#MINDANAO
John Tria
In last week’s column I talked about being in a unique moment in our economic history, where much innovation, technology and new reforms can keep our economy growing in the post pandemic recovery era. It goes without saying that we must maximize the opportunities in this period to build the economy of the future –one that is inclusive and therefore more resilient against future disruptions.
In my inaugural speech as president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce last Feb. 3, I noted that with a 25-million population in Mindanao Island, we have built an economy that is larger than Slovenia or Cyprus or Iceland. As an island economy, Mindanao has surged ahead of the Visayas in terms of national economic contribution, bringing 17.2 percent to total GDP, and growing at a rate of 6.1 percent. This, to me shows that the Mindanao economy has come into its own, and is no longer a mere potential.
This is not surprising since Mindanao’s capability to produce its own food and export surplus production, its natural resources, particularly mineral deposits, and the ability to consolidate products and markets in one land mass allows more effective logistics since you can use one truck to transport to most major cities within the island. What is needed is more technology and manufacturing to harness these materials.
These numbers and potentials present a huge responsibility to build the economy not only to meet current needs, but enable the future generations to inherit an economy that has all the requirements to sustain an abundant life.
This means that we need to build an economy that can produce the right volume of raw materials and the robust supply chains needed to create new products. It demands sustainable energy to drive the machinery and equipment to make them. It means having the physical and virtual facilities through which they can export goods they make and gain customers for the services they will provide.
It also requires having the technologies that can harness the skills the young are honing in school. This in turn, means that the skills being developed now must be useful in the future. It means that we should not be afraid of new knowledge nor be threatened by these. It means harnessing data to drive our decisions, which must be made in a pragmatic manner that considers all options. This requires a strong inquiring mind and a heart for the future.
The future economy needs the international linkages that will make trade and exchange fast and easy.
Having learned tough lessons and faced with many challenges, being future-ready is not a mere buzzword. It demands that we take better stock of current potential and build the will to harness them and innovate despite the negativity of naysayers, or the fears of many. The more knowledge we gather, the faster our fears are swept away.
The future deserves no less than our best efforts to build the economy our children will inherit. After all, we will pass it on to them.
John Tria
In last week’s column I talked about being in a unique moment in our economic history, where much innovation, technology and new reforms can keep our economy growing in the post pandemic recovery era. It goes without saying that we must maximize the opportunities in this period to build the economy of the future –one that is inclusive and therefore more resilient against future disruptions.
In my inaugural speech as president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce last Feb. 3, I noted that with a 25-million population in Mindanao Island, we have built an economy that is larger than Slovenia or Cyprus or Iceland. As an island economy, Mindanao has surged ahead of the Visayas in terms of national economic contribution, bringing 17.2 percent to total GDP, and growing at a rate of 6.1 percent. This, to me shows that the Mindanao economy has come into its own, and is no longer a mere potential.
This is not surprising since Mindanao’s capability to produce its own food and export surplus production, its natural resources, particularly mineral deposits, and the ability to consolidate products and markets in one land mass allows more effective logistics since you can use one truck to transport to most major cities within the island. What is needed is more technology and manufacturing to harness these materials.
These numbers and potentials present a huge responsibility to build the economy not only to meet current needs, but enable the future generations to inherit an economy that has all the requirements to sustain an abundant life.
This means that we need to build an economy that can produce the right volume of raw materials and the robust supply chains needed to create new products. It demands sustainable energy to drive the machinery and equipment to make them. It means having the physical and virtual facilities through which they can export goods they make and gain customers for the services they will provide.
It also requires having the technologies that can harness the skills the young are honing in school. This in turn, means that the skills being developed now must be useful in the future. It means that we should not be afraid of new knowledge nor be threatened by these. It means harnessing data to drive our decisions, which must be made in a pragmatic manner that considers all options. This requires a strong inquiring mind and a heart for the future.
The future economy needs the international linkages that will make trade and exchange fast and easy.
Having learned tough lessons and faced with many challenges, being future-ready is not a mere buzzword. It demands that we take better stock of current potential and build the will to harness them and innovate despite the negativity of naysayers, or the fears of many. The more knowledge we gather, the faster our fears are swept away.
The future deserves no less than our best efforts to build the economy our children will inherit. After all, we will pass it on to them.