By Michael Lim Ubac (Philippine Daily Inquirer) Jan 17, 2010
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100116-247748/Villar-Make-money-not-war-to-solve-Mindanao-problem
PRESIDENTIAL candidate Sen. Manny Villar will not follow the all-out war policy carried out by former President Joseph Estrada to solve the long drawn-out Mindanao conflict.
Short of quoting the famous campaign slogan of US President Bill Clinton in 1992, “It’s the economy, stupid,” the Nacionalista Party standard-bearer said that fixing the economy, not politics in Mindanao, would solve the centuries-old conflict, warlordism and underdevelopment in most parts of the South.
In recent presidential forums, Villar vowed to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in Mindanao instead of launching an all-out war against the Moro separatist rebels.
PRESIDENTIAL candidate Sen. Manny Villar will not follow the all-out war policy carried out by former President Joseph Estrada to solve the long drawn-out Mindanao conflict.
Short of quoting the famous campaign slogan of US President Bill Clinton in 1992, “It’s the economy, stupid,” the Nacionalista Party standard-bearer said that fixing the economy, not politics in Mindanao, would solve the centuries-old conflict, warlordism and underdevelopment in most parts of the South.
In recent presidential forums, Villar vowed to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in Mindanao instead of launching an all-out war against the Moro separatist rebels.
If elected, Villar said he would seek lasting peace with the insurgents, promote a strong government presence in the region, and, above all, unleash the “entrepreneurial spirit of Mindanaoans.”
“If you see these areas, they are really in dire straits—people have no jobs, no education. The ARMM’s (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) human development index in education, health and livelihood is the lowest in the country,” he said at the presidential forum at La Salle Zobel.
Villar said the ARMM’s human development index was 0.5, the lowest in the Philippines, while the poverty level in the region was the highest.
“So the people are contented with just being bodyguards or they join the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or Moro National Liberation Front (which) give them money to buy food,” he said.
He said the solution was not to panhandle for foreign aid, but to encourage more people in Mindanao to become self-employed, which would transform the region’s economy.
The government, for its part, must ensure that credit flows in the area, he said.
“There are many solutions, approaches, but they must be pursued simultaneously. The next president must be a multitasker because you cannot do these one at a time. You must do these simultaneously,” Villar said.
If need be, Villar said he would “bypass” local government officials to ensure that classrooms were built, doctors and nurses were made available to patients, etc.
Villar on saturday issued a statement to formalize his position on the matter.
“How do you solve a problem like Mindanao? Launch an all-out war against the rebels? Pursue peace talks?” he said.
“We cannot expect foreign investments to pour into Mindanao due to investors’ apprehensions (about the peace and order situation),” he said, adding that only when obstacles in starting businesses were removed could economic activity in the grassroots be stimulated.
Villar said national leaders should concentrate on improving the business conditions in Mindanao, particularly in the ARMM, so that it would be easier to start and grow businesses there.
Villar acknowledged the enterpreneurial skills of Mindanaons, “particularly Muslims.”
“One of the things hampering the poor from raising their standard of living is lack of access to financial services that would help them start or expand their businesses,” he said.
Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as of June 2008 showed that regular banks did not have much of a presence in the ARMM.
The bank density ratio was still the poorest in the region at 139,927. In Manila, the ratio is 4,213.
Villar’s strategies to harness the entrepreneurial spirit in the region include the education of the youth in secondary and tertiary schools on the values and technical intricacies of putting up small business ventures and the expansion of microfinance in areas lacking in rural development programs and projects.
“Clearly, the government must address this problem. The government must ensure that the human development index is increased significantly. Schools must be built, hospitals must be built, doctors must be provided,” he said.
“If you see these areas, they are really in dire straits—people have no jobs, no education. The ARMM’s (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) human development index in education, health and livelihood is the lowest in the country,” he said at the presidential forum at La Salle Zobel.
Villar said the ARMM’s human development index was 0.5, the lowest in the Philippines, while the poverty level in the region was the highest.
“So the people are contented with just being bodyguards or they join the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or Moro National Liberation Front (which) give them money to buy food,” he said.
He said the solution was not to panhandle for foreign aid, but to encourage more people in Mindanao to become self-employed, which would transform the region’s economy.
The government, for its part, must ensure that credit flows in the area, he said.
“There are many solutions, approaches, but they must be pursued simultaneously. The next president must be a multitasker because you cannot do these one at a time. You must do these simultaneously,” Villar said.
If need be, Villar said he would “bypass” local government officials to ensure that classrooms were built, doctors and nurses were made available to patients, etc.
Villar on saturday issued a statement to formalize his position on the matter.
“How do you solve a problem like Mindanao? Launch an all-out war against the rebels? Pursue peace talks?” he said.
“We cannot expect foreign investments to pour into Mindanao due to investors’ apprehensions (about the peace and order situation),” he said, adding that only when obstacles in starting businesses were removed could economic activity in the grassroots be stimulated.
Villar said national leaders should concentrate on improving the business conditions in Mindanao, particularly in the ARMM, so that it would be easier to start and grow businesses there.
Villar acknowledged the enterpreneurial skills of Mindanaons, “particularly Muslims.”
“One of the things hampering the poor from raising their standard of living is lack of access to financial services that would help them start or expand their businesses,” he said.
Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as of June 2008 showed that regular banks did not have much of a presence in the ARMM.
The bank density ratio was still the poorest in the region at 139,927. In Manila, the ratio is 4,213.
Villar’s strategies to harness the entrepreneurial spirit in the region include the education of the youth in secondary and tertiary schools on the values and technical intricacies of putting up small business ventures and the expansion of microfinance in areas lacking in rural development programs and projects.
“Clearly, the government must address this problem. The government must ensure that the human development index is increased significantly. Schools must be built, hospitals must be built, doctors must be provided,” he said.
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