BEN SERRANO
Contributing editor
BUTUAN CITY—Local officials in Caraga Region joined the chorus in calling for the deferment on the move to put the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) under the oversight of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
Rep. Jose “Joboy” Aquino, II (Lakas-1st District, Agusan del Norte) and Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo "Ompong" Plaza of NPC said that MEDCO could better function if placed with direct access to the Chief Executive than be put under the “usual bureaucracy”.
Aquino who is former MEDCO Assistant Secretary and Presidential Adviser for Caraga Affairs before becoming Congressman claimed he himself can manifest the accomplishments achieved by MEDCO saying the bureaucratic processes under MEDCO would make things shorten and easier if one had a direct access to the President.
Congressman Plaza for his part recognized MEDCO’s efforts saying that CARAGA region (Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte) under the Arroyo administration, has been a recipient of big impact projects such as the P1.4-billion second Butuan Bridge, Cotabato-Agusan River Basin Development Project (CARDBP), the Surigao-Davao Pacific Rim Coastal Road projects, and the Agusan del Sur-Agusan del Norte Road and Bridges Development project. .
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order 757 on October 13 this year, placing MEDCo under the oversight of the NEDA from the Office of Presidential Assistant for the Peace Process (OPAPP) which is under the Office of the President (OP).
Before OPAPP, MEDCo had been directly under the OP since the Aquino administration.
A controversy is now swirling over the presidential move as several stakeholders in Mindanao have raised opposition or expressed wariness on the sudden placement of MEDCo under the NEDA's wings.
Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industries Foundation Inc. (Oro Chamber) president Rodolfo Meñes said that MEDCo has the potential of becoming that one much-needed Mindanao development authority and, as such, putting it under NEDA must be “studied very carefully” before full implementation.
On the other hand, Congressman Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro ) said that the move is “a demotion because instead of giving direct attention to Mindanao it is being made a virtual subsidiary of NEDA. Placing MEDCo under the oversight of NEDA is nugatory of its credibility and dependability that has earned the trust and confidence of donor countries.”
He added that “NEDA is merely doing planning while MEDCO is a unique agency that hastens coordination and implementation of programs and projects in Mindanao .”
In Davao City, UP-Mindanao professor Ricardo De Ungria, chairman of the Mindanao Studies Consortium Foundation, Inc. (MSCFI) has called for status quo for MEDCo if not its immediate institutionalization citing MEDCo’s “track record as clearing house for Mindanao projects for development” and its “effective and efficient representation in the Philippines in the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area).
MSCFI, a group of 12 big universities and research centers in Mindanao, is one among those who immediately supported House Bill No. 5255 also known as Mindanao Economic Development Authority (MEDA) Act of 2008 introduced by Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong and Sultan Kudarat Rep. Pax Mangudadatu. If legislated, MEDCo is converted into MEDA.
MSCFI’s current members are the Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (Afrim), Ateneo del Davao University, Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City, Dansalan College Foundation, Inc. in Marawi City, Mindanao State University-General Santos City, MSU -Marawi City, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Notre Dame University, UP-Mindanao, University of Southeastern Philippines, and Western Mindanao State University.
“The move is out of step with the headways that MEDCo has been making in the peace and development efforts in Mindanao . It’s like two steps backwards- back to the gods in Manila ,” said Atty. Mary Ann Arnado, chair of Mindanao Peace Caucus.
Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ, chair of the Mindanawon Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue, on the other hand, said: “I don’t see any advantage in subsuming MEDCo under NEDA. Mindanao might just continue to be exploited for the sake of Manila ’s ‘condominiumization’.”
“Mindanao should cease to serve simply as source of raw materials for the so-called national development or raw data for Manila ’s itinerant researches. Besides, we don’t want MEDCo to be dragged into NEDA’s ZTE-NBN scam!” he added.
Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) strongly opposed the move saying that it was act of demotion to MEDCo.
The Davao business sector believes that NEDA and MEDCo have their own distinct and separate mandate and the order will cause the council to lose the essence of its special and definite developmental purpose and functions for Mindanao .
“(The move) is a great loss of momentum following the initiative that was started in the development and strengthening of BIMP-EAGA,” Davao Chamber President Simeon Marfori II said.
The functions of Medco should not be clipped in its wings by placing it under an agency which has yet to prove its relevance in the development of Mindanao , the DCCCII statement said.
Exporter Ferdinand Marañon, president of Sangrex Corp, said: “No..no..no! NEDA is a very bureaucratic office. All talk, no action,. We should strengthen MEDCo and infuse private business sector blood in it”.
Antonio Santos Sr., chairman of the BIMP-EAGA Business Council said:“Over the years, has seen with concrete efforts to forge for economic relations in the area of trade, tourism and investment across Mindanao and Palawan, the Philippines’ focus areas for the sub-region, with the aid of MEDCo”.
He cited MEDCO’s headways in strengthening trade ties and several investment and joint-venture decisions of Indonesian and Malaysian companies to General Santos and Zamboanga areas and the expansion of air and sea linkages in Mindanao both domestic and foreign through the BIMP-EAGA.
Noting that MEDCO has been actively tapped by various Presidents since Aquino time, businessman John Gaisano Jr said that “now it seems the President does not make use of it. Maybe the choice wasn’t her but a political accommodation.”
Rey Magno Teves, Kusog Mindanaw convenor and director of Development Bank of the Philippines , feared that with the move, “we will be back to the days when there was lack of Mindanao-wide consolidating mechanism.”
MEDCo Chair Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana said Monday that the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of EO 757 are still being hammered on at press time.
He said that as exemplified by MEDCo “there is a need for a strong, responsible and accountable institution for the delivery of the promises for Mindanao.”
