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Arnold Garbanzos

Conclusion

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ILIGAN City — Sad to say, many of the programs espoused by our government agencies are simply rehash of previous projects submitted in past administrations, and are mostly “envelopmental” in nature — to fill the pockets of the few and not developmental and transformative — to benefit the many.

This is the reason why the power industry of Mindanao, that was mostly hydro-based in the past, is now mostly coal-fired in orientation. Our policymakers in Mindanao, who are supposed to protect our interests, have turned over to the private sector the power advantage of Mindanao. And today, we have created many oligarchs in the power sector when supposedly we should have more cooperatives to benefit the majority of Mindanaoans.

I hope Minda, Neda, DOE and the Opapp see these matters and do something about it. If they do not, then they are very, very derelict in their duties and responsibilities, and are as guilty as their predecessors in the past administrations.

Take the case the development of the Agus 3 in Lanao. The usual reason why it is never completed is because the people who own lands in the area are troublesome. This is the same reason from Agus 1 to Agus 7. What makes Agus 3 so special?

If the government was able to complete Agus 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 with troublesome landowners, why not Agus 3? Are these landowners in Agus 3 above the law? Are they not citizens of our country, too?

If the government is cowed down by these landowners, then there is obviously a breakdown in our law and order. Our government is therefore equally derelict in its role to implement a national project which has tremendous effect for the entire Mindanao. At a power generation capacity of no less than 300 mw, Agus 3 is a project that should have been done decades ago. But up to now, nothing is happening!

During the congressional committee hearings, especially when it comes to the budgets, I have noticed that very few Departments have submitted ideas or programs that emanate from the people below. Most of the programs submitted come from some unknown technocrat above who “shove” their own agenda rather than consulting the people at the bottom. In short, most of the programs are “pinatulo” in nature coming from technocrats under the baton of the oligarchs rather than “pinatubo”–meaning, the programs should come from the grassroots… coming from the people themselves.

Take the case of the development of the mountains or the hinterlands. We know that our country is 53 percent hinterlands. Many of us are aware that most of the rebel forces live in the mountains. Then why is it that not one government agency has submitted an idea or program to bring progress to the mountains?

Why is there no “Hinterland Development Authority” to address the needs of our rebel brothers? The level grounds of our land have already been over-developed. Why not bring the programs and the projects now to the hinterlands and bring hope and prosperity to our indigenes and the tribes?

Also, if only our government agencies tasked to handle Mindanao have done their homework, the siege of Marawi could have never happened.

The problem with our policy makers in Mindanao is that they keep on going back to areas that are already bright and shiny rather than focus their lenses on areas that are dark and depressed but have lots of potentials.

Take the case of Lanao which is the “Battery of Mindanao” and “Crown Jewel” of this region. Why not come up with programs that are transformative like the ones I just mentioned?

As of now, Minda has a program called INREMP. I ask, what has it done for Lanao? Has it brought peace? Has it given our people jobs? Does it take advantage of the inherent strength of the area? You see, Minda is “managing the problems” of Lanao but not solving it. Everything is surface area and does not address the deep roots of the problem in Lanao.

Why keep on going back to Davao? Why keep on focusing your developmental efforts there? Is it because it is the hometown of the President? Is it because it is the home of Minda? If you focus your lenses on the dark spots of Mindanao and make them shine, will not the ones that are bright now shine even brighter? We must rethink our development strategy for Mindanao, especially Lanao.

Sad to say, Minda has not contributed much to the peace and development of Lanao, except for a few programs that have not brought real progress to the area. Because if they really did, then the “war” in Marawi would not have happened. And if Minda will say that “magugulo talaga ang mga Maranao,” then they should tell that to their boss now since he is a Maranao, too. Shallow programs bring shallow solutions — and that is what Minda has brought to Lanao through the years.

I have said enough. If these concerned government agencies cannot make Lanao, particularly Iligan, shine then all of their efforts are skin deep and can have no lasting solution to the Mindanao problem. We will simply be in a vicious cycle of managing its problems and not solving it.

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