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AFTER the release of ABS-CBN broadcaster Ces Drilon
from the hands of Abu Sayyaf bandits, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives Prospero Nograles over the weekend promised that he
would make a difference in developing Mindanao since he traces his
roots from the region.
Nograles said that he would work
very hard for increased funding for the development of Mindanao,
especially in troubled spots such as Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and
most areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“The Mindanao bloc in the House
will lobby for higher funding for the development of Mindanao.
It’s about time, too. When people see these developments, then
they will feel that the government really cares for them,” the
House Speaker said.
Nograles stressed that the
government cannot do this alone and they “need the support of
every citizen in these areas, every municipal and barangay official,
so that all of the projects that we want to put in place are
properly implemented”
He said the 57 Mindanao and
Palawan congressmen will come up with an integrated Mindanao
development program which will be incorporated in the 2009 General
Appropriations Act.
The House Chief said that the
peace and order problem in Mindanao is caught in a “chicken and
egg situation” where government is in a quandary on whether to
pursue development first to secure peace or launch an all-out
campaign to secure peace before pursuing the development of the
region’s trouble spots.
He urged local and congressional
leaders in Mindanao to take the first step in sowing the seeds of
peace and development by providing livelihood even to the remotest
barangays in their respective areas.
“People are easily persuaded to
commit evil with an empty stomach. We should provide our people with
the means to live without resorting to criminal activities such as
kidnapping,” he added.
Nograles pointed out that the
Armed Forces of the Philippines must strengthen and modernize its
equipments so that it can be fully maximized as the government’s
frontline agency in putting in place all the necessary
infrastructure support to spur economic activities in Mindanao’s
troubled areas.
--Jomar Canlas
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