If it ever comes to pass, man, I'm very thankful that Duterte is in charge of Davao City. He would be a good choice as the first president of the Republic of Mindanao

Federalists demand separate Mindanao

First posted 10:18pm (Mla time) June 29, 2005
Inquirer News Service

http://news.inq7.net/regions/index.php?ind...&story_id=41857

Editor's Note: Published on page A17 of the June 30, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


DAVAO CITY-Aghast over the political storm now brewing in the country as a result of the recent jueteng and wiretapping scandals, federalists have called for a separate Mindanao to finally put an end to what they call "Manila-centered" political intramurals.

"Only a federal form of government can offer a quick and legitimate solution to these problems," said businessman Romeo Serra, vice chair of the Mindanao Business Council (MBC).

"With federalism, Manila could no longer impose its will on us, like what it is about to do now," said Serra.

"The problem in our country is not the lack of investments nor joblessness," Serra said. "The problem is too much politics."

Serra echoed an earlier call by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to establish a "separate Mindanao" if opposition groups staged another Edsa uprising and succeeded in unseating Ms Arroyo.

Aside from opposition groups, militant groups are also gearing for a series of protest actions calling for the ouster of the President.

Serra said the current political situation in Manila makes it more urgent for the government and for the people to opt for a federal form of government.

"With a federal form of government, there would be less corruption because the government is no longer centralized and Metro Manila could no longer impose its decisions on us here," Serra said.

"In cases of an erring public official, federal states can give a vote of no confidence and the official is out of office without severely affecting the economy," he added.

Jun Apareche, head of the Lihuk Federal secretariat for southeastern Mindanao, said the beleaguered Arroyo administration can still find a way out of the crisis it is facing now by calling for a Constitutional Convention, through which the government can seek fresh mandate from the people and compensate for the credibility it has lost.

"But whether Arroyo stays in power, or there'd be a transition government, a Constitutional Convention is the only way in which the government can seek the mandate of the people and for genuine reforms to take place," he said.

In Cotabato City, an influential Muslim militant group in Mindanao called on Ms Arroyo to resign as she addressed the three-week-old political crisis over the wiretapped phone conversation.

"She (President) should know better that a simple 'I am sorry' line will not exonerate her from her crimes. She has violated the elections laws ... therefore she should face her crimes against the people," Amirah Lidasan, Suara Bangsamoro Party-list national vice chair, said. Germelina Lacorte, Judy Quiros, Jeoffrey Maitem, Jeffrey Tupas and Franklin Caliguid, PDI Mindanao Bureau

To be honest, I don't think an independent Mindanao would work out as well as an independent Cebu. Unlike Cebu, Mindanao's economy is largely agrarian with landholdings - and the wealth that comes along with them - owned by a few rich individuals like the Dominguezes, Lorenzos, Zubiris and Dimaporos. It would be difficult for wealth to trickle down to the greater number of people. International tourist arrivals are scarce because of peace and order problems. So what we have is a Mindanao whose economy depends on selling raw materials and agricultural products to the rest of the country instead of producing manufactured products and services for the international market. The only part of Mindanao that could probably succeed as a separate country is Davao City, as a city state, because of its tourism potential, and the Iligan-CDO area because of its industry (NSC is located there).

True on all counts. Mindanao will have lots of problems on the outset, much more than the Visayas . . . perhaps with the exception of Negros. However, there are a number of wildcards that are in Mindanao's favor.

An independent Mindanao would arguably enjoy support from OIC member states, and very likely encourage the influx of investment from moderate muslim countries such as Malaysia, and Brunei. A destabilized Mindanao is not in their best interest.

Given that Sulu et al are hot beds for Islamic extremism, it would also stand to reason that the US will retain a stabilizing, if not supporting, presence in the region. Assuming rumors of Ramos' selling of mineral rights in the General Santos area to American business interests are true, that is another incentive to be supportive, that is if existing businesses like Del Monte aren't enough.

The US and OIC -- Mindanao is uniquely placed to balance both forces.

With regard to the concentration of industries, such is true of most countries is it not? So long as taxes all go to the same pot, the rest of countries benefits from it. The Philippines is that way already anyway.

One progressive area that you neglected to mention is General Santos. The wealthiest fishing magnates in the Philippines are in GSC. One of them actually has exclusive fishing rights in Papua New Guniea. Check this:http://www.ey.com/global/content.nsf/Phili...-Rodrigo_Rivera

An independent Mindanao would not be bound by business-unfriendly laws and constitutional provisions that the Philippines faces -- giving forward thinking minds a chance to get the constitution done right. The initial unattractiveness of the new state would actually give local businesses time to prepare themselves for the global market.