Business group fears long-term impact of Mindanao conflict

MANILA, Philippines - The country's main business group warned on Friday that prolonging the conflict in Lanao del Norte may have long-term effects on the country’s economic and political stability. "This conflict has indeed challenged the economic stability and global potentials of Mindanao," PCCI president Edgardo Lacson said in a statement on Friday. American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines executive director Robert M. Sears told reporters last Wednesday that the conflict will "certainly, but not immediately" affect the economy. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) recorded the second slowest growth among other regions in 2007, increasing output by only 5.4% according to data from the National Statistical Coordination Board. Northern Mindanao, however, outpaced Metro Manila’s growth that year accelerating to 7.9%. Mindanao is credited for producing a bulk of the country’s agricultural products, data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics showed. PCCI opined that the best way to settle the conflict is for the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to go back to the negotiating table. At the same time, however, the group believes that violators of the law — those who razed houses to the ground after, looted, and killed civilans in a rampage in Lanao del Norte last Moonday, should not go unpunished. "While we agree that we need to draw new parameters in negotiating with the MILF, we also need to exercise the rule of law, especially in punishing the culprits of this current crisis and violators of the peace agreement," Miguel Varela, PCCI chairman, said. PCCI also called for both parties to respect the impending Supreme Court decision on the stalled memorandum of agreement that sought to expand Bangsamoro homeland. — BusinessWorld