiteers of their endeavors. We believe this can be done by coming up with schemes that will increase their production earning through increasing the buying prices. Although the National Food Authority already hiked the palay purchasing prices by P5, we still believe there are other similar mechanisms which will lure back farmers into planting rice rather than converting their lands into other use.

The greater challenge is to review the agriculture budget given to Mindanao and to increase it to a level so that we can truly be the food basket of the country.

We need to move faster. We don’t to be caught flatfooted again with a graver consequence.

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The Philippine Call Center Alliance (PhilCall) will be holding its 2^nd Forum : “Power of One: Maximizing your Call Center Agent's Performance” on April 25, 2008 at the Commision of ICT,Diliman , Quezon City. This is designed for small and medium sized call center owners and supervisors to gain a better understanding of motivating agents and translating their performance to better profitability. For reservations, please contact Ms. Josine De Leon at the Office of the PhilCall Secretariat at 942-3282 or mobile (0918) 930-5027 or e-mail philcall_secretariat@yahoo.com.ph.

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The Basilan Chamber of Commerce will be holding their annual regional business conference in Basilan on April 26, 2008. These will be attended by the business community of the Zamboanga Peninsula as well as with other stake holders.

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

MINDANAO TVET HELPS THE POOR (2nd of 2 Parts)

2008-03-31T18:50:00.000-07:00

Even if Mindanao posted a relatively higher employment rate than the national average, it is ironic that there are also several provinces which have a higher number of poor families . More than half of our population at 57% are living below the poverty threshold. And in the past seven years, only Region X or Northern Mindanao was able to reduce its poor families by 4.9 percent

TVET Initiatives

Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ensures that an individual has the technical skills and knowledge for gainful employment at the shortest time possible. All you need is to study from six months or two years, depending on your choice of skills training. Therefore, one does not have to waste money or time pursuing a four year college degree to be able to find a job; more so if one does not have ample financial resources. By taking a TVET course, one has the option to work and continue to go up the education ladder at his own pace. The Ladderized Education was introduced by both TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) and CHED ( Commission of Higher Education) early last year ; where one may opt to get a college degree by finishing one skills certificate at a time ; step by step ; until the highest rung of the ladder is reached. This is applicable for baccalaureate courses in Nursing, Hotel and Restaurant Management and Engineering.

Through TVET or the ladderize program, the children of poor family is able to help augment the meager family income through their new - learned skills and find work fast in many service companies, agriculture and manufacturing plants .

Priority Skills in Mindanao

There was a survey made among the different industries in Mindanao as to the kind of skills that were needed to sustain or bring about higher economic activities in different regions. This was done so TVET schools and institutions in each region will know what kind of training programs to offer to match the demands of industries.

The top 3 critical skills of Region 9 are in agriculture and fisheries, processed food and in construction; Region 10 is also in agriculture, construction and in the information/communication technology (ICT) arena . Topping the critical skills in Region 11 is ICT, agriculture and processed food and beverages; while Region 12 is in agriculture, land transport and tourism. CARAGA‘s needed skills is in furniture and furnishing, agriculture and construction while ARMM is in agriculture, construction and automotive.

In the general ranking, the top 5 critical skills in the entire island is still agriculture and fishery and that further strengthens Mindanao’s role as the food basket of the country. Followed by construction, processed food and beverages, ICT and Tourism.

This actually reflects the investment priorities of many regions in Mindanao. The cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Zamboanga are all positioning themselves as the prime tourism destinations as well as the ICT hub for call centers, transcription and the like. CARAGA remains as the region where you can find abundant wood for furniture. Skills pertaining to construction is a necessity since we know that progress and more business will bring about new buildings, roads and other infrastructure to support growth.

Partners in TVET

The Philippine Australian Human Resource Development Facility (PAHRDF) of Australian- Aid is an active partner of the Mindanao TVET Association MinTVET). This association is the biggest network of technical vocational schools association all over the island and is in the forefront of advocacy and bringing about positive changes and developments in TVET. Through the PAHRDF, the faculty members or teachers of TVET schools are given the opportunity to avail of both the short and long term scholarship to Australia. For this year, there were approximately ten (10) teachers who are now in Sydney taking up courses in Curriculum and Instructional Materials, School Management, Software Development and Metal and Fabrication. This will be an annual program between PAHRDF and MinTVET.

The Asian Development Bank is also one of the more active education donors in Mindanao working in collaboration with TESDA, CHED and the Mindanao Economic Development Council.

With this in mind, TVET is now being looked at with higher respect and TVET graduates are now able to stand proudly knowing that their skills certificate will be their key to success and prosperity.

For one thing, we must focus on the skills defined under the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan 2005-2009 as these are the skills required by the companies. Let me present, therefore, the priority sector under the plan and the corresponding labor force requirements.

No	Sector	Total
1	Agriculture and Fishery	287,393
2	Construction	30,541
3	Processed Food and Beverages	29,928
4	Information Communications Technology	29,111
5	Tourism	14,459
6	Land Transport	8,812
7	Automotive	6,796
8	Furniture and Furnishings	4,057
9	Metals and Engineering	1,860
10	Mining	1,672

With the help of the government agencies through its scholarship programs like the Iskolar ng Mahirap sa Pamilya and other programs, we hope that Mindanao TVET is on the right track in helping the government improve the condition of the people of Mindanao.

Strengthening Mindanao’s Skilled Human Resources (1st of 2 parts)

2008-03-17T19:59:00.000-07:00

Just recently, I was invited by the Western Mindanao Technical Vocational Schools Association to talk about the status of the Mindanao technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Zamboanga City The event has allowed me to bring to the fore the real issues and the prevailing situation of the institutions that are responsible for the skills training of the human resource sector.

Let us consider the fact that the national government has been faced with the major challenge of fighting poverty which can only be fought in an intensified way if more jobs are created to sustain the economic activities and improve the lives of both the rural and urban poor.

Because of this, the TVET industry is faced with a the difficult challenge of ensuring that skills meet industry demands that will make our manpower competitive both in the local and international labor markets.

To start with, let us look at the status of human resources in Mindanao based on data from government agencies.

Profile of Mindanao’s human resources

Mindanao has a total labor force of 8,435,878 as of April 2005, majority are from Region X. Surprisingly, Mindanao’s employment rate of 91.7% is even higher than the national average of 87.1%26% of the country’s employed persons are in Mindanao.

26% of the country’s employed persons are in Mindanao.

ARMM region where you find most of Mindanao’s poor has the lowest employment rate at 7.2%.

51% of the total Mindanaoans are employed in the agricultural sector.

Literacy level

Functional literacy is a higher level of literacy which includes not only reading and writing skills but also numerical and comprehension skills. Mindanao is lowest in simple and functional literacy compared to other island groups.

Full attention must therefore be given to our growing population to improve our literacy rates. The increasing number of illiterates reflects the inability of basic education to answer to the needs of the growing population. Education is still the main source of basic skills. The impact therefore of literacy on the lives of learners in terms of improved family life cannot be discounted.

TVET Profile

One aspect that we should also look into is the profile of our TVET considering that these are the sources of the human resources more so when so many of our workers have continuously leave for abroad and overseas seeking for greener pastures. It is unfortunate that majority of our Highschool graduates are all looking for course options that will facilitate their employment to foreign countries

Our TVET institutions in Mindanao have been increasing their output during the last few years . There are over 500 providers of technical skills now and 62% are private institutions, while the rest are government-run centers. Among the other providers are higher education institutions (HEIs), industry-based training centers, non-government organization-based training centers, local government unit-based training centers and TESDA supervised schools and training centers.

These institutions have registered and complied with government implemented standards through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the agency that regulates them. Complying with the set of standards are mandatory considering that the government wants to assure that the quality of our workers meet the standards set not only by local employers but also by the international markets.

With this in Mindanao, the Mindanao TVET Association, which is the strongest and the biggest technical vocationl schools organization is gearing its institutional focus to expanding and strengthening private technical and vocational institutions through technical capacity building, which is deemed necessary to provide the skills requirement demands of the industries and directed towards critical areas where impact is expected.

Based on the data for 2006, TVET institutions had a total enrolment of 718,576 seats just in Mindanao, from just about 477,667 in 2001, or a 54% increase, an indication that they have earned recognition that these institutions have continuously rendered the skills called for by both the global and domestic market.

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

CHIPS R’ US- MINDANAO BANANA CHIPS

2007-09-02T18:44:00.001-07:00

The global market for processed fruits , most specially the banana chips has grown into a billion dollar market as preference of consumers lean towards more healthy and organic food. The sales for more natural food is expected to reach $100 billion in 2008 and projected to grow at 20-30% annually. Major markets are the European Union Members , Germany, United Kingdom and France , United States and Canada, Singapore, China and Japan

The raw material for banana chips is the cardava or plantain banana variety which is processed in various product forms such as fried, dried, vacuum fried and vacuum freeze dried chips and as ingredient for breakfast cereals and trail mixes. Majority of the country's production comes from Mindanao, accounting for 90 percent of output. There are about 15 major companies in the region with average production capacity of 580 metric tons per day. Fifteen (15) of the twenty four(24) largest banana chips facility is found in Mindanao

Industry data show that the country's annual banana chips exports averages close to $80 million with the biggest shipments going to the US, Taiwan, Hongkong and mainland China.

Davao Region is one of the largest, if not the largest, exporter of banana chips in the Philippines. According to Trade Assistant Secretary Merly Cruz, the region was able to sell $24.77 million of banana chips last year, higher by 32 percent compared with what was exported in 2005.

China's Crackdown on Banana Chips

The crackdown that China recently had on banana products from the Philippines is one hard lesson that must be learned. Although it was fortunate that China spared banana chips shipment from Mindanao as it only seized two tons of banana chips from the country for containing sulfur dioxide 25 times higher than the allowable level; Mindanao producers must bear in mind that the incident was something to ponder upon.

In assuring that the shipment that was seized came from Cebu and not Mindanao, the Trade regional offices in Davao Region and in Central Mindanao both claimed that the recall did not affect shipments from these two regions.

However, banana chips producers in Mindanao must not be complacent because the incident only pointed out that there is so much has to be done in order to protect their products from market manipulation or sheer failure to abide by world standards.

Developing the Mindanao Banana Chips

In its desire to really push the development of banana chips, the Department of Trade Regional office even commissioned a private company to produce 12 variants of banana chips as it called on local producers to commercialize these variants and market them either locally or internationally. These banana chips variants land in shelves of school canteen as substitute of junk foods. The regional office of the Department of Education also made a parallel move by requesting canteens in public school to do away with soda drinks and patronize banana chips.

Homegrown talent Joey Ayala also composed a song that would promote banana, considered the number one export of the region, particularly Davao del Norte which hosts the biggest banana plantations.

There is also a move to develop just ONE brand for Mindanao banana chips- a brand that would be synonymous with excellence and quality. All Mindanao banana chips will carry a single brand and packaging. This will result to better prices, increase in profitability and even reduce cost through common marketing and promotions efforts.

Meeting the Challenges

The China incident should be a wakeup call for all those involved in banana production, particularly those into banana chips making.

For one thing, that should pave the way for these producers to see to it that their products meet not just the minimum international standards but the highest standards attainable. In this modern world of competition, it always pays to invest in improving the quality of products for international markets.

Another issue that must be addressed is for government to help these producers look for additional markets and provide more access to financing. Just about two years ago when prices of banana chips plunged, the incident showed how vulnerable local producers to market manipulation. But with new markets, there is an assurance that even if marketing to traditional buyers falter, exporters can run to these new buyers. With additional financing, the producers can invest in new machineries and technologies.

