MINDANAO 2020

PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

PLAN 2011-2030

JAHN HARVY S. ANTOLIN BITM-3C

 Chapter 1 WANTED: A NEW MINDANAO
INTRODUCTION
Mindanao must change. An imperative that has been accepted by every well-meaning citizen of
Mindanao. This document serves as a blueprint for the future.
As a framework plan, it serves as guide that sets general directions, defines broad strategies, and identifies
a number of key concrete initiatives for the short, medium and long term. Despite being a long-term
framework, Mindanao 2020 still captured some specific and shorter-term initiatives that were proposed by
Mindanawons as a show of respect to the participatory process.
Refocusing Lenses: Recent Historical Perspectives
A strong and varied literature has emerged in the past decade to advocate greater levels of social cohesion
in Mindanao and to understand what influences it. Attention has particularly been focused on re-weaving
Mindanao’s fragmented society by addressing the requirements of social cohesion .
Mindanao2000:What Had Been Achieved, What Remains To Be Done
Mindanao 2000 Thrusts, Goals and Targets
The Mindanao 2000 Development Framework Plan (Mindanao 2000 for short) highlighted the importance
of high and sustained economic growth to reduce poverty and facilitate social development amid a long
history of poverty, underdevelopment and political strife.
Chapter 2. Emerging Trends, Alternatives Scenarios
INTRODUCTION
Mindanao looks to future that is shaped by both various external trends transpiring in the international arena, and
internal developments within Mindanao itself and in the broader Philippine national context. Only as such can
Mindanao 2020 be a plan that is in tune with the future, and thus ready for it.
GLOBAL MEGATRENDS
Environmental Trends: Climate Change
Global warming due to greenhouse emissions and the resultant climate change is probably the most prominent
among the megatrends facing the world today.
Mindanao’s vulnerability to climate change arises from a long coastline and a strong dependence on agriculture
and hydropower. Mindanao has the highest risk of temperature rise and El Niño drought in the country. It is thus
imperative for Mindanao to adapt its agriculture to impacts of higher temperatures and their possible impacts such as
pestilence and water and power shortages.
ALTERNATIVE SCENARIOS: WHAT COULD BE
The scenario-building (SB) workshop listed key concerns and drivers that determine the vital aspects of
Mindanao’s present day condition such as biodiversity, human resources, guns, identity politics, water, autonomy,
negative image, China’s power, overseas workers, prejudice, elites, religious fundamentalism, survival, presidential
succession, funding agencies, and so on – each of which represents extremely complex sets of developments.
Consolidating closely related drivers according to opposing possibilities based on Mindanao realities resulted in a
list of 16 major drivers that may impact on Mindanao
 Chapter 3
The Environmental in Mindanao’s Past, Present, and
Future
INTRODUCTION
Mindanao is endowed with rich natural resources, multiple and highly diverse cultures, and strategic
location in a complex and rapidly growing region. Its economy has traditionally been based on primary
resource-using production activities, dominated by agriculture and agribusiness. While there are pockets of
industrial development, these are also mostly based on exploiting primary resources especially forests and
minerals, often located within ancestral domains.
Mindanawons and Their Ecosystems
The Mindanao People
Mindanao’s population was about 21.6 million in 20076 or close to one-fourth of the country’s total
population. Region XI and ARMM are the most populated regions with more than four million people each
(Table 3-1). The most populous locality is Davao City wherein about 1.4 million or 8.5% of Mindanao’s
population reside. Population in all regions has been increasing at an annual average growth rate for
Mindanao of 2.4%, a level higher than that of the Philippines. ARMM, with a rapid recorded population
growth rate of 5.5%, is responsible for pulling up the Mindanao average beyond the national growth rate.
The Physical Environment
Ecological Sub-Regions
Mindanao may be grouped into four distinct sub-regions based on ecosystem linkages:
• Northern Mindanao
• Eastern Mindanao
• Southwestern Mindanao
• Island Ecosystem
Forest Uplands
The national forest cover (usually defined generally to include mangroves, plantations and mossy forests,
which are found in the upper elevations of ridges) was placed by an ESSC study 7 at 21.7% in 2002. The total
forest cover of Mindanao more or less follows the national average of around 21% of its total land area (Table
3-5). 8 Figure 3-1shows the location and extent of various types of forest cover. Broadleaf open canopy
category occupies about 67% or 14,114 square kilometres, around 45% or 6,000 square kilometres of which is
in Caraga. Upland areas are estimated at 52,051 square kilometres or about 52% of Mindanao’s total area. Only
40% of these areas have forest cover. Mossy or cloud forests can be found in the upper sections of mountains
and ridges. These significantly contribute to the forests’ water absorption, hence are critical to water
