THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) are finalizing the Mindanao Policy Agenda that focuses on energy, agriculture, mining and transport issues that are bugging businessmen in the region.
The PCCI and MinDA have forged a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the conduct of discussions in key cities in the area to complete the business agenda for Mindanao with assistance from US Agency for International Development, through its Growth with Equity in Mindanao Program.
The MOU was signed by PCCI Chairman Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. and Luwalhati Antonino, Chairman of MinDA.
“Generating investment and pursuing economic growth must be based on a clear framework that sees things way ahead of time. This needs sustained collaboration between government and the private sector, and such partnerships have been key to Mindanao’s development,” Antonino said.
Among the most pressing concerns is ensuring Mindanao’s energy sufficiency by facilitating new investments in power generation and by implementing reforms in the setting of power rates.
Also highlighted is the need to sustain agricultural growth through focused support for the production, processing and marketing sectors.
A draft agenda urges the government to enhance Mindanao’s transport connectivity, implement programs to improve the global competitiveness of the region’s work force, encourage the development of micro enterprises through the strict implementation of the BMBE Law, and develop a Tourism Master Plan for Mindanao.
The final draft of the Mindanao Business Policy Agenda will be presented to President Aquino at the Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon), to be held on Sept. 7 to 9 in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.
In the MOU, the parties agreed to jointly facilitate the development of the Mindanao Policy Agenda that will be the main core of the policy resolutions of the 20th MinBizCon.
The agreement also cover the commitment of PCCI to primarily spearhead the formulation of the Mindanao Policy Agenda, which shall require the gathering of inputs through regional policy dialogues and consultative dialogues in the cities of Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos, as well as analysis and consolidation of inputs from these activities.
The series of consultations will involve the PCCI’s local chambers and regional officers (Area Vice President and Regional Governors) in Mindanao, concerned industry and trade associations and other stakeholders.
“Jointly, the parties shall be obliged to facilitate the conduct of such regional policy consultation, thus generating substantial issues, concerns and solutions from Mindanao stakeholders for purposes of formulating the Mindanao Policy Agenda,” the MOU said.