Contributing editor
BUTUAN CITY—Local officials in Caraga Region joined the chorus in calling for the deferment on the move to put the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) under the oversight of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
Rep. Jose “Joboy” Aquino, II (Lakas-1st District, Agusan del Norte) and Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo "Ompong" Plaza of NPC said that MEDCO could better function if placed with direct access to the Chief Executive than be put under the “usual bureaucracy”.
Aquino who is former MEDCO Assistant Secretary and Presidential Adviser for Caraga Affairs before becoming Congressman claimed he himself can manifest the accomplishments achieved by MEDCO saying the bureaucratic processes under MEDCO would make things shorten and easier if one had a direct access to the President.
Congressman Plaza for his part recognized MEDCO’s efforts saying that CARAGA region (Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte) under the Arroyo administration, has been a recipient of big impact projects such as the P1.4-billion second Butuan Bridge, Cotabato-Agusan River Basin Development Project (CARDBP), the Surigao-Davao Pacific Rim Coastal Road projects, and the Agusan del Sur-Agusan del Norte Road and Bridges Development project. .
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order 757 on October 13 this year, placing MEDCo under the oversight of the NEDA from the Office of Presidential Assistant for the Peace Process (OPAPP) which is under the Office of the President (OP).
Before OPAPP, MEDCo had been directly under the OP since the Aquino administration.
A controversy is now swirling over the presidential move as several stakeholders in Mindanao have raised opposition or expressed wariness on the sudden placement of MEDCo under the NEDA's wings.
Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industries Foundation Inc. (Oro Chamber) president Rodolfo Meñes said that MEDCo has the potential of becoming that one much-needed Mindanao development authority and, as such, putting it under NEDA must be “studied very carefully” before full implementation.
On the other hand, Congressman Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro ) said that the move is “a demotion because instead of giving direct attention to Mindanao it is being made a virtual subsidiary of NEDA. Placing MEDCo under the oversight of NEDA is nugatory of its credibility and dependability that has earned the trust and confidence of donor countries.”
He added that “NEDA is merely doing planning while MEDCO is a unique agency that hastens coordination and implementation of programs and projects in Mindanao .”
In Davao City, UP-Mindanao professor Ricardo De Ungria, chairman of the Mindanao Studies Consortium Foundation, Inc. (MSCFI) has called for status quo for MEDCo if not its immediate institutionalization citing MEDCo’s “track record as clearing house for Mindanao projects for development” and its “effective and efficient representation in the Philippines in the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area).
MSCFI, a group of 12 big universities and research centers in Mindanao, is one among those who immediately supported House Bill No. 5255 also known as Mindanao Economic Development Authority (MEDA) Act of 2008 introduced by Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong and Sultan Kudarat Rep. Pax Mangudadatu. If legislated, MEDCo is converted into MEDA.
MSCFI’s current members are the Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (Afrim), Ateneo del Davao University, Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City, Dansalan College Foundation, Inc. in Marawi City, Mindanao State University-General Santos City, MSU -Marawi City, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Notre Dame University, UP-Mindanao, University of Southeastern Philippines, and Western Mindanao State University.
“The move is out of step with the headways that MEDCo has been making in the peace and development efforts in Mindanao . It’s like two steps backwards- back to the gods in Manila ,” said Atty. Mary Ann Arnado, chair of Mindanao Peace Caucus.
Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ, chair of the Mindanawon Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue, on the other hand, said: “I don’t see any advantage in subsuming MEDCo under NEDA. Mindanao might just continue to be exploited for the sake of Manila ’s ‘condominiumization’.”
“Mindanao should cease to serve simply as source of raw materials for the so-called national development or raw data for Manila ’s itinerant researches. Besides, we don’t want MEDCo to be dragged into NEDA’s ZTE-NBN scam!” he added.
Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) strongly opposed the move saying that it was act of demotion to MEDCo.
The Davao business sector believes that NEDA and MEDCo have their own distinct and separate mandate and the order will cause the council to lose the essence of its special and definite developmental purpose and functions for Mindanao .
“(The move) is a great loss of momentum following the initiative that was started in the development and strengthening of BIMP-EAGA,” Davao Chamber President Simeon Marfori II said.
The functions of Medco should not be clipped in its wings by placing it under an agency which has yet to prove its relevance in the development of Mindanao , the DCCCII statement said.
Exporter Ferdinand Marañon, president of Sangrex Corp, said: “No..no..no! NEDA is a very bureaucratic office. All talk, no action,. We should strengthen MEDCo and infuse private business sector blood in it”.
Antonio Santos Sr., chairman of the BIMP-EAGA Business Council said:“Over the years, has seen with concrete efforts to forge for economic relations in the area of trade, tourism and investment across Mindanao and Palawan, the Philippines’ focus areas for the sub-region, with the aid of MEDCo”.
He cited MEDCO’s headways in strengthening trade ties and several investment and joint-venture decisions of Indonesian and Malaysian companies to General Santos and Zamboanga areas and the expansion of air and sea linkages in Mindanao both domestic and foreign through the BIMP-EAGA.
Noting that MEDCO has been actively tapped by various Presidents since Aquino time, businessman John Gaisano Jr said that “now it seems the President does not make use of it. Maybe the choice wasn’t her but a political accommodation.”
Rey Magno Teves, Kusog Mindanaw convenor and director of Development Bank of the Philippines , feared that with the move, “we will be back to the days when there was lack of Mindanao-wide consolidating mechanism.”
MEDCo Chair Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana said Monday that the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of EO 757 are still being hammered on at press time.
He said that as exemplified by MEDCo “there is a need for a strong, responsible and accountable institution for the delivery of the promises for Mindanao.”