CONOMIC and logistics corridors in Mindanao have been identified by the development arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), highlighting the channels which can be industrialized further to bring development in the conflict-affected areas in the region.
In a statement released by JICA on Friday, the development agency, together with the Bangsamoro Development Authority (BDA), identified these channels as the: Northern corridor: Cotabato City-Marawi City-Iligan (Lanao del Norte); Central corridor: Cotabato City-Midsayap-Pikit-Digos (Davao del Sur); and Southern corridor: Cotabato City-Shariff Aguak-General Santos (South Cotabato).
The three channels which were identified are pegged for development by upgrading arterial roads and improving ports and airports as planned under the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP), the plans for which were presented to different stakeholders this week.
The BDP is a six-year development plan (2014 to 2019) which provides a blueprint for development in conflict areas in Mindanao as mandated by the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the MILF.
According to JICA, 24 key development projects have been identified under the BDP and are set to be implemented starting mid-2016 to 2022, out of 60 projects in 15 programs under the comprehensive plan.
Aside from the upgrading of road networks, airports and seaports, projects such as communal irrigation support, goat-based integrated farming, and mixed field crops farming are also part of the upcoming development measures.
Talks between the Philippine and the Japanese government in the past have touched on improving peace and development in Mindanao, a region which has the highest poverty incidence in the country at 56% of its populace.
Japan has been extending assistance to the Philippines to achieve inclusive development in Mindanao as early as 2006, at a time when it launched the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development program. Japan has also given the Philippines P7.55 billion in funding assistance for Mindanao development through its Official Development Assistance (ODA) fund. -- Alden M. Monzon
source: Businessworld
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