Mindanao and the national development effort

In the past, Mindanao was referred to as the country’s “Land of Promise” because of its vast, then relatively unpopulated tracts of land and practically unharnessed coastal areas. However, with the massive migration of settlers from the islands of Luzon and the Visayas in the 1950s up to the 1970s, combined with rapid population growth, Mindanao’s population now stands at around 24 million. Its once- abundant natural resources, both land and sea, have been exploited to support the needs of its growing population and generate revenues that the island requires to finance its development projects.

Despite this, the development potential of Mindanao is far from being fully realized.