Unprecedented investments and financial aid amounting to billions have been earmarked to rebuild war-torn areas in Mindanao amid the dawn of peace sparked by the Philippine government's forging of framework accord with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).Officials of the Autonomous Region in Mohammedan Mindanao officials led by ARMM acting Governor Mujiv S. Hataman described the fresh investments as "peace dividends" for communities in the south that suffered the brunt of atrocities and other socio-economic debacles.
For a start, they said, European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
Ambassador to the Philippines Guy Ledoux signed on Oct. 22 a single currency-bloc's commitment of $5.9-million (P312-million) in grant turned over that same day for a two-year implementation of the project called "Enhancing the Resilience of Internally Displaced Persons in Central Mindanao by Strengthening Livelihoods."
Hataman's technical staff said that Malaysia's Felda Global Ventures (FGV), the world's largest producer of crude palm oil, had expressed interest to infuse part of its $3.1-billion investment capital in Mindanao after the signing of the government-MILF accord, which the firm viewed as "potentially opening up tracts of farm land.
Governor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, of a province in ARMM actively involved in palm oil farming, said he would exert follow-up representations to a business firm in Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in their national face...
that had earlier committed to invest some P1.3-billion for banana production and other agricultural endeavors in his province.
"President Aquino is aware of such an investment prospect from the Saudi kingdom. We have high hopes that the prospected investment would materialize in the wake of the initial peace accord signing," Mangudadatu said.
A similar optimism was aired Thursday by Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr., who earlier revealed investment offers from some Mohammedan countries interested to open up businesses in his province and other parts of ARMM "once peace is assured."