“Serving as the only broad mechanism for dialogue and consensus on issues affecting Mindanao, Kusog Mindanaw is in the forefront of promoting effective and good governance through federalism – an alternative political future for Mindanao and the Philippines. With the theme: Federal Philippines or Independent Mindanao?, the roundtable conference engaged Mindanao-wide formations in advancing the call for a shift to a federal…system of government.” (Highlights, “Kusog Mindanaw” Roundtable Conference, September 3, 2004, Davao City)
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I recently revisited the “Kusog Mindanaw” Magazine containing the end-result of its September 3, 2004 Conference whose theme mentioned above. Below are some of the interesting statements expressed during said Conference that reflect the true aspirations of many Mindanao leaders:
Davao City Mayor (now Vice Mayor) Rodrigo R. Duterte: “I have already said this and I will say this again, I fully support the establishment of a federal system of government in our country and in particular the setting up of a Bangsamoro (federal) state to be run exclusively by our Muslim brothers and sisters.”
Dr. Jose V. Abueva, Chair, Advisory Committee, Citizens’ Movement for a Federal Philippines (CMFP): “The real cost of not changing our unitary…system into a federal…is the collapse, a total collapse of our constitutional democracy…. We always present territories from north to south. Let’s start it the other way around from South to North. No.1 is Bangsamoro, No.2 is Central and Southern Mindanao, No.3 Western and Northern Mindanao, No.4 Central Eastern Visayas, No.5 is Western Visayas and Palawan, No.6 is Bicol, No. 7 is Southern Luzon, No.8 is Metro Manila, No.9 is Central Luzon, and No. 10 Northern Luzon. Those are the proposed 10 states of the Federal Republic of the Philippines.”
Mayor (then) Omar Solitario Ali, Islamic City of Marawi: “Federalism is herein proposed as possible savior of the peoples of the Philippines. Federalism is the embodiment of unity in diversity, of productive competition, of mutual tolerance and co-existence, of giving way to plurality yet not giving away belongingness, of encouraging the bringing out and optimum utilization of talent skills and resources in every region, of allowing the free advocacy and practice of distinctive culture and religion, of self-determination and autonomy in every region, of making each region responsible for their own future instead of relying and then blaming an overburdened central government.”
Rey MagnoTeves, Secretary General, Kusog Mindanaw and National Chair, Citizens’ Movement for a Federal Philippines (CMFP): No ifs, no buts about it. Centralized means inefficiency down the line. Centralized means high stakes corruption at the center. Centralized means underdeveloped countryside. Centralized also means underdeveloped local leaders who lack the opportunities for growth precisely because they have limited responsibilities and/or power.”
Aleem Elias Macarandas, Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC): “Until we change the structure of our country, I will not believe that our country will survive as a nation and the more that I cannot believe that the Philippines will be a happy place to live in. Until this political atmosphere, I do not believe that anyone of us should declare that he is happy with the present situation. I hope that all Filipinos will work with us to reconstruct our political structure. The federal system is the only option remaining for us to address our basic problems.”
Mr. Romeo Serra, Vice-Chair, Mindanao Business Council (MinBC): “I think the bottom line of the issue of whether we go federal or not, is more of socio-economic and cultural rather than political. It is more of the socio-economic impact on the people in Mindanao that should move us to really fight for what we should deserve because we are contributing substantially to the general well-being of the country. I think I should also tell you, these are some of the business information that I’d like to relate to you. Almost 80 percent of the mineral deposits in the country is found in Mindanao and about 60 percent of the gold deposits in the country is found in Mindanao. But it is not Mindanao that decides how to handle these great and vast resources rather it is the national leadership that decides how we will handle and utilize sustainably and equitably our natural resources in Mindanao. So to sum it up, I am saying Mindanao is rich and yet from the poverty incidence data – more than half of Muslim Mindanao lives below poverty line. Almost 40 percent of the entire population in Mindanao lives below poverty line. We have the lowest per capita income. To sum it up, we’re saying that Mindanao is so poor and yet it is sleeping on wealth that is more than sufficient to feed the entire population of the country.”
“You ask us where to go from here? The only way to go is for us to have self-determination.”
At the end of the Conference several Resolutions were approved, one of which is presented below:
“We believe that federalism is the best option for achieving just and lasting peace, good governance and sustainable development.”
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There you are. Are not the officials of the Mindanao Development Authority aware of this cry for self-determination of Mindanao? The Authority is coming out with a Mindanao 2020 (or is it 2030) that is supposed to serve as our Roadmap to development and peace. Yet it has formulated a Vision not reflecting the true aspirations of Mindanawons. “Ano na ba ito? The Mindanao Development Authority is envisioned to serve the interests of Mindanawons and yet it has not even properly drafted a Shared Vision for Mindanao which really reflect our dream and aspirations for a truly autonomous Mindanao! “Bakit?”
Below is the kind of Shared or Common Vision for Mindanao we want:
“A truly autonomous Mindanao, with God-centered and empowered people, united in diversity, in politically stable, economically viable, socially sound and environmentally balanced communities.”
-Chito R. Gavino III, Lihok Pideral Dabaw
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