#MINDANAO
Recent talk about Mindanao’s Human Development Index has opened more discussion on the island's economy and how it has been growing through the years. It has also shown us how many Mindanaoans have, over the last several years, cultivated a greater love for their island and are more than willing to assert it.
As a response to these discussions, many shared memes, videos, and posts over social media to showcase the vibrancy of the island's ₱26-million-strong economy and the diverse culture and nature that built it. Even the Mindanao Development Authority issued a statement on the matter.
Posted on social media news feeds are drone videos of rising city skylines set against sprawling urban landscapes. Add to that, the beautiful coasts and islands, mountains and valleys, as well as diverse cultural attractions.
In recent years, many have started to look at the island with love and pride in a way that challenges the often dark, mysterious, backward, and violent narratives that used to come with the island. Technology has enabled new vistas of the island, and encouraged stronger voices asserting this appreciation for Mindanao and its people.
Beyond this, however, the discussions show how assertive many Mindanaoans have now become when discussing Mindanao's cultural diversity, economic strengths and potentials. They are not afraid to engage whoever asks about the island and willingly express their views.
This emerging pride in Mindanao must be harnessed to build a more empowered economy. Long term cooperation between government and the private sector will be necessary to pursue equitable and sustainable growth.
With the world economy headed for much uncertainty, I believe it is time to examine certain economic strengths and potentials.
In 2024, I wrote a series of columns on the economic growth of different Mindanao regions, focusing on their Gross Regional Domestic Product, a general measure of the size of the economy of various areas on the island. In many regions, the agricultural and mineral potential must be harnessed. This can bolster opportunity.
Ramping up investment in food production and efficient fast distribution is a key measure to ensure that food prices are affordable for the country as a whole. Mindanao, being our food basket, plays a vital part. We need to improve this by finding ways to lower the cost of transport, which adds a significant portion of the retail price of produce. This cost gets the farm products from farm to market quickly. I believe this is where our civil society, church, and business groups can work with local governments.
In last week’s column, I discussed the imperative for the minerals industry. In Mindanao’s case, various minerals provide in-country natural wealth that when sustainably sourced and processed, can create more jobs apart from employment. With this wealth, we will not need to borrow as much to deliver the needed services for the people and to spur vibrant economic activity. In the case of mines, post-mine economic activities can be developed to continue providing opportunities in accordance with the law even after the mineral resource is exhausted. Mined-over areas can be turned into plantations for cash and food crops.