Lastly, the government and the producers must sit down and discuss how they should package the products. For example, some school canteen operators refused to sell banana chips because children will not buy because they did not find banana chips as attractive as those junk foods. "The problem of packaging is what is hounding us," says one of them.

It pays to improve our products. Otherwise, the competition will just run over us.

Palawan: Gateway to Southern Philippines

2007-08-13T02:26:00.001-07:00

PALAWAN has always been considered part of the Southern Philippines.

In fact, when the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front signed the so-called Tripoli Agreement on December 23, 1976, the province was included as the 13 ^th province of the autonomous government. However, because of the referendum, the province did not become part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Because of its proximity to Mindanao, the province was also included in the broader subregional group, the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Area which the four countries formed in 1994.

In 2000, Palawan had a population of about 755,000 with 40 percent of its people natives, while six percent are Muslims.

The province, declared as the natural sanctuary of the world, is endowed with natural resources and has become one of the best tourist attractions of the country. Its inclusion in the subregional group, which was created in attempt to push for developments in the identified areas, was intended to alleviate poverty of its people as its poverty incidence in 1994 was at 54.50%.

As a result of its inclusion in the subregion, Palawan formed a trade linkage with Kudat, which is part of Sabah in Malaysia.

According to the Mindanao Economic Development Concil (MedCo) the formation of the trade linkage was eyed for a port-to-port trading between Sabah and Palawan. In a memorandum of understanding on the cross-border trade linkage, the two sides agreed to undertake a concerted effort that will open the trade link promote investment areas together.

Based on the agreement, Palawan can supply marine products, corn, fruits, coconut, virgin coconut oil, cashew nuts and seaweeds, while Sabah, through Kudat, can sell noodles, cooking oil and other grocery items.

Retired general Efren Abu, Philippine special envoy for the subregion, believed that the memorandum of understanding between Palawan and Sabah will allow the flow of goods between the two areas with Brooke's Point, a municipality, serving as a gateway to Malaysia.

Kudat, northern town of Sabah, is just 137 miles away from Brooke's Point and is just about 12 hours by sea. Brooke's Point is the only municipality in Palawan that has a port.

But the subregional group leaders believed that in implementing trade linkages, they must be able to assure the protection and safety of the business traders as they intensify their travels between and among the identified growth areas.

Since a year after its creation, leaders of the subregion have started discussing harmonization of customs, immigration, quarantine and security (CIQS) policies of their respective countries with the hope of coming up with a comprehensive set of policies that will apply to all the members.

With its inclusion in the subregion and the continuing discussions on the CIQS, Palawan may eventually become one of the key areas of development in the country. With its natural resources including the wonderful attractions, it is not far-fetched for the province to play a vital role in the development not just of itself but of Southern Philippines. After all, Palawan is nearer to Mindanao than to Metro Manila.

ERRATUM:

In the previous column, we failed to mention that the late Emmanuel Pelaez, a Mindanawan , was elected as vice president of the country in 1965. Our apologies.

MINDANAO NGO’S AND THE ANCESTRAL DOMAIN AGENDA

2007-06-11T20:24:00.001-07:00

Ancestral Domain, as one of the three sub-theme agendas made by the Moro International Liberation Front (MILF) for the Mindanao Peace Process, refers to the MILF's demand for territory that will constitute the Muslim native soil, sufficient control over economic resources, and a structure of government that will allow self-governance in ways that are consonant with their culture and with minimal intrusion from the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP). It is assumed to be the key for a more enduring peace in Mindanao but because of its delicate nature, there are still many issues and concerns that need to be resolved.

This covers five Muslim autonomous provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao, and other areas in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Saranggani provinces where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes. These communities, commonly referred to as Indigenous People (IP), include the Ata, Manobo, Dibabawon, Mandaya, Isamal, Mansaka, and Manguguanan tribes, among others. They mostly dwell in forests but have established ancestral land and domain claims over areas and territories said to be their custody, occupied and utilized by the government.

As a response to the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development Protection Plan (ADSDPP), a number of non-government organizations (NGO's) set up programs in Mindanao. Many of these NGO's have operations that aim to benefit the tribes of Manobo, Dibabawon, Mandaya, and Manguguanan. Some of them would attempt to focus on the economical development of the forestry situated in the Ancestral Domain to culturally unite all IP to become socially developed, politically empowered, and economically reliant, thus establishing a productive and self-sustaining community.

Role of NGO's

The role of the NGO's in assisting the IP's in Mindanao is very significant since it ensures that socio-economic opportunities would reach these far flung areas. There are NGO's that give them the needed technical and financial assistance and other endeavors to uplift their moral, social, and economic conditions. Most of them also aim to improve the physical and mental being, as well as health conditions of the tribal communities.

Provision of materials, micro-finance, and extension services and the establishment of a cooperative to bring added value to forest and agro-forest activities are among the programs being implemented.

Ancestral Domain Land Use

Four main productive land uses for the Ancestral Domain were identified, namely forest, agricultural, mining, and settlement.

The domain is endowed with a land area of 28,740 hectares and is categorized as public forest or timberland. Within it are tenurial instruments issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which includes an area of about 480 individual Certificate of Stewardship Contract (CSC) of approximately 1, 038.79 hectares, four forest land agreements with a total area of 187 hectares, and one community based forest management agreement enclosing about 2,766 hectares.

A sustainable reforestation scheme was also designed, which included recommendation of the arbitrary harvesting of Gemelina, the establishment of nurseries for the remaining flora and fauna for its identification and propagation, and the protection of palm species such as Rattan and fiber such as Abaca. Likewise, ordinances to combat "kaingin" and illegal logging will be enforced.

Environmental Safeguards

To safeguard the Ancestral Domain from environmental concerns, enforcement of DENR guidelines were promoted on designated areas for mining and prospecting activities. Mining activities in the area cause disturbances such as contamination of water ecosystems, migration, solid wastes, air and liquid chemical pollution, forest degradation, erosion and siltation, and habitat destruction, among others.

Hunting conservation of wild animals and land mammals, as well as endangered species of birds inhabiting the Ancestral Domain is also intensified due to unconfirmed reports that unidentified specie of eagle was sighted within its southern boundary.

Aside from tourism purposes, there are plans to promote the establishment of bridges and landmarks to clean waterways, connecting the locals to their heritage, thus instilling pride and ownership. The installation and maintenance of 24 kilometers farm to market roads is likewise requested, as well as the rehabilitation and electrification of identified barangays, such as Purok V Mahayahay, Baylo and Purok II, Pasian.

Modern Facilities and Infrastructures

Eight water systems were also solicited wherein each water generation system will have its basic aquifer and hydrologists. All water plans will include the consumption of water for plants and garden within the residential areas.

Seven terminals for public transport utilities were requested with aims to offer the landscape of the overall theme of the Ancestral Domain, its heritage and interdependence upon the forest and the reefs

With the vision to develop community appreciation of sustainable reforestation and the adaptation of biodiversity as an integral part of community lifestyle, the various NGO's collaborated for the set up of nine elementary schools, three secondary schools, two day care centers, a home for the aged, and six tribal health center and medicinal gardens. This, as a goal, fosters the establishment of 11 tribal villages/settlements with basic facilities.

Cell sites are also being built in designated areas of the Ancestral Domain. Providers such as Smart and Globe are now racing to position posts in Pasian and Diwata. The development of the wireless connectivity technology makes it feasible for IPO consideration as compared to the installation of conventional system throughout the domain.

Other plans included in the proposal facilitates the preservation of the cultural heritages, sanitation, undertaking of intensive information, education, and communication campaign to 300 member households, advanced planning on waste management, establishment of checkpoints for environmental protection, proper cutting and selling of trees, health and nutrition.

Biofuel: A Spark of Light for Mindanao

2007-05-28T20:40:00.001-07:00

Our estimated consumption for oil is estimated to grow from 128 million barrels in 2000 to 224 million barrels in 2009. The implementation of the Bio fuel law requiring ethanol and biodegradable diesel in fuel mix will eventually result to a savings of almost $800 million worth of oil imports.

Brazil , the world's top exporter and leader in renewable energy uses sugar cane as raw material. It has produced 15.9 billion liters of bio-ethanol in 2005 of which 90% went to the domestic market. While the United States

Uses corn and produces 18.9 billion liters of bio ethanol each year. It needs 132 billion liters to reach its goal of 20% reduction in oil consumption by 2017. With a third of its own corn production being used to produce bio ethanol, corn prices are continuously rising in the US. They are set to plant 90.5 million acres of corn this year or a 15% increase over 2006.

Corn and Sugar Cane Production

Corn and sugar cane are abundant in many regions in Mindanao . Corn production performed significantly with a 11.5% growth brought about by the 3.0% expansion in the harvest areas. This was further boosted through the availability of quality seeds coupled with better market prices which encouraged farmers to plant corn.

Corn output increments were noted in most regions particularly in Regions XIII, X and XII. In Northern Mindanao, for instance, the robust performance in corn production was brought about by the farmers' availment of loans extended by the local government units, as well as the shifting to corn from sugarcane owing to the former's higher price.

However, a slowdown in output was reported in ARMM due to slight worm infestation in Basilan, floodings in Maguindanao, landslide in Lanao del Sur and dry spell in Tawi-Tawi.

The total corn production was 3,153.64 MT in 2004 ; and 3,143.61 MT in 2005 and 1,183.73 MT for the first six months (January-June) of 2006.

Whereas sugar production was recorded at 4863.97 MT in 2004 and 3764.10 MT in 2005 and 2925.78 MT in the first six months of 2006.

The corn variety in Mindanao is most often used as feed grains by the livestock sector. When I was still seating in the National Corn Board, I learned that the corn farmers from the region was besieged with so many problems that calls for policy reforms or modifications - policies to build infrastructure, improve market information services, and institute relevant standards for corn grading could enhance market competition and facilitate an efficient market exchange. Infrastructure improvements should include better inter island shipping vessels and upgrading of roads to reduce the high cost of transportation. Regular shipping schedules between major producing and consuming areas would help ensure that corn can be transported when needed. The availability of better storage and marketing facilities both in towns and villages and on-farm would make it possible for farmers to hold corn, rather than dumping it on the market immediately after harvest.

Future uses of Corn

The alternative use for corn as a raw material for ethanol can provide our thousands of corn farmers an alternative market for their crops. This may lead to an accelerated growth in the demand for corm which can result to better and higher pricing schemes in trading . Direct investments may also be a major result which would mean more opportunities for livelihood for the farmers. Perhaps, even policy reforms will be at a faster pace since the government have no other choice but to address the problems so as to increase production.

I could not help but remember the happy faces of the hundreds of corn farmers who attended the recently concluded 1 ^st Mindanao Corn Congress held in South Cotabato, where a P22.8 million worth of corn post harvest, processing and trading center was launched . All of them are pinning their hopes on this new development.

JOJI ILAGAN BIAN

2007-05-28T20:26:00.001-07:00

Joji Ilagan-Bian has been in a total of 24 organizations—and is still currently active in six—owns four schools, and is a columnist for two broadsheets. Yet this mother of three children (yet another feat to add on her list!) has not one complaint about her jam-packed work schedule. "Do what you love and love what you do; so work becomes light and easy and pleasurable," says Joji. "You don't feel stressed out because you are happy doing it. So for me, this is really nothing."

"Nothing" for Joji includes taking part in effective organizations, such as the Committee on Population Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance, the Philippine Center For Population Development, the East ASEAN Business Council (EABC), the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII), and the Mindanao Commission of Women, amongst many others. She also reaches the public through her two columns: MindanaWorld in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and MinBizTalk in the Mindanao Times.

