Group bats for separate Mindanao devt authority

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The transfer of the Mindanao Economic Development Council, or MEDCo, to the National Economic and Development Authority from the Office of the President has spurred calls for a separate body to coordinate development efforts in Mindanao. Rey Magno Teves of the Mindanao Peace Advocates Conference said that the formation of a Mindanao Economic Development Authority will ensure that the island will get equitable attention from the national government. Two Mindanao legislators — Simeon A. Datumanong of the 2nd district of Maguindanao and Pax S. Mangudadatu of Sultan Kudarat, filed House Bill 5255 that will create the proposed body. Under the bill, such body will "promote, coordinate and facilitate the active and extensive participation of all sectors to effect the socioeconomic development of Mindanao." It will also "act as an implementing agency for Mindanao-specific interregional and Mindanao-wide programs and projects, whenever necessary." MEDCo was formed a secretariat and, technically, should not implement projects since this function will conflict with the tasks of line agencies. Mr. Teves lamented the lack of and resources Mindanao gets for development, resulting in chronic poverty and security problems. Proponents for greater funding for Mindanao have said the entire island should be getting about a third of annual infrastructure budgets, but has instead been getting less than 10%. — C. Q. Francisco, BusinessWorld