Pres. Duterte to bring food, peace, and economic viability to Mindanao

President Duterte reiterated his plan to prioritize the economic development of Mindanao, especially the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat. (Photo: Rey Baniquet/PPD)

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte graced the symbolic launching of the first commercial biomass power plant in Buluan, Maguindanao. To be built by Green Earth EnerSource Corporation, the renewable energy plant will have an installed capacity of 4.5 megawatts. This would ensure enough electricity for the municipality, and generate local employment.

Speaking before local officials and officers and employees of Green Earth, President Duterte reiterated his plan to prioritize the economic development of Mindanao, especially the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat.

“Alam mo kasi ang priority ko ang itong Maguindanao pati Sultan Kudarat. You know why? Sa statistics, you have the highest incidence of hunger. Kaya ang una ko dito by next month, kapag bababa dito yung mga DSWD, sabi ko, paki-silip nga ang mga taong – nakakaawa eh. Maybe you’d be short of everything but not food. Mahirap yan gutom,” the President said.

“I am happy that Manny has decided to pour another 300 million for you here,” he continued, while lauding Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol for having the said amount available “right away” for the province.

PRRD said he was willing to implement the Bangsamoro Basic Law if that would put an end to the Mindanao conflict.

“Ako naman in return, kasi nanalo ako, I am willing to implement, bukas kaagad, ang BBL. Ngayon, tanggalin lang natin yung mga may issues about the Constitution,””Pres. Duterte said. “[Y]ou can develop the resources if you want, you can invite investors except yung Constitutional provisions, tanggalin na lang muna natin,” he continued.

The President even brought the idea of trading with China and tapping the resource-rich West Philippine Sea. “[S]a China Sea, if we can just have a settlement with them despite the arbitral judgment, I think that marami tayong benefits na makuha. Eh hindi yan hingiin natin – that they will come here and we are planning to establish economic zones pati farm-to-market roads,” he said.

Moreover, the President disclosed his plans of putting up industrial zones in Mindanao.

“Then, ang easy market ko, locators would be China. China ang may pera,” he said.