At the start of a new year, Joji states that she is switching into expansion mode with regards to her schools and training centers. Her various educational institutions, including Joji Ilagan Foundation, Inc. College of Business and Tourism, Tumble Tots British Preschool, a fashion school, a call center and English training institute—are now all undergoing a major face lift. "We are more aggressive now than before since we see the potentials of Filipinos when property educated and trained. We will also be opening a welding and technical institute. So I could say we are also in 'pioneering mode'," says Joji.

When not planning steps for the country's education, Joji devotes a great chunk of her time in various organizations. She is currently the National Chair for Population and Corporate Social Responsibility for the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be the Mindanao Representative in the Export Development Council. She is also Vice President of Special Projects for the Mindanao Commission of Women, sits on the Board of the Bantay Bata and the Technical Assistance for the Development of the Rural Poor, and is Chair of the Mindanao Technical Vocational Schools Association. Indeed, this wonder woman is involved in issues that cut across all sectors: the academe, business, women, children, and the poor. "It my way of reaching out to all sectors to the best that I can," she says.

Joji's two major advocacies, however, are the plight of the small and micro entrepreneurs, and the uplifting of the technical vocational schools in Mindanao. These, in fact, are the causes that led to her active involvement as Chair of the Mindanao Business Council (of which she resided from 1998 to 2003, later becoming a regular consultant), the PCCI Trustee for Mindanao from 1998 to 2003, as a current Trustee of the Philippine-Australian Business Council, and as Chair of the Technical Training for Mindanao. "Through my leadership and influence, certain issues were addressed or are being addressed to further the development of these sectors. For instance, I got the support of the Australian Aid Philippine Human Resource Development Facility to focus on the upgrading of the managers and owners of tech vocational schools in Mindanao. These schools are the ones that will help alleviate poverty and provide livelihood for the magnitude of our Filipinos," says Joji. "We have piloted an enterprise-based school management system among selected schools, and one of the components of the training is an international benchmarking in Australia. This is the first time in the history that such a program has been done to the vocational sector and the impact of these will be unprecedented—the effects of these will bring quality education to the grass roots."

Joji traces her passion for educational and training advocacy to her value of sharing and humility. "Sharing because I believe there's no monopoly of leadership and talents. I am willing to share and to pass on what I know to many, hoping that in the end I leave a valuable legacy. Sometimes when you have accomplished so much, you tend to be 'off the ground', and I try very hard not to . The value of listening and empathy comes handy many times. It makes you understand people better and relate to them," she says.

Joji continues that there are difficulties to hurdle along the way—people who aren't comfortable with strong and successful women, overcoming the Filipino's "crab mentality", etc. Her trick to surpass all these is to just not let these things affect her since she knows she cannot please everybody. As long as she does her best and is able to help others, Joji is perfectly happy. "Life is too short. I believe in enjoying it, loving it and making the most out of it. When you do that, its like living a heavenly life in an earthly environment," she says. "On the other hand, you also have people who appreciate what I do. These are God's gifts to me, I think. These people are my inspiration actually. They push me to do better and to do more."

ILO/SMU TRIPARTITE SYMPOSIUM ON MANAGING LABOUR MIGRATION IN EAST ASIA SINGAPORE MAY 16-18, 2007

2007-05-15T07:34:00.001-07:00

Joji Ilagan Bian, a respected business leader from Davao City and Mindanao was invited to attend the ILO meeting in Singapore representing the Employers' Sector under the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP). The symposium will be held at the Singapore Management University and will be attended by representatives from Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. The forum will discuss selected issues in labor migration policies in the region and known impacts especially on the conditions of employment of migrant workers and to draw better lessons from experiences on how policies could be better designed and administered in order to narrow the gap between objectives and the outcome.

Coming Soon: Agribusiness Mindanao

2007-05-15T07:32:00.001-07:00

Producer-leaders and representatives from various agricultural producer associations in Mindanao finally took destiny and that of the future of Mindanao agriculture into their own hands when some 500 of them met for the first-ever Mindanao Agri & Food Convention (MAFCON) in Cagayan de Oro City last April 23 -25, 2007. Mindanao's agricultural production leaders ended MAFCON with a strong declaration of commitment and determination to pursue a unified private-sector-led development agenda for the Mindanao agriculture, fisheries and food industry.

"A momentous milestone," Convention Chairman Engr. Edwin Andot, President of the host Chamber of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries of Northern Mindanao (CAFFINORMIN) exclaimed. In his opening statement at the MAFCON, Engr. Andot laid out a deeply significant self-realization in the industry:

"We have come to realize that unless we embrace the reality of a globalized market environment, unless we in the production sector upgrade our technologies and cultivation practices, unless we shift our mindsets to be more entrepreneurial in our approach to our farms, we will not successfully hurdle the necessary leap from traditional production to the more profitable world of agribusiness."

Over the next three years, the Department of Agriculture has allocated some P2.5B of irrigation funds that will service a total of 175,000 hectares in Mindanao and that another P5.5B is allocated to build over 3,400 kilometers of farm-to-market roads to ensure the realization of a vibrant, competitive Agribusiness Mindanao Super Region.

Technical Support for Agri Business

Beyond technical trainings, the producers of Mindanao also need more training in entrepreneurship to transform the traditional production mindset of the Mindanao farmer into being an entrepreneur. The farmers, fisherfolks and food processors are mostly still at a disadvantage compared to traders who have ready access to market information. They cannot afford to maintain market researchers and corporate planners who are able to monitor world trade and trends that will help them in production planning. Along this line, the producer associations recommended that an updated marketing information system for Mindanao's export winners as well as commodity export boards should be established and regularly funded by government.

Moreover, large-scale wholesale and/or auction markets need to be designed and established in strategic locations in Mindanao to provide a more transparent trading mechanism where many buyers and many sellers as possible transact on a daily basis. This will allow the emergence of market systems with the qualities of a systematic, clear, transparent, and liquid market with defined players, standards, rules of clearing, and settlement. Strong government support in terms of resources and local ordinance are needed.

One Mindanao wide Agri Body

The most significant result of the conference was the resolution presented on the floor for the associations to convene and draw up a Mindanao-wide network of agriculture and food producers which is envisioned to take the lead role in pursuing a common agenda through policy advocacy, institutional networking, and information sharing.

Thus, at the end of the MAFCON, these associations committed to undertake the following initiatives: endeavor to organize a Mindanao Chamber of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food Industries which will serve a the main advocacy group of local agri, fisheries and food producers; consolidate and update existing industry development plans to draw up a common private sector-led development agenda; establish and/or strengthen partnerships with other support groups such as donor institutions, non-government organizations, other industry associations to undertake relevant programs and services beneficial to their respective industries.

Among the producer associations who supported this initiative were CAFFINORMIN, SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing & Allied Industries, MinFruit Council, NorminVeggies, Paglas Group of Companies, CARAGA Oil Palm Producers Association, Northern Mindanao Poultry Association, Higaonaon Tribal Council of Northern Mindanao, Greater Northern Mindanao Mango Development Foundation , Inc., Northern Mindanao Cassava Industry Association, Banana Industry Development Association Region 10, and Northern Mindanao Corn Producers Association. More producer groups in other parts of Mindanao will be invited to be part of this agri & food network and be pro-active in the realization of a competitive Agribusiness Mindanao.

Indeed, MAFCON has succeeded to be the main discussion and trade platform of Agribusiness Mindanao. As Convention Director Marriz Agbon puts it, "being the brainchild of Mindanao's agricultural/rural communities, we see MAFCON growing to be the principal forum of exchange of experiences and technologies among Mindanao 's agricultural producing sector. We envision a MAFCON emerging as the main avenue for crafting the development agenda of Mindanao agriculture. We are looking at a MAFCON as the priority trade stage for doing business with Mindanao agriculture."

I say that a convergence of initiatives led by the private sector warrants full support. And this group surely has all of us in Mindanao backing them up.

Onward, Agribusiness Mindanao!

Vote for Mindanao

2007-05-15T07:29:00.001-07:00

Vote for Mindanao

This year's national election is less than two (2) weeks away. As always, and as expected, candidates often talk about the "Mindanao agenda" and the "Mindanao vote" in their campaign sorties.

The Mindanao Agenda

It is good to note that since the past few elections, the Mindanao agenda has been brought to the national consciousness. It is no longer an island concern. It is already a national issue.

Our leaders have finally realized that there is truth to the long lament that "Mindanao is the country's cash cow that gets dog food." It is more than just a sentimental rhetoric. It is an established fact.

The vast potentials

Mindanao is the Philippines' second largest island, with 34% of the country's land mass and 25% of its population.

The island enjoys a generally fair tropical climate, because it is situated outside the typhoon belt. It grows most of the Philippines' major crops such as rubber (100% of national production), pineapple (91%), cacao (90%) as well as banana, coffee, corn and coconut (over 50%).

Mindanao is likewise endowed with rich mineral resources. Its metallic deposits include lead, zinc, ore, iron, copper, chromite, magnetite and gold. Gold mined in Mindanao accounts for nearly half of the national gold reserves. Its non-metallic mineral resources include marble, salt, sand, gravel, silica, clay, and limestone.

It is ironic however that Mindanao has always lagged behind the rest of the country economically. Despite its size, vast natural resources, and comparative advantages in agro-industrial development, Mindanao's economy has been moving slow.

Far from the leaders hearts

One of the major factors of the island's weak points is its distance from Manila, the country's capital. Coupled with the lack of infrastructure facilities in many regions , the businesspersons in Manila found it cheaper to do business with some neighboring countries than with Mindanao.

But more than the physical distance, what hurt Mindanao most was the lack of concern of the country's leaders. The island is not just far from the country's capital, it was far from its leaders' hearts.

The island finally given attention

But as reported by the Growth with Equity in Mindanao, the 1990s ushered in a new environment that signaled the start of the island's economic turnaround. The national government shifted to more market-oriented and deregulated national policies, and increased the budget allocation for improving the island's physical and social infrastructure.

A vast improvement in the peace and order situation was brought about by the government's efforts to resolve the Muslim-Christian conflict. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was created in August 1989 to allow Muslims to govern themselves at the regional level. Thereafter, peace and development efforts were intensified.

The confluence of these positive developments created a more viable investment environment in the island.

The Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) was also created aimed at facilitating an integrated island-wide socio-economic development.

Despite these positive developments, there is still a lot more to do for Mindanao. It is true that in terms of budget, the share for Mindanao has posted increases, but this is still insufficient. There is so much catching up to do, after the decades of neglect.

Thus, the Mindanao agenda is even more timely and relevant. And the most important in the agenda is the principle that peace and development in the island are closely intertwined. One cannot exist without the other.

Thus, peace talks with rebel groups must be pursued. That is the only way to attain lasting peace. All-out war policies supposedly to eradicate the rebel groups have been tried. They did not bring peace because peace can be attained only through non-violent means.

More public investments must be poured to build infrastructure facilities and to catalyze private investments as well. When investor's confidence is low because of peace and order perception problems, real or otherwise, it is the government that must remain confident. Public and private investments will generate more jobs, and the people will have an opportunity to improve their quality of lives.

The tri-people of Mindanao

The problem of Mindanao is not as simple as it may appear. It is rooted in history. Thus, leaders must be sensitive to the unique Mindanao culture. The peaceful co-existence of the Moro, lumad, and the Christian settlers is the key to sustainable peace and development.

The Mindanao Vote

But is there such thing as a Mindanao vote for those who will champion the Mindanao agenda?

