#MINDANAO Recent developments point to a steadily growing economy. Institutions such as the Asian Development Bank cite how our country’s economic growth projections remain strong at six percent. This is despite global economic headwinds such as high inflation that hamper growth. This projection...
#MINDANAO In recent months I have received many inquiries about the Davao economy, especially after my May 14 column on Mindanao's economic growth in 2022 where Davao grew at 8.1 percent. It is vital to note that the Davao economy we see is not only the local economy of Davao City but also that of...
#MINDANAO The recently announced Davao Public Transport Modernization Project will reportedly establish the country’s first organized public bus system. It plans to use traditional and electric buses to cater to 800,000 commuters converging in 1,000 stops in Davao City. This project raises hopes...
#MINDANAO The July 6 editorial of Manila Bulletin featured our national goal of achieving upper middle income status. This is defined in the article as a Gross National Income (GNI) of between $4,466 to $13,845 per year. This figure is achieved by dividing a country’s total income with the number...
#MINDANAO During the Independence Day weekend, we took a pleasant road trip to enchanting Lake Sebu in South Cotabato. Driving from Davao, we traversed the four-lane highway through Davao del Sur, passing through Sarangani province and the cities of General Santos and Koronadal before hitting the...
#MINDANAO Reflecting further on our agricultural statistics, it is clear that we are a coconut country, with the versatile palm among our most important crops. We harvest almost 15 million tons a year from an area at 3.5 million hectares while engaging the largest total number of farmers at 2.5...
#MINDANAO If there is one thing that the current government inherited from the previous administration it is a set of bold policy reforms that can boost countryside growth. The first is the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law passed in early 2018. This absolved a good number of...
#MINDANAO I am a collector of books. Despite the popularity of online publishing, I still find the finely printed word on book paper alluring. This is even better if the volume is hardbound with a thick spine and a well-designed, crisp jacket. Of late, the books I have taken a liking to are...
#MINDANAO A few business leaders from the island reacted to my May 15, 2023 column on the Mindanao economy’s 2022 Gross Regional Development Product (GRDP). One of the assertions is that this growth would have been higher if inflation had been lowered sooner. Higher growth would have ensured a...
#MINDANAO In discussions on the issue of amending certain constitutional provisions to allow more foreign ownership in certain economic sectors, it is clear that we need foreign investments to bring capital and technology to develop our resources to meet the needs of present and future generations....
#MINDANAO Last May 18, the second Mindanao Development Forum was hosted by the Mindanao Development Authority at a large venue in Davao City. The one-day event was graced by a host of stakeholders, including high-level national government officials, government agency representatives, international...
*#MINDANAO * The recent announcement on the Mindanao Development Authority’s social media page that Mindanao’s average Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth rate reached 7.2 percent is impressive. All regions exhibited 2022 growth that exceeds my expectations. This ranged from the...
