‘With peace comes faster development for Mindanao’

Malacañang said yesterday that Mindanao’s economic development is expected to accelerate as a final peace accord with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) could be at hand.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said along with the possible signing of a peace agreement with the MILF early next year would be an expected increase in development assistance from member countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the United States and other multinational organizations.

"These countries are ready to lend a helping hand in the development of Mindanao," he said.

Bunye was reacting to published reports quoting government peace panel chairman Silvestre Afable Jr. as expressing optimism that a final peace agreement with the separatist group could be signed in the first quarter of 2006.

The peace talks, according to Afable, are nearing the final stages.

Several Arab countries and organizations like the OIC, including Libya and Saudi Arabia, strongly support the peace talks.

US President George W. Bush has reportedly offered as much as $30 million in financial assistance to help develop Mindanao the moment the MILF seals a peace accord with the Arroyo administration. The money will be used to help reintegrate the rebels into the community.

MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim said his group is sincere about pursuing peace in Mindanao.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi assured President Arroyo last week that Kuala Lumpur would facilitate another round of peace talks between the Philippine government and the MILF within the month.

Badawi and the President met during various summits held in Kuala Lumpur among Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their dialogue partners.  

Bunye also said next year could be the turning point as far as the country’s economy was concerned, citing positive signs that occurred despite the ongoing political crisis.

"The inward remittance of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is one of the reasons why the peso continues to gain strength," he said in Filipino.

Bunye said the increasing strength of the peso against the dollar has resulted in lower import costs, particularly in energy.

"That’s why we see the economy finally taking off next year," he said.