Based on our electoral history, it seems that there is no such thing as a Mindanao vote. If there were a solid Mindanao vote, it would be easy for a Mindanaoan to win a seat in the Senate. It would be even enough to elect a President for that matter.

Mindanaoan by heart

But must one be a Mindanaoan to push for the Mindanao agenda?

Not really. Of course, the best person to fight for Mindanao in the House of Congress is a true-bloodied Mindanaoan who has a deep understanding and strong grasp of the Mindanao problem. However, it does not follow that given a seat in the Senate, a Mindanaoan can or will truly advocate for the Mindanao agenda. And even a non-Mindanaoan can push for the Mindanao agenda if he really understands that the said agenda will benefit the whole country.

It is good to have Mindanaoan leaders elected in the Senate. On May 14, 2007 , there will be four (4) Senatorial candidates from the Senate – Prospero Pichay, Migs Zubiri, Koko Pimentel, Sultan Kiram – who will rely heavily on the support of fellow Mindanaoans. And it is also equally important to have other leaders who have hearts for Mindanao.

Indeed, one need not be a Mindanaoan to push for the Mindanao agenda.

Business Talks in Sultan Kudarat

2007-04-18T01:03:00.000-07:00

Created as a separate province along with Maguindanao and North Cotabato in November 22, 1973 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 341 , Sultan Kudarat (SK) was once a part of the former empire province of Cotabato. Tacurong City is the center of trade and commerce while the capital town and government center is in Isulan. It is a bustling province with a population of over 500,000 growing at 3.4% annually. The Province is strategically located in the BIMP-EAGA region and the coastal areas and towns are directly facing Australia and the three major ASEAN growth partners (Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei), making it a potential backdoor of the Philippines to these countries.
Untapped deposit of copper, iron, ore ,silver, gold and semi-precious stones, including guano deposits in the mountainous areas of Bagumbayan, Columbio and Sen. Ninoy Aquino, Kalamansig,Lebak and Esperanza. . However, as of this date, only one concessionaire has applied for guano permit in commercial quantity. Non-Metallic minerals such as marble, sand, gravel, limestone and boulders are tapped for commercial production.
Forestland covers 50% of the province total land area. Fifty-five species of commercial trees including G-melina, apitong, dao, guijo, kalantas, lawaan, molave, manggachapui,yakal and narra abound in different parts of the province.
There is sufficient water resources for irrigation, hydropower and inland fishing coming from 16 big rivers, 23 large creeks, 11 major springs and waterfalls and 2 lakes and several marshes.
Basically and primarily an agricultural province, we can see that SK is endowed with rich and vast agricultural potentials and advantages. It grows and could produce relatively all kinds of agricultural commodities with comparatively higher level of productivity, making it not only self-sufficient, but a leading producer and supplier of agricultural products in the region. It is one of the major producers of rice and corn in the country and is well-known for palm oil. The NFA-SPGC Grains Complex is the largest grain complex in Southeast Asia KENRAM Phils., a palm oil processing/extraction plant is one of the more significant landmarks of the province
SK’s vast fishing grounds and inland bodies of water are overflowing with various aquatic products considered ready sources of food and livelihood for its people. There are two (2) seaports and four (4) fish landing ports to support this business activity.
The level of business activity in a certain place is usually reflected in the number of banks operating in the area and so I was surprised to know that the province have ten(10) rural banks and twenty (20) commercial banks and three (3) shopping centers . Communication facilities is equally impressive with five (5) Telephone Companies, four (4) internet providers and twelve (12) internet cafes and eleven (11) satellite towers , four (4) FM radio stations and one (1) TV Station.
Literacy rate is high at 88% and this must be due to the adequate presence of state colleges and private universities.
There is, an on-going construction of the commercial airport at President Quirino but it was temporarily stopped. Horizontal improvement which included the construction of the runway and terminal building in the total amount of PhP 4,047,498.50 were already implemented.
Launches and other motorized bancas are used in ferrying commuters and goods from the coastal towns of Lebak and Kalamansig to Cotabato City and vise-versa, and from Palimbang to Kiamba in South Cotabato. Lately, a water jet (fast craft) started plying between Kalamansig and Cotabato City, which shortens travel hours from eight to three hours.
The province is now one of the most progressive agri-industrialized area in the SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Saranggani,Gen.Santos) region thru the full development of its agriculture, fishery and forestry potentials and sustainable utilization of its mineral resources and the formation of productive, viable and self-reliant communities thru the development of its human resources .
2ND SOCCSKSARGEN AREA BUSINESS CONFERENCE
In a bid to boost the business potentials of Sultan Kudarat and to attract investments, the province is set to host the 2nd SOCCSKSARGEN Area Business Celebration which serves as the highlight of the 1st Business Week Celebration on April 16-21, 2007. The whole week celebration will feature various activities that includes financial forum, jobs fair, trade exhibits, business matching and other activities that will showcase the trade and investment potentials of the SOCCSKSARGEN region.

Jointly hosted by the Sultan Kudarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (SKCCIFI) and the Isulan Sultan Kudarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ISKCCI), the Conference, to be held on April 19-21, carries the theme “Seizing Regional and Global Opportunities: Enhancing Agribusiness Competitiveness.” The two-day event will gather members of the business community from the region and the neighboring regions, including the different national government offices and local government units to discuss economic issues and advocacies that will help make the region globally competitive.

Key government officials and business leaders have been invited to speak and present topics and issues on how the region can seize opportunities and be a major player in the economic map of Mindanao.

The conference will have six plenary sessions which will tackle the following topics: National Policies on Enhancing Agribusiness Competitiveness: Challenges and Opportunities; Overseas Development Assistance: Focus on Mindanao Competitiveness; Halal; Accessing Global Markets; Biz Buzz Opportunities: What’s New?; and Economic Platform of Political Parties: Glimpse of Philippine Future Competitiveness. There will also be breakout sessions on business opportunities in agribusiness focusing on livestock and poultry, aquamarine products and high value crops.

Mindanao Cities on the Rise

2006-10-10T18:10:00.000-07:00

City competitiveness, as defined by the World Competitiveness Yearbook, is the ability of a city to create and maintain an environment that sustains more value creation for its enterprises and more prosperity for its people.

In the recent research of the Asian Institute for Management (AIM) on the Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project (PCCRP) 2005, Philippine cities were again ranked based on seven major drivers of competitiveness: cost of doing business, dynamism of local economy, linkages and accessibility, human resources and training, infrastructure, responsiveness of local government to business needs, and quality of life. These drivers were adopted from the World Competitiveness Yearbook of the Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development.

The drivers are inter-related as one affects the other. For example, the cost of doing business driver was matched with infrastructure and quality of life. Infrastructure plays a major role in attaining economies of scale (balanced supply and demand), while efficient delivery of services improves quality of life. Dynamism of local economy also affects the cost of doing business since imbalanced supply and demand results in higher costs. A dynamic local economy also results to enhanced linkages and accessibility of resources.

Leadership affects overall competitiveness of a city. When a city is competitive, this ultimately leads to cost effective business transactions that create self-reliant Local Government Units (LGU) that are able to generate local revenues to establish a more dynamic local economy with improved infrastructure and service delivery.

The project assessed the capacity of a city to provide an environment that nurtures the dynamism of its local enterprises and industries; the general ability to attract investments and entrepreneurs, and to uplift the living standards of its residents. Lastly, the project provides a benchmarking process that will aid individual cities in measuring competitiveness. The study was intended to motivate the local governments to be economic managers, not just service providers; provide feedback mechanism for business community for local governments; and provide an assessment tool to pinpoint and analyze best practices in economic management and apply competitiveness lessons from other LGUS.

“Sixty-five cities were surveyed in PCCRP 2005, the fourth edition of the project. Cities were categorized into 13 metropolitan cities (cities comprising Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao), 15 mid-sized cities (non-metro cities each with a population greater than 200,000), and 37 small cities (each with a population less than 200,000). Geographically, 30 cities are from Luzon, 14 from Visayas, and 21 from Mindanao.

Competitiveness of Mindanao Cities
Based on the results, five Mindanao cities were named most competitive. Davao , for the metropolitan city category; Iligan for the mid-size ; Koronadal, Surigao, and Tagum for the small-sized cities.

Davao City is the only metro city in Mindanao named as one of the most competitive cities in the country ; once again confirming its role as the central economic hub of the island. The efficient LGU response to business needs, infrastructure and high quality of life also contributed to the city's high rating.

In the medium-scale category, only Iligan made it as a competitive city, ranking second in cost of doing business, efficient response of LGUs, and developed infrastructure. Butuan ranked 4th in cost of doing business, Cagayan de Oro ranked 4th in Infrastructure, General Santos was 2nd in Linkages and Accessibility, and Zamboanga was first in cost of doing business and dynamism of local economy.

Small Mindanao Cities
In the small-scale cities category Surigao was ranked first in Cost of Doing Business, seconded by Koronadal, while Tagum was third in Responsiveness of LGUs to Business needs. Others that joined the Project acquired the following results in one or two drivers: Bago was 10th and Tacurong ranked 15th in Responsiveness of LGUs to business needs; Bislig was 29th in Economic Dynamism and Responsiveness of LGUs; Cotabato ranked 15th in Human Resources and Training; Dapitan was at top 11 & Oroquieta was at top 23 in Quality of Life; Digos was at top 13 in infrastructure; Gingoog was at 3rd ,Pagadian 9th and Marawi 11th in cost of doing business, while Valencia made it to 15th; Ozamis was 19th in dynamism of local economy; and Panabo was 7th in Linkages and Accessibility.

Drivers of Competitiveness
From the competitive cities' documented best practices, the leadership value of local government officials, followed by the presence of a strong support system (business alliances and responsive civil society) were deemed necessary to become a competitive city. Other factors influencing competitiveness included quality of human resources, presence of good infrastructure and a stable peace and order situation.

These best practices were based on the basics of development, which are provision for infrastructure (roads & bridges, water, power, telecommunications); quick and simplified response from government; accurate and timely collection of statistics which builds to policy making, resulting to ordinances and regulations that are responsive to current and emergent needs. Participatory governance by engaging the constituencies to collaborate with and support government development plans, is also a major factor highlighted in the study.

The study further noted the major contribution of cities to national economic development. All Mindanao cities surveyed and studied were contributing in the over all economic development of Mindanao through improved infrastructure and efficient delivery of services.

Federal Mindanao (Part 2) : The Promise of Federalism to Mindanao

2006-07-21T19:37:00.000-07:00

The numbers I had shown about Mindanao’s resources and its developing economy are just one facet of the island’s complex features. For many years now, Mindanao is beset by numerous problems on peace, infrastructure development and poverty. It is actually an irony that an island that holds so much promise of prosperity is home to millions of poor families, especially in the provinces of ARMM, CARAGA and Northern Mindanao.

The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), in its 2000 poverty incidence report, showed all regions in Mindanao had over 30 percent of poverty incidence. At the provincial level, Sulu (ARMM) was described as the poorest province in the Philippines, with the highest poverty incidence level of 63.2 percent. Tawi-Tawi had 56.5 percent. Maguindanao; 55.1 percent; Lanao del Sur, 55 percent; Sultan Kudarat, 54.3 percent; and Camiguin, 53.1 percent.

In the 2003 poverty report, CARAGA with 47.3 percent, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with 45.7 percent, and Western Mindanao (Region IX) with 44.1 percent, were still among the top 10 poorest provinces in the Philippines.

The long-standing Mindanao peace process involving the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and the Mindanao peace movement, is also one major concern that needs to be addressed at the structural, deep social, cultural and religious levels.

These chronic diseases beleaguering the island provided a venue for Mindanaons to meet and discuss the possible solutions or steps to take in pushing for a progressive and peaceful Mindanao. And that’s when the movement for federalism came in place.

