The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) will gather Mindanao leaders and key officials of the Administration in a virtual meeting on Feb. 10 to address long-delayed and other vital infrastructure projects as the Duterte Presidency comes to the last 18 months in office.
The Mindanao Speaks Up Forum, which I and Philippine Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) Director-General Charito Plaza agreed to lead last year, will identify the key projects for Mindanao which have yet to be implemented and other programs which the local governments of the region indicated as vital to their economic development.
Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera, Chairman of the Mindanao Regional Development Council Executive Committee will be the presenter of the inputs gathered through a series of consultations since last year.
On the other side of the table will be key Administration Officials, including Cabinet Secretaries from Mindanao, who will address the concerns to be raised by the Mindanao stakeholders.
With only 18 months left before the end of the term of the first President from Mindanao, former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte, several major projects have yet to be implemented.
Among the flagship projects which have yet to be completed or even started are the Marawi Rehabilitation Program, the Mindanao Railway Project and the Davao City-Samal Bridge.
The Marawi Rehabilitation Project is under the Task Force Bangon Marawi, the Mindanao Railway is handled by the Department of Transportation while the Davao City-Samal Bridge is a flagship project of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Of these three, the Mindanao Railway Project has raised great expectations from the people of the region as it promises convenient and easy movement of people and goods.
The project, however, has not only suffered delays but also revision in the design.
While MinDA endorsed a two-rail electric train system, what was approved was a monorail locomotive system.
The first phase of the project, the Tagum City-Digos City section was supposed to have been bid-out November last year but this has not happened until today.
Latest report from DOTr said that the bidding will be done this summer posing a danger that it may not be started before the end of the term of the President.
At the initial stages of planning for the Mindanao Speaks Up Forum, I emphasized the need to review the implementation of the commitments of the Administration for the development of Mindanao under the first-ever Mindanaoan President.
I have pointed out that just like in the past, Mindanao has again been relegated to a poor third in the sharing of the country’s budget resources.
For 2021, for example, Mindanao’s budget share fell to an estimated 12% from a previous 16% of the national budget pie.
Mindanao Speaks Up will serve as a straight-forward reminder to members of the Administration of President Duterte’s commitment to fully develop Mindanao’s potentials.
Inputs from Mindanao Speaks Up Forum are aimed to be included in the last President’s Budget for 2022 which is now being prepared by the different agencies of government.
As one of the original campaigners and supporters of President Duterte, I emphasized that his legacy should include a fully developed Mindanao which is the undisputed food production region of the country.
#HwagKalimutanAngMindanao!
#SupportPRRDCommitments!
#WeMustDeliverAsPromised!
(Attached to this article is a photo grab of the proposed lines of the Mindanao Railway Project.)
More Stories
Trump Presidency Boon To Philippine Agriculture
Mindanao Fruit Fest Scheduled Sept. 2025
DA, MinDA, LGU! MinDA Targets Tribal Areas For Highland Rice Farming