Message to Mindanao leaders! ‘LET’S EASE PRRD’S BURDEN; RUN PRODUCTION ENGINES!’

My dear Governors, Mayors, Barangay Chairpersons and private sector leaders of Mindanao:

Last night, we all heard the pained admission of President Rodrigo Duterte that our government is now in dire straits financially because of the expense required in combating the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Everything is at a standstill and our government could not sustain this if the quarantine protocols and Lockdowns continue.

Mindanao, our home, is blessed and protected by the Almighty because even as the population centers of the country report scary numbers of people afflicted by COVID-19, ours have been very low.

In fact, there are even areas of Mindanao with no reports of PUMs or PUIs and this is mainly because most of these areas are isolated.

May kabutihan din ang pagiging malayo sa kabihasnan ng iba nating mga lugar.

I believe it is in areas unaffected by the COVID-19 Pandemic where we should initiate Mindanao’s effort to support our President.

Let us restart our agricultural production activities. Maski pang-konsumo lang muna at kung may sobra, puede natin I-supply sa mga relief operations.

Our LGUs must start the effort by implementing the following recommendations under the Self-Sustaining Food Security Strategy initiated by the Mindanao Development Authority:

1. Kung wala namang reported PUMs or PUIs sa inyong barangay o bayan, let us not be unreasonable in implementing total Lockdowns, especially at the barangay level. Luwagan natin ng kaunti para makapagtrabaho sa bukid ang ating mga magsasaka at makapalaot ang mga mangingisda;

2. Our Governors and Mayors must use the Calamity Funds or realign some of your budget as authorized by the Bayanihan Act to support our farmers and fishermen in producing food. Let us not rely on our national agencies alone. Hirap din sila dahil halos hindi makagalaw lahat;

3. Let us encourage our farmers and fishermen to produce more food, especially our staple, rice. Di bale nang sumobra ang production, hwag lang tayo kapusin.

4. Any excess in food production must be absorbed by the LGUs and distributed to their constituents as food supply support. Mas masarap naman di hamak ang sariwang gulay, isda at bagong katay na baboy (sa mga Christian areas) at manok kaysa delata at quick chow noodles.

I know that some of our farmers are complaining that they are not getting the true worth of their produce pero hindi ito yong panahon para kumita ng tiba-tiba.

Konting tiis muna tayo mga kapwa ko magsasaka. At least ngayon, maipakita natin ang kahalagahan ng magbubukid at mangingisda at sana pagkatapos nito hindi nila yan makakalimutan.

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is also doing its part in ensuring that the produce of our farmers and fishermen will be given access to the market.

I have communicated with our Senator from Mindanao, Manny Pacquiao, requesting him to ask his friend and Alibaba founder, Jack Ma, to help us market our products after the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Lord has favored our islands with favorable climate. Wala tayong bagyo. At malinis ang ating mga dagat at malawak ang mga lupain.

Let us support our President by restarting our production engines. Let us produce more food so that the country will not run out of supplies.

Ipakita natin sa lahat na kaya ng Mindanao na pakainin ang boung Pilipinas at dapat pagkatapos ng problema na ito dadagdagan nila ang suporta para sa Mindanao.

Higit sa lahat, ialay natin sa Panginoon ang lahat ng ating gagawin.

Remember what He said: ““Whatsoever you do to the least of your brothers and sisters, you do unto Me!”

Mabuhay ang ating Pangulo! Mabuhay ang Mindanao! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Sec. Emmanuel F. Piñol, PhD

Chairman

Mindanao Development Authority

April 7, 2020