Today, the island have an overwhelming number of “matured federalist” compared to the other regions. The movement for a federal Philippines actually originated way back December 1999, when federal advocates from the Mindanao Congress of Development NGOS (MINCON) network assembled and created Lihok Pideral Mindanao (LPM). From then on, a series of regional organizing, federal trainors’ training throughout Mindanao, Federal constitution write-shops, and consultations with key leaders in Visayas and Luzon, created the Movement for a Federal Philippines (MFP). What was once a solely Mindanaon battle cry became now, a nationwide issue. Just this week, the Technical Assistance for the Development of Rural and Urban Poor (TACDRUP) hosted a forum for Federalism and Charter Change where discussions on federalism was brought to higher grounds.

The heightened interest on the Federal System has finally made federalism a national debatable issue the active participation of key Mindanawan leaders in the historical 2005 Consultative Constitutional Commission or ConCom. Although the fate of federalism is now in the hands of congress, we want to make it clear that only a federal-parliamentary form of government and not just parliamentary system can help the country cure its many ills.

Mindanao federalists deeply believe that Federal-parliamentary is not only the most viable and a part of the lasting answer to the Mindanao problem but also the system of government most suited for the Philippines in the 21st century.

A federal Philippines would end the concentration of power in a single national center. A federal system will grant the nation that chance because only a federal system can give real power, duly constituted power, to regional governments.

Equally, this structure of government would reinforce the Mindanao peace process, thus create a chance for peace and development to many conflict-affected areas peoples. The Lumad peoples have persistently expressed their own preference for self-determination, having seen that their absorption into the unitary political system has brought about the establishment and solidification of a threat to their very own existence and the integrity of their distinct cultures.

The Bangsamoro have their own distinct identity and vested interest that must be respected and cannot be satisfied by a continued subscription to political uniformity. With the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the central government has allowed, albeit grudgingly, a departure from the stranglehold of central authority. The passage of the Local Government Code in 1991 further chips away powers from central authority; the local government units from the regional autonomy to the barangay are able to exercise greater self-determination.

From an economic perspective the positive effect of federalism to Mindanao is the creation of more sustainable and competitive regional socio-economic reforms. Through a federal system, regional accountabilities would create tailor-made programs for smaller territories that are more responsive to their constituencies, particularly the infrastructure, employment/jobs creation, health, education, and various other human development programs. The environment will allow an economy where small and micro businesses will become robust ; where investments laws are designed to meet the needs of the state as well as its desired investment sectors. The traders will have more access to government services and there will be lesser layers of bureaucracy.

A smaller constituency will also make measurement of political performance easier for the voters. Regional economic and social programs are more directly felt and assessed, empowering the constituents to act more rationally in elections.

In summary, Federalism is one system that may be able to effectively address the current and peculiar Mindanao problem, and correct the years of neglect by the central government. This unique island-region that harbors three peoples - Lumads, Moros and Christians - of diverse backgrounds, customs, culture, traditions, and social systems, very succinctly calls for unity in diversity.

Federalism is the key that will unlock and unleash the true potentials of Mindanao . Then Mindanao will truly be the land of promise !

The Mindanao Promise Can Be Delivered

2006-07-21T19:29:00.000-07:00

I am a Mindanawon. In my opinion, the phrase “Mindanao: Land of Promise” is not a cliché. It is a fact. Let me tell you about Mindanao.

Mindanao is a beautiful island. Situated in the southernmost section of the Philippine archipelago, Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines. With a land area of 102,043 square kilometers, it occupies one-third of the Philippines' total land area and is larger than a number of Asian countries like Taiwan or Singapore.

Mindanao is strategically located within the East ASEAN region, almost equidistant to the eastern sections of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. This key geographic location underscores its potential to be a major transshipment point and center of trade in the region.

Natural Richness

Mindanao is rich in natural resources. A third of our land is planted with the country’s major crops – 100% of national production of cacao, 91%of pineapples, 90% of cacao and over 50% of coconut, coffee and corn. And of course – the pomelos, mangosteen , rambutans , lanzones plus our own salad bar of lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cauliflowers, cabbages,etc. Our fruit basket of bananas account to US79.5 million of our exports; fresh pineapples at US 33.5 million and the tuna that we eat as sashimi at US 22.3 million.

So its no wonder that we contribute over 40 percent of the Philippines' food requirements and more than 30 percent to the national food trade

Mindanao is likewise endowed with rich mineral resources. Mindanao reportedly accounts for 80% of the national total deposits of copper, nickel, and gold. Currently, of the twenty-three major metallic projects operating in the Philippines, nine are in Mindanao (primarily in Surigao and Davao Oriental).Its metallic deposits include lead, zinc, ore, iron, copper, chromite, magnetite and gold. Gold mined in Mindanao accounts for nearly half of the national gold reserves. Its non-metallic mineral resources include marble, salt, sand, gravel, silica, clay, and limestone.

Cultural diversity and the island's natural beauty make Mindanao one of Asia's favored tourist destinations. White sand beaches, scenic volcanoes, vast orchid gardens, and various ethnic festivals are only some of its unique tourist attractions. Our tourism arrival was at 2 million from January-July 2005; hovering from 25%-25% increase in arrivals

Economy

Agriculture is the driving force behind Mindanao's economy. Close to a third of its land area is devoted to agriculture. More than one-third of the island's labor force is employed in the agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors. Mindanao accounts for over 40 percent of the Philippines' food requirements and contributes more than 30 percent to the national food trade. Mindanao's evenly distributed tropical climate makes it ideal for year-round crop production. If wisely harnessed, Mindanao's rich agricultural resources can serve as the Philippines' foundation for sustainable growth.

In the first quarter of 2005, Mindanao’s overall economic performance remained upbeat. Despite the uncontrollable hikes in oil and consumer prices, which brought down sectoral production from the rest of the country this period, Mindanao’s economy proved to withstand these pressures as exhibited by its key economic indicators. Notably significant indicators in trade and investments, and exports, among others, backed up the said performance.

The BOI and Phividec-registered investments reached P1.07 billion in 2005 posting a growth of 142% compared to its previous year’s performance; Exports sector in Mindanao exhibited a 13% growth rate; Cargo traffic growth reached 5.73% as well as a 1.99% increase in vessel traffic among the major ports in Mindanao; A stable labor force as employment rates reached 94.7% while keeping unemployment rate at 5.3%; and, Value of private building construction increased by 5.1% from P1.96 Billion in 1st Qtr. 2004 to P2.06Billion in 1st Qtr. 2005.

The banking sector likewise plays an important role in mobilizing the economic development of Mindanao. It has contributed in the development of many small and medium scale entrepreneurs, and serves as one of the safe places for deposits for the burgeoning income base of Mindanaons.

Over the last three years, the Mindanao banking sector has displayed modest increase in the number of banking offices. From the report generated by the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) there was a 2% increase in the number of banks operating Mindanao, from 877 in 2003 to 896 in 2004.

People

The primary asset of Mindanao is its people. Based on the year 2000 census, 18.1 million people or a quarter of the Philippines' total population reside in Mindanao. The island is home to some 27 indigenous cultural communities, as well as migrants from Luzon and the Visayas. Rather than an impediment, the pluralism of cultures in Mindanao is a major source of strength, particularly in trading with its multi-cultural neighbor countries in East ASEAN.

Mindanao has a relatively young albeit highly literate population. One-third of its population is aged 15 to 19 with a literacy rate of 90%. The island also boasts a versatile, adaptive and English-speaking work force. Generally, Mindanaoans are known for their positive outlook, pleasant disposition and warm hospitality.

Opportunities and Development Imperatives

Due to its rich natural resources which surpass those of Luzon and the Visayas, economic opportunities in Mindanao abound. With the recent revitalization of BIMP-EAGA of which Mindanao is an organic part, economic activities in the island are seen to further expand. However, Mindanao's resources must be judiciously managed to ensure their sustainability.
In its drive towards economic development through global trade competitiveness, Mindanao's leaders must not lose sight of social issues such as poverty and peace and security. These likewise need to be urgently addressed to ensure the island's sustainable development. Economic development programs should be undertaken hand in hand with programs targeted at alleviating poverty and installing conditions that would lead to long-term peace.

Jobs and Employment

We have a total labor force of 8.2 million; 95% are working or gainfully employed while the remaining 5% or 430,000 are unemployed. These are the seasonal workers in the farms and the plantations. Due to our robust agriculture based economy, our employment rate is higher by two (2) percentage points compared to the country’s 92.7%. Majority of our workers are in the agriculture sector; followed by services and manufacturing. This is mainly due to the bright and upbeat economic performance of the economy despite the hikes in oil and energy. As to be expected, the resiliency of Mindanao withstood the pressures of the environment

Mindanao, the troubled island

Amidst its beauty, Mindanao is a complex island with its own peculiarities and intricacies. To understand Mindanao is to go back to history and look at the facets that contributed to what it is today. Over the years, Mindanao has seen the light of day and the dark of night, with hostilities stalking its shadows, and region-wide poverty incidence scarring its beauty.
For many years now, Mindanao is beset by numerous problems on peace, infrastructure development and poverty. It is actually an irony that an island that holds so much promise of prosperity is home to millions of poor families, especially in the provinces of ARMM, CARAGA and Northern Mindanao.

The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), in its 2000 poverty incidence report, showed all regions in Mindanao had over 30 percent of poverty incidence. At the provincial level, Sulu (ARMM) was described as the poorest province in the Philippines, with the highest poverty incidence level of 63.2 percent. Tawi-Tawi had 56.5 percent. Maguindanao; 55.1 percent; Lanao del Sur, 55 percent; Sultan Kudarat, 54.3 percent; and Camiguin, 53.1 percent.

In the 2003 poverty report, CARAGA with 47.3 percent, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with 45.7 percent, and Western Mindanao (Region IX) with 44.1 percent, were still among the top 10 poorest provinces in the Philippines.

Hope Lives

Precisely because of this scenario that Mindanao has attracted numerous international development projects, to aid it in economic, social and political development. Majority of the country’s multi-lateral donor agency-projects are based in Mindanao.

Among these are Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM), Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS), Livelihood Enhancement and Peace (LEAP) Program, GOP-UNDP-EC Programme on Rehabilitating Internally Displaced Persons and Communities in Southern Philippines, ACT for Peace Programme, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) - Industrial Development Programme, to name a few.

The hope for a progressive and peaceful Mindanao is not lost. Many Mindanawon leaders and stakeholders are now working towards making that hope a reality. We have been promoting Mindanao’s economy through the BIMP EAGA, an economic cooperation scheme involving the four countries of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. We have been pushing for a Federalism form of Government, as the effective approach to address to Mindanao’s peculiar social set up.

The GRP-MILF peace process is still underway, but negotiation is getting better. The green-leaf bearing dove, the most common symbol for peace, continues to hover around, with no solid branch or agreement to rest on. Yet the fact that the negotiation continues is a proof that a peaceful Mindanao will not remain a dream, and federalism may yet be that hope.

It’s simply a matter of time before Mindanao delivers its promise in full.

Towards a Globalized Work Force

2006-07-21T19:27:00.000-07:00

Knowledge and skills have become very important tools to ensure the competitiveness of our workforce, in the wake of globalisation and technological advances.

The traditional worker simply needs basic skills: reading, writing, arithmetic skills. The “global” worker however, must possess a range of skills such as creativity, adaptability, decision making and interactive skills. The use of information technology and evolution of the global trade and market have greatly altered job content and skills needs. Good jobs nowadays demand new and sophisticated work skills.

The move to e-commerce and e-business brought to rise a new breed of workers-- a combination of one who is interactive, business-oriented, and can understand the business process. E-business has also led to the creation of new types of jobs we have today such as web development, data transcription, telemarketing.

Yet young graduates from our technical vocational schools and workers trying to penetrate the labor market have not been able to take advantage of the availability of such good jobs simply because they do not possess the type of skills demanded by these industries.

Take the contact center industry as an example. Work opportunities abound, but there is an increasing realization from the industry of the difficulty in hiring qualified workers. In the recent Cyberservices Workforce Forecast (Based on Industry Reports for 2004 – 2005 sourced from CICT, BOI, BPAP and member organizations) it was determined that there is a need for 179,206 call center agents in the year 2006. This is expected to increase to 259,800 in 2007, a 45% increase, and projected to reach 506,500 in 2010. In the medical transcription industry, the workforce demand in 2006 is 13,800 employees and is expected to increase to 24,800 in 2007, an increase of 80%. However it seems unsure if this requirement can be filled up as fast as the rate the industry is growing. This is a real challenge to us in Mindanao. It is very important that we have to aggressively improve our workforce or lest find ourselves lagging behind in the fast developing ICT sector. Today, there are only three (3) call centers in Mindanao – one in Cagayan de Oro and two(2) in Davao City.

The Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) sector however performed well in terms of industry absorption. This was reflected in the Impact Assessment on the TVET Graduates (CY 1999) wherein the average employment rate of Mindanao TVET graduates was 61%. But with the high rate of obsolescence these days, we still need to improve our new graduates' chances of landing a job by improving the quality of education and providing them with skills being demanded by today's industries.

In the face of new skills requirements and expectations from our workforce, TVET institutions that train these workers have to adapt as well. The pressing need for workers with higher level skills demands new approaches and strategies in training and educating workers to enable them to stay competitive and advance their careers.

This will be the focus of the discussions in the 2006 Mindanao TVET HRSD (Human Resources and Skills Development) Conference and Exhibits. The Mindanao framework for education and job training that meets the needs of today's new and growing industries will be the main point of discussion in the largest gathering of TVET school owners ,administrators and business and labor group. On July 4 – 6, 2006, some 300 participants coming from the TVET sector, composed of government and private representatives, industry, academe, labor, will gather together at the Villa Paraisao Apartelle, Mambajao, Camiguin to exchange ideas and information on policies, emerging trends, career opportunities, and critical issues affecting TVET in Mindanao .

The 2006 Mindanao TVET HRSD Conference and Exhibits will provide an overview of the labor market and latest skills trends, determine regional constraints with regards to jobs generation and capability for small enterprise development, identify interventions to provide information and assistance in the areas of job search and marketing, promote the establishment of links between business and other agencies to assist schemes aimed at implementation of small scale community enterprise projects and jobs creation.

Aside from the conference, other highlights of the event are the: Camiguin Trade Exhibit – a showcase of products and services that the province is known for; Jobs Fair – a venue to provide employment facilitation assistance and opportunities to the reach of the unemployed, this is open to all fresh graduates, skilled and professional workers seeking advancement; Entrepreneurs' Fair – a venue for prospective entrepreneurs to find business opportunities particularly franchises.

Our government host is the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Region X Reg. Dir. Mr. Silvano Maranga and Gov. Romualdo of Camiguin .The private sector host is the Northern Mindanao Techvoc Schools Association led by Dr. Irene Antonio of Valencia College in Bukidnon . Technical support to the event is being provided by TESDA XI Reg. Dir. Mr. Gaspar Gayona.

The Mindanao TVET Association will focus its efforts this year in adding a new dimension to its initiatives which is developing a “multi skilled” workforce and improved opportunities for jobs generation and capacities for enterprise development.

Task Force Davao - Great for Business

2006-07-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

We see them on the streets of Davao, carrying guns and ammunitions, as if quietly scouting for danger. We see them on checkpoints, securing the entrance and exits of the city. We see them on seaports and airports, with their bomb-sniffing K9 dogs. I am talking about the Task Force Davao 4th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

I remembered that the Task Force Davao was organized after the bombings that hit Davao International Airport on 04 March 2003 and Sasa Wharf on 02 April 2003. I heard of them when I was part of the government created “Maniwang Commission” that was asked by President Arroyo to investigate the twin bombings of the city. I had the perception then that this task force , as the name implies, will be short-lived.

The unit was officially organized on 16 April 2003 to combat terrorism but on 01 December 2003, it was further tasked to undertake counter-insurgency operations. It operates in three major cities namely, Davao City, Panabo City and Island Garden City Of Samal (IGACOS). In total, TFD covers four municipalities and 283 barangays, in a land Area of 6,240 Sq K with around 1.5 M populations.

Its mission is to conduct internal security operations within its Area of Responsibility in order to establish a physically and psychologically secured environment conducive to peace and development. I particularly support the “psychologically secured” mission- seeing them even at late evenings makes one feel safe and sound while walking the streets of Davao. One night, my husband and I were having coffee in one of those convenience stores located within a gasoline station when I saw one group of TFD. Knowing how hard and tiring their work must be ; we offered to buy them coffee and midnight snacks- but they politely refused this. The more I admired them for that ! A far cry from the other soldiers that I had encountered.

Unknown to many people though, the Task Force Davao has operational activities that defy the war strategies of many army generals here and abroad. They are espousing what is called the Mass Base Operation.

When Colonel Eduardo D. Del Rosario FA (GSC) PA, assumed command of Task Force Davao (TFD) on 16 July 2004, he immediately conceptualized the organization of about 70,000 Muslims in Davao City. His intention was to organize our Muslim brothers so they can play an active role in the campaign against insurgency and terrorism to pave the way for sustainable development.

This endeavor was realized when Lieutenant Colonel Yusop A. Jimlani (INF) PA, a Tuasog Muslim Officer, was assigned to TFD as Deputy Commander on 16 August 2004. He was then tasked to spearhead the project’s implementation by coordinating with respected Muslim political as well as spiritual leaders to rationalize the necessity of leading their fellow Muslims. Likewise, Mayor Rody gave his full support knowing the critical role of the group in his campaign for peace and development.

On 30 September 2004, a symposium on Terrorism and other related topics was held at Grand Men Seng Hotel, Davao City. Various Muslim sector representatives attended the occasion, from the Religious, Women, Youth, Business, Balik Islam, former MNLF leaders, political groups and the Muslim elites in Davao City. The activity culminated with the induction of the elected officers of the newly formed group called the United Muslim Council for Peace and Development (UMCPD).

To support the peace initiatives of the group, TFD has hosted relief goods distribution to Muslim communities in the city, and has helped in the restructuring of the Madrasah School in Ecoland and the Badjao Mosque in the Boulevard area. A medical mission to different Muslim communities was also done, and to even enhance communication and relationships of non-Muslim Soldiers and Muslim public in the region, TFD published the Soldier’s Handbook to Understand Muslims last 2005. The handbook is now a required read for every Filipino soldier, stationed in Mindanao, or not.

I am glad that they have made public information a major thrust of the TFD. Since January 2005, it was able to gather a total of 4,003 audience from schools, hotels / restaurant staff, cooperatives, private businesses, barangays / municipalities and LGUs.
With the TFD, we can all confidently continue on doing business , inviting investments and creating more jobs. Personally , I view the TFD more as allies in peace keeping and partners in business.

Dirty Government - Dirty Air

2006-07-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

The Private Emission Test Centers Owners’ Association (PETCOA) aptly described the prevailing situation today in its position paper submitted to the Office of Congressman Jacinto Paras, Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Communication and that is “ It is a ruinous or cut throat competition where everyone tries to cut each other’s throat and suck their own blood just to survive in a supposedly fledgling business or industry “.

Government is partly to blame for this kind of environment which had led to the degradation of the integrity of the test. The Department of Trade and Industry had been mouthing “ free trade and competition” as a rationale for opening the floodgates that allowed each and everyone running to get a piece of the business . DTI had failed to realize that the emission business is not like a “sari-sari store “ or the usual “retail /service business” where “more “ is better for the consumers – you get better price and better service so to speak. DTI overlooked the fact that unlike any retail or service business where the market is finite and the need for a product or service may constantly arise from time to time ; the PETC business have a fixed number of clients in given area and will only avail of the service once a year. So therefore , if an area have only 3,000 vehicles in a year – one can forecast that this will be the only client base . If there will be 3-4 PETC’s in that given area – one will have to fight tooth and nail to be able to test the number of vehicles which will make the operations profitable.

Inspite of the fact that DTI issued a memorandum granting “moratorium” in areas where they believed that there is already a saturation of PETC’s. Unfortunately, as usual – the government’s intervention was already too late.

PETCOA’ s position paper further stated that “Prudence could had been resorted to by the concerned government agencies namely- DTI and LTO regarding the processing and approval of PETC applications thereby invoking a cautious planning and corresponding regulation of an industry that is fragile and subject to possible manipulation by business themselves or by a few inept and corrupt government officials”.

There was also the tremendous pressure coming from the different powerful personalities in the government bureaucracy for the granting of PETC accreditation and permits to operate to their own relatives and friends.

Today, there are many PETC’s operating which are owned by these powerful people in the bureaucracy. This is not really surprising , is it ?

The apparent deregulatory stance of government opened the floodgates to the proliferation of more than 500 PETCs’ nationwide and is now creating havoc to the desired order and fair competition in a public service oriented economic activity. So there are reports of various trade malpractices such as non appearance of vehicles ( vehicles don’t have to physically undergo the emission test process ; but are given certificate of emission compliance in exchange for bribe money ); counterfeiting and faking of forms and fixing or tampering of emission process.

Until today, there is still a significant number of LTO Offices in Mindanao that issues the registration of vehicles without the certificate of emission testing. When asked why ; they would candidly respond that they “have a quota to meet “. I did not quite understand this before until I read in one of the newspaper about an award that LTO ASEC Lontoc gave to LTO offices who met their revenue quotas. I hope that ASEC Lontoc will also look into other conditions that led to the attainment of the quota – that good governance must also be present ,

The issue on rationalization and putting to order the operations of the PETCs’ cannot be over emphasized . It must always be a shared responsibility between the concerned agency and the stakeholders.

The officers and members of the PETCOA , as an organized group, continues on policing its own ranks and will continue to pursue such functions over its members. Mr. Bernard Chang, the Chair of the association, has always been in the forefront of this “clean air advocacy “ and has been actively meeting government partners in this endeavor. But sometimes, I could not help but notice the feeling of great despair, disappointment and sometimes even anger because of the lack of response or interest of government to “ clean up the system”. I could understand his frustration because I had seen this in many members of the privates sector who have just simply given up hope of working with the bureaucracy.
The quality of air that we have in our streets had not significantly improved and our health problems due to deteriorating air quality had worsen. We call on government to be “kinder” to all of us and ultimately give us the “ clean air “ that we all are hoping for – perhaps this is the only luxury in life that we can get for free today .

BETTER VALUE FOR NUMBERS

2006-07-21T19:18:00.000-07:00

During the inception of the process or procedures involved in the emission testing of motor vehicles, I could very well recall that the importance of what we normally refer to as “IT” or information technology component was repeated over and over again . This means that the results of the emission testing done by all the private emission test centers (PETC’s) nationwide will be uploaded to a central databank. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) and other concerned departments will have full access to this very valuable data.

In my many years of participation in advocacy work, I had developed a “love affair” with numbers. Simply because numbers are numbers and you have very little ground for quarrel about that – and numbers are significant tools in any advocacy endeavor because of the many interesting stories behind it. And the stories are varied – the degree of their value will largely depend on how we use and interpret them.

My friend, USEC Ricky Alfonso of the Dept. of Transportation and Communication used this PETC database into good use- analysis of the performance of the different emission centers and the tracking of anomalous testing transactions .

But there are more relevant stories that these numbers can tell. The LTO under ASEC Annelli Lontoc, can use this data to punish and call the attention of some LTO District officers who , until today, refused to respect the law. This database when compared with the actual vehicle registration transactions of LTO will tell ASEC Lontoc the sad story that there are still many of the offices under her, especially in less urbanized cities and provinces that thinks they are “above the law’. These are the LTO officers that allows their offices to release registration certificates even without the mandatory emission testing. I am saying this because many of the provinces and smaller cities in Mindanao are so far , far away from the “LTO of Imperial Manila “; and the numbers should be a cause of worry and alarm to all of us. Some LTO people think that they can afford to be complacent about all of these “street pollution” concerns because this is not really a serious problem in their area since the air is not as dirty as Manila due to the presence of fewer number of motor vehicles and large tracts of land. Well, this may be true for now - but, if we don’t watch out – we will become like Manila soon!

Today, increasing levels of air pollution are threatening the well-being of city dwellers, and imposing not just a direct economic cost by impacting human health but also threatening long term productivity investment.

Davao City has been classified as one of the TSP (Total Suspended Particulates) hot spots in the Philippines, having a high concentration of air pollutants in its environment.
According to the World Bank report , the estimated damage to human health in terms of impact on excess deaths, chronic bronchitis, respiratory symptoms and cost of exposure to air pollution showed that Davao City is the 2nd highest among four cities at USD 85million (Metro Manila USD392M; Cebu USD16M; Baguio USD9M).

The 2002 National Air Quality Status Report would show that in five of the seven years previous years,locations outside the Metro Manila exceeded or equaled the highest Metro Manila annual readings – Davao and Tagum in 1996 and Davao again in 1999.

This should merit our serious attention as it shows how air pollution threatens the well-being of Mindanawans.

Transport is a major source of air pollution. In 2003 there were 4.3 million registered vehicles in the country- and it keeps on increasing every year. 36% are utility vehicles ; 17% cars; 6% trucks; 1% buses; 1% trailers ; 36% motorcycles and tricycles . Of all vehicles, 70% are gasoline powered and the rest are diesel. Most of high mileage PUV’s are diesel powered and they emit a significant amount of fine particles of emission that contributes to pollution. PUV’s outnumber cars by a ratio of 2:1 .

In Mindanao , there were 5609,817 registered vehicles in 2003 and 625,047 in 2004; an annual growth rate of 11.45 %. The population of Mindanao was projected to be 20,289 M in 2005 ; growing at 2.11% annually.

Interestingly, the LTO compliance ratings when it comes to mandatory emission testing as a prerequisite to vehicle registration is a low of 40% to a high of 95%. A law is a law- so compliance must be 100% , don’t you think so? In the spirit of transparency and accountability, ASEC Lontoc should make the findings public and have it published in newspapers so that the general public will know whether LTO is doing its job well and run after the erring LTO Officers to perform their work well.

In 2001, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) conducted road side inspections and apprehensions of smoke belchers. 8,470 uility vehicles were apprehended, 4256 buses, 1334 jeepneys. Guess what? 95.6% of the utility vehicles, 91.8% buses and 98.1 % jeepneys failed !

Aside from strict compliance of the emission testing of motor vehicles; there are other equally important support mechanisms to ensure cleaner air for us in Mindanao . One of this is a locally initiated road side inspection and apprehension of smoke belchers by the LGU, LTO DOTC , media and NGO similar to what MMDA did . This, I believe, will help clean the air in our major thoroughfares.

The database found in the LTO databank should also be utilize to examine the performance of the LTO operated MVIS (Motor Vehicle Inspection System) – the entity that conducts emission testing of public utility vehicles (PUV’s). This numbers will prove to us that the MVIS is really doing a good or a lousy job of testing the jeepneys, taxis and tricycles !

Using these numbers might be our only hope to reward the good and to punish the bad . Political will is a matter of choice – it can be used for the good of the greater majority or on the other hand- for personal survival .

FEDERAL MINDANAO; Land of Promise - Land of Jobs

2006-05-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

(1st of 2 parts)
The Promise of Mindanao

Mindanao is rich in natural resources. A third of our land is planted with the country’s major crops – 100%of national production of cacao, 91%of pineapples, 90% of cacao and over 50% of coconut , coffee and corn. And of course – the pomelos, mangosteen , rambutans , lanzones plus our own salad bar of lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cauliflowers, cabbages,etc. And our fruit basket of bananas accounting to US79.5 million of our exports; fresh pineapples at US 33.5 million and the tuna that we eat as sashimi at US 22.3 million.
So its no wonder that we contribute over 40 percent of the Philippines' food requirements and more than 30 percent to the national food trade.

Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines. With a land area of 102,043 square kilometers, it occupies one-third of the Philippines' total land area and is larger than a number of Asian countries like Taiwan or Singapore.

We have rich mineral resources and one will find nearly half of the national gold reserves in the island. Our metallic deposits includes lead, zinc, ore, iron, copper, chromite, magnetite and gold and non-metallic mineral resources include marble, salt, sand, gravel, silica, clay, and limestone

Cultural diversity and the island's natural beauty make Mindanao one of Asia's favored tourist destinations. Recently, we had weekly flights from Davao to the territory of Palau. The white sand beaches, scenic volcanoes, vast orchid gardens, and various ethnic festivals are only some of our unique tourist attractions. Our tourism arrival was at 2 million from January-July 2005; hovering from 25%-25% increase in arrivals
Businesses and Investments

The investments Phividec Industrial Authority in Cagayan de Oro City reached P1.07 billion in the first four months of the year, up by 142%, from P0.44 billion in the same period last year. Twelve projects had been approved by both the Board of Investments and PIA and is expected to result to 1,094 jobs and that’s a 45% increase from the 754 opportunities last year.

Foreign investors equity infusion reached a 50-fold increase to P 667 million from P 13 million , while Filipino businessmen rose 11% to P 406 million from P 365.

Most of the approved investments came from various sectors such livestock/poultry & feeds; processed foods & beverages; refrigeration/storage services; motor vehicle parts & components manufacturing; and, iron ore manufacturing.

The iron ore manufacturing sector got the biggest share of approved projects this year with 49% share or P520 million-worth of investments from the Japanese-owned Philippine Sinter Corporation located at Phividec in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. This sector likewise, got the bulk of foreign equity-investments this year.
Investments in processed foods & beverages’ sector remained strong as it grew by 20% to P256 million-worth of investments from January to April this year from almost P213 million-worth of investments on the same period last year.

The livestock, poultry & feeds sector has P203 million-worth of investments from last year’s P69 million-worth of investments. Refrigeration services sector accounts for 5% and motor vehicle parts accounts for 3% share from the total investments this year.

Jobs and Employment in the Island Region

We have a total labor force of 8.2 million; 95% are working or gainfully employed while the remaining 5% or 430,000 are unemployed. This are the seasonal workers in the farms and the plantations . Due to our robust agriculture based economy, our employment rate is higher by two (2) percentage points compared to the country’s 92.7% . Majority of our workers are in the agriculture sector ; followed by services and manufacturing. This is mainly due to the bright and upbeat economic performance of the economy despite the hikes in oil and energy. As to be expected , the resiliency of Mindanao withstood the pressures of the environment

to be continued... (2nd part – The Promise of Federalism)

Bottom Up Approach To Peace

2006-03-22T22:53:00.000-08:00

Peace and order condition and economic development are closely intertwined.One is indispensable to the other. Economic development can be pursued onlywithin a peaceful environment. When the economy is doing good, there is a better guarantee of a peaceful environment. And this is particularly true inMindanao.

This is not to simplify the complex issues of peace and development in Mindanao. These issues have socio-political and cultural roots. However, history and reality tell us that economics is also an important factor.

That is why the government, business community, and non-government organizations have always put peace on top of their economic development agenda. Peace and development have always been a main topic in thevarious conferences, summits, and other fora. These includes the annual summits initiated by Kusog Mindanaw, Mindanao Commission of Women, NGOs, business groups , media and other organizations. These initiatives manifest the acknowledgment by the various stakeholders in Mindanao that peace and development must go together.

Various foreign donors have also signified intention to continue supporting peace and development initiatives in Mindanao. These initiatives include livelihood projects, particularly for the disadvantaged sectors in the poor regions of theisland, where assistance is most needed.

Recently, another important summit was held in Sulu. Organized by the Province of Sulu, in collaboration with the Mindanao People's Peace Movement, the 4thBangsamoro Summit gathered over 50 participants coming from various sectors of the tri-people community at the Tabang Sulu Hall in an effort to contribute inforging lasting peace and development in Mindanao. The summit consolidated insights of various sectors to substantially contribute in the peace building initiatives in the region.

The summit also served as forum to assess the livelihood programs initiated for former combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who havebeen provided access to livelihood opportunities.

Although there are many other summits initiated by different sectors, it is good that there are summits specially organized for the tri-people where the is no substitute implementation of livelihood programs must be intensified. There is no better substitute to touching base - getting the pulse of the people in the communities who know best how to properly address their concerns. This reinforces the bottom-up approach in looking for sustainable solutions to lasting peace and development.

The results of the 4th Bangsamoro Summit should serve as important reference for other sectors and organizations who have periodic conferences and consultation. While the summit may be area- and sector-specific, the approaches and strategies employed in successfully implementing livelihood programs in the Moro communities may help other organizations in enhancing their programs to dovetail with the needs of the target beneficiaries.

Again, there is no substitute to touching base. There is no such thing as conclusive assumptions and presumptions in working for peace and development in Mindanao. No one knows better than the people in the communities themselves.

Mindanao As I.T. Hub

2006-03-15T23:39:00.000-08:00

Focus on Contact Center Services

Cyberservices is a new term that describes services delivered via cyberspace. These are information technology-driven services that include call centers, medical transcription, back office operations, and animation.

In the Philippines, call center services is the largest sector in the I.T industry, absorbing 63% of its total workforce. In just a few years, Philippines has strengthened its services from inbound customer support and outbound telemarketing to more technical support service such as computer hardware troubleshooting. We are currently at par with global standards, closely competing with India and China, while offering the best value. And as the sector grows to greater heights, large call center companies are expanding its reach across the nation, seeking for more competitive labor costs, and cheaper infrastructure and operational expenses in other cities aside from Manila, Angeles and Cebu - and southern Philippines is targeted as the next destination of growth.

But, is Mindanao ready?

In its recent report, Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) projected that the call center sector will have to employ 388,000 agents to meet client needs in 2010. In order to deliver this, call centers should not limit their Mindanao activities on recruitment for relocation purposes alone. Setting base is inevitable considering the many perks in Mindanao cities, specifically the availability of cheaper and reliable power and communication infrastructure, less expensive cost of living, good incentives for I.T. companies, numerous vendor support, and transportation infrastructure.

Mindanao is also fast opening itself to advancement as it targets cyberservices to be the industry that will not only boost the economy, but will also secure its people from leaving home. In addition, redistribution of wealth, the return of talents, triggering of commercial activity, and attracting more investment from other sectors are significant, positive effects of call center presence in the provinces.

Local communities and its leaders recognizes Mindanao's potentials in providing call center needs in the near future. This sparked interests from various groups and business organizations to cooperate and unify in order to make Mindanao cities an attractive and suitable locations for the industry's growth.

Mindanao as the next I.T. Hub
Such widespread investment promotion campaign embarked by various Mindanao stakeholders, captured the interest of some of the well-known call centers causing them to visit major, Mindanao cities for expansion consideration. So far, Cagayan de Oro and Davao City pioneered by collectively attracting four call center operation set-ups in the city proper. My very own company, Joji Ilagan Foundation Inc., will be operating a state of the art training academy for call center agents and personnel in partnership with John F. Kennedy Foundation; and a Call Center projected to have 200 seats. This training academy will open start operating on April and the BPO contact center on June of this year. The training center will also ensure the continuous presence of skilled manpower to serve the needs of IT investors and BPO’s that intends to locate their businesses in Davao and the nearby cities like Gen. Santos.

Mindanao, with its skilled labor and quality of life, recognizes its capacity to deliver investor requirements in setting up call center operations. We produce competent professionals with excellent reasoning skills, English communication and computer skills, and workers flexible in various work environments. And of course, Mindanaoans are famous for being friendly, courteous and industrious individuals - a plus point in this line of work.

On the other hand, Mindanao has its own challenges and limitations. For one, not all cities have I.T. Parks and zones, and this discourages I.T. investors who seek additional incentives that an I.T. park/zone could offer, in addition to the flexible requirements it imposes. Most of the cities are yet to follow Cagayan de Oro's Pueblo de Oro IT Park, the first of its kind which houses an international call center.

There is no reason why Davao and Cagayan and the rest of Mindanao cannot become the IT hub for the Southern part of the country and of the East Asean region.
After all, everything else is in place - competent manpower and adequate communications and transportation infrastructures.

MINDANAO ICT: Full Blast in 2006

2006-03-15T23:38:00.000-08:00

Expect this year that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Mindanao will be taking a massive leap to profitable and ever-expanding services. Similar to emergent and forward-looking economies, Mindanao is “upgrading” itself to be at par with the world’s best ICT applications. Its vision for competitiveness and modernization was evident during the 4th Mindanao ICT Congress, wherein various key players from the six regions gathered to address the need for innovative revolution in our ICT industry.

The congress focused on enhancing the rapid distribution of knowledge and information as means to finding its proper niche in the global village of the 21st century. Conducted in General Santos City last year, the successful gathering resulted to the passing of seven policy resolutions and the discussion on the several key issues of the industry.

One of the resolutions calls for both the public and private sectors to intensify the promotion of investments in the ICT sector in Mindanao. This cooperation is critical particularly in encouraging investors that Mindanao is peaceful, orderly and above else, ICT-ready. To support this marketing initiative, a resolution urging the Telecommunications Office (TELOF) to fast-track the establishment of 37 identified community e-centers (CeCs) and 42 e-LGU CeCs in Mindanao was presented. It specifies the generalized resolution calling for the expansion of rural connectivity in the Mindanao regions, specifically in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The stakeholders also urged concerned government agencies to develop the IT skills of Mindanao’s human capital and businesses. In this campaign, it was suggested that the Department of Education (DepEd) subsume effective computer applications in the curriculum of primary and secondary education. Likewise, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) were tasked to monitor IT schools and business process outsource companies to guarantee that graduates possess the skills acceptable to the ICT industry. Mindanao is targeting markets of contact centers, BPOs, animation, software development and medical transcription. Each sector demands different knowledge and skills, and therefore more education and training programs are needed in order to address the special labor requirements attached to it.

Open Source technologies gained a considerable amount of curious, or otherwise fearful, following at the second half of 2005, when authorities allegedly raided offices and internet shops for copyrights violations on operating systems. As such, the private sector began urging government agencies to mount an aggressive and widespread information drive to all ICT stakeholders about the nature and benefits of adopting Open Source technology for business operations. This is, in fact, a very attractive alternative for small businesses who could not afford the legal rights to utilize commercial systems, but could not afford to do without a computer. Open Source is not only free, but it’s the option for lawful business transactions for those who are tight on the company budget.

Overall, the successful 4th Mindanao ICT Congress highlighted the necessary inputs from all stakeholders in order to achieve the goal to make Mindanao the “Knowledge Center in the Asia Pacific” by 2010. Will we be able to keep up with the times? We will surely take it one step at a time, but for sure, Mindanao is getting there.

ECOZONES IN MINDANAO

2006-03-15T23:35:00.000-08:00

Decades ago, the lack of infrastructure facilities was the major bottleneck of investment promotion and acquisition in Mindanao. The cost of transportation and communication made doing business in Mindanao very expensive, if not prohibitive.

Infrastructure in place
That problem is not exactly a thing of the past. There is still more to be done. However, the improvement of Mindanao’s infrastructure facilities speaks for itself. Road networks, airports, seaports, telecommunications, and other facilities are now in place. This improvement not only cuts the cost of doing business, but also makes it more convenient and profitable.

Getting more investments on the ground has always been a tough challenge for the government and the private sectors. Even if facilities are already in place, they have to contend with the ‘image problem’ of Mindanao, particularly with regard to peace and order situation. But these constraints were all effectively addressed through appropriate investment promotion and acquisition strategies.

The strategies in promoting Mindanao as an investment destination are consistent with the overall investment promotion program of the country. Among these strategies implemented is the creation of economic zones or ecozones.

As defined in Republic Act 7916, otherwise known and the “The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995,” ECOZONES are selected areas with highly developed or which have the potential to be developed into agro-industrial, industrial tourist/recreational, commercial, banking, investment and financial centers.

An ECOZONE may contain any or all of the following: Industrial Estates (IEs), Export Processing Zones (EPZs), Free Trade Zones, and Tourist/Recreational Centers.

The Special Economic Zone Act provides that the government shall actively encourage, promote, induce and accelerate a sound and balanced industrial, economic and social development of the country in order to provide jobs to the people specially those in the rural areas, increase their productivity and their individual and family income, and thereby improve the level and quality of their living condition through the establishment, among others, of special economic zones in suitable and strategic locations in the country and through measures that shall effectively attract legitimate and productive foreign investments.

Among the privileges for locators in ecozones is the exemption from national and local taxes which is stipulated in republic Act No. 7916.

Mindanao Ecozones
There are twenty one (21) ecozones in the whole island of Mindanao which is registered at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

In Western Mindanao (Region IX), the 50-hectare Ayala de Zamboanga Industrial Park in Zamboanga City is ready for locators, preferably light to medium scale, non-pollutive industries.
In Northern Mindanao, the Misamis Oriental Ecozone in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, prefers oleochemical industries. The Pueblo de Oro IT Park in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City prefers IT-related industries.

Development is still in progress at the First Cagayan de Oro Business Park in San Martin, Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

The 61-hectare Sarangani Economic Development Zone in Polomolok, South Cotabato, prefers food and vegetable processing, meat processing, quick frozen products, corn, flour, and starch.
In Barangay Calumpang, General Santos City, the 19-hectare SRC Calumpang Economic Development Zone is also ready for locators.

Development is in progress in five (5) other ecozones of the region: Apo Estates Special Economic Zone in Barangay Madaum, Tagum City; Filinvest Technology Park General Santos in Tambler, General Santos City; General Santos Special Economic Zone, also in Tambler, General Santos City; Sarangani Economic Development Zone in Matinao, Polomolok, South Cotabato; and Tiger Valley Industrial Estate in Klinan 6, Polomolok, South Cotabato.

Three (3) ecozones are being developed in Iligan City of Central Mindanao (Region XII). These are the CIIP Agro-Industrial Park, Global Ispat Industrial Park, and NSC Special Economic Zone.

In the Caraga Region, the Philnico Industrial Estate in Nonoc Island, Surigao del Norter is ready for locators, preferably nickel refinery operations, service and utility providers, support industries to the nickel refinery and downstream industries.

The Shannalyne Technological & Environmental Park in Milagros, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur is ready for investors in pulp, paper, and other wood-based industries.

In Tubay, Agusan del Norter, the Tubay Agro-Processing Center is also ready for locators.
In the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) the Maguindanao Ecocity is being developed in Parang, Maguindanao.

Invest in Mindanao
With these ecozones, Mindanao offers ready-to-occupy locations for investors who want to do business in the country’s second largest island according to their preferred investment areas. These ecozones make doing business in Mindanao very convenient.

Furthermore, they offer opportunity for investors to be part of the peace and development efforts for the island and the country.

WHY IN DAVAO?

2006-03-15T23:32:00.000-08:00

Davao , the city of blooms from islands to highlands is the site of the 25th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), which will be held on January 13 to 21 , 2006.

Indeed, Davao City is blooming and booming from islands to highlands. Investments in terms of total capitalization of businesses continues to surge from only P62 billion in 2000 to P69 billion in 2001, P80 billion in 2002, P84 billion in 2003, and a whopping P118.5 billion in 2004. The sharp growth is very evident in the city’s tourism, construction, agriculture, and export sectors.

Tourist arrivals based on air passenger traffic and hotel occupancy volume have been consistently increasing since 2000 placing Davao City’s total tourism receipts at P5.22 billion in January-June 2005 alone, a 13-percent increase from P4.62 billion generated in the same period last year.

Similarly, this city had recorded an unprecedented increase in the value of private building construction, which skyrocketed to P7.4 billion last year from only P773 million in 2001.
So did exports, shooting up to $993 million in 2004 from $848 million in 2003 and $738 million in 2002, with the balance of trade further widening in Davao City’s favor.

“These figures are making Davao City even more attractive to tourists, many of whom are corporate executives and entrepreneurs on vacation who can’t ignore a business opportunity when they see one,” said ATF 2006 Secretary General and Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation Executive Director Daniel Corpuz.

Davao is the capital of the Southern Mindanao region and one of the world’s largest cities in terms of land area, spanning 244,000 hectares. This sprawling metropolis has emerged as the business, investment and tourism hub of Southern Philippines.

Citing Davao City as the next pillar of Philippine tourism, Durano said it was President Arroyo’s personal choice as the venue for ATF 2006.

The 25th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) slated in Davao City is expected to significantly boost the economy in Mindanao and prop up investor confidence in the region and the rest of the Philippines.

Imagine the kind of international exposure that Davao City and the rest of Mindanao will gain from the ATF, which will be participated in by throngs of delegates from the 10 member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the major wholesale travel trade buyers from all over the world, all translating to thousands of foreign and local visitors flocking to Southern Philippines during that nine-day event.

Tourism had contributed substantially to Mindanao’s expanding economy, which posted growth rates of 4.4 percent in 2002 and 4.5 percent in 2003 and consistently had accounted for around nine million of national employment.

There have been remarkable increments in the region’s air and sea transport volumes in terms of both passengers and cargo because of increased tourism activities, particularly in Southern and Northern Mindanao, which posted more than 1.2 million foreign and domestic tourists. The international airport in Southern Mindanao’s tourism and investment hub – recorded around 1.4 million incoming and outgoing passengers in 2004 while hotel occupancy rates posted a 6.5 percent increase in the January-June 2005 from its year-ago level.

The impact of these developments can be felt throughout the region’s economic landscape, especially in the food, transport, hotel, resort, entertainment, recreation, retail, and services sectors.

Quite evidently, the government is taking advantage of ATF 2006 to launch the development of Mindanao as a tourist haven and Davao as the center of the tourism industry in Mindanao and present it to the world in that perspective.

This move will thus correct the wrong perception that Mindanao is a not a safe place to visit, to invest in, or even to stay.

Participating in the ATF are the 10 ASEAN-member countries, their exhibitors from various sectors of the tourism industry, and 470 buyers and media from six continents. All these translate to thousands of foreign guests and tourists, who will soon see Mindanao in a totally different light.

Why in Davao ? The answers are obvious!