production. Region X has the largest mossy forests, most of which (89%) are in Bukidnon.
Watersheds
Mindanao has 262 watersheds 9 (Figure 3-2 and Table 3-7), with the two largest being the Agusan and
Pulangi watersheds. These two watersheds are drained by Mindanao’s nine major and 20 secondary rivers.
Wetlands
Mindanao’s two major wetlands, the Liguasan and Agusan, are integral parts of the two largest watershed
systems described above, the Pulangi and Agusan, respectively.
Development with Degradation
Mindanao’s human and environment and natural resource (ENR) base has faced serious challenges over
decades of resource using economic activities that have brought substantial gains to a relatively narrow
segment of the population.
Construction of river dams for hydroelectric power generation that has led to massive disruptions in the
natural ecology of river systems, and submersion of human settlements in affected areas.
Coastal and Marine Resources Degradation
Mindanao is richly endowed with coastal and marine resources. Illicit trade in coral and other
endangered marine species has been a problems over the years. In sum, the coastal and marine in Mindanao is
under severe threat.
Mining Activities
Data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) show that there were 102 existing Mineral
Production Sharing Agreements with government as of March 2010.
Groundwater Depletion
Population growth and increased water-using industrial and commercial activities have led to gradual
depletion of groundwater, as withdrawal rates have been exceeding aquifer recharge rates in densely
populated parts of Mindanao.
Agricultural Impacts
Crop plantation areas in Mindanao are rapidly expanding, with dominant crop being Cavenish
bananas, pineapple, and oil palm.
Chapter 4 Mindanao in 2030:
The Mindanao That We Want. The Mindanao That Could Be
A Shared Vision for Mindanao
The operative vision words for this vision are as follows:
• Mindanawons of all cultural or socio-economic backgrounds…
• A sustainably uplifted quality of life…
• Collective achievement…
• A peaceful, developed and integrated Mindanao…
• Vanguard for the country’s sustainable development…
Overall Mindanao 2020 Targets
By 2016
Income poverty incidence is down to 30 percent of the Mindanao population.
By 2020
• Income poverty is down to 25 percent of the Mindanao population
By 2030
• Income poverty is down to 15 percent of the Mindanao population.
 Chapter 5 Securing Lasting Peace in
Mindanao: Peace Once and For All
Where We Are Now
Injustice, Ethnic Divides , War and Discord
The ethnic diversity that marks Mindanao has become a key element in the conflict on the islands.
Chapter 3 has describes the many and varied people and cultures of Mindanao, usually categorized into
the three groupings of Indigenous people(IP’s) or Lumads, the Bangsamoros, and the Christian settlers.
6 paths needs to be undergirded by five (5) components of the peace process, namely
1. Governance and Empowerment
2. Process of Development and Economic Rehabilitation.
3. Healing and Reconciliation
4. “Enculturation” and Peace
5. Continuing Management of Conflict
The Security Sector
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) defined both the
security arrangement and agenda for Mindanao.
Boundaries and Territories
Boundaries and territories are the arena of the conflict in Mindanao. In fact, the intractable relationship
between and among the three major group led to the re-drawing of the geographical boundaries of Mindanao
in 1973.
Beyond Ethnic Strife
Another source of Insurgency in Mindanao, outside of the ARMM territory, is the Communist rebellion
led by the National Democratic Front (NDF).
The “War on Terror”
Another source of fear and insecurity in Mindanao is the Philippine government’s participation in the
US-led “War on Terror” under the umbrella of the Visiting Force Agreement (VFA).
Chapter 6 Human Development and Social Cohesion:
A Mindanao Free of Want, Free of Fear
Where We Are Now
Poverty and deprivation remain the single mot important human challenge in Mindanao. In spite of an
unusual abundance of natural wealth, Mindanao has the worst incidence of poverty in the country.
Human Development Challenges
Seven (7) out of the 10 provinces with lowest average income in 2006 are in Mindanao, only 4 Mindanao
provinces were listed among the bottom with lowest average income nationwide.
Social Cohesion Challenges
There are observations that are particularly apparent in the context of Muslim Mindanao, with some
asserting that the absence of social cohesion is at the root of the problem in Muslim Mindanao.
Seeds of Hope
Many communities have organized themselves to create and/or strengthen indigenous mechanics to ensure
the provision of economic and social services to their populace.
Where We Want to Go
Vision
In 20 years, Mindanawons would like to see:
A Mindanao where no one I deprived-where people are able to develop their potentials as individuals as
communities: build trust and solidarity across regions and diverse cultural identities: and live and work in
full respect of the ecological and spiritual systems of which they are part and draw sustenance from.
Goals
There are four goals to define this vision of a Mindanao free from deprivation.
Targets
By 2016,
• Poverty incidence is down to 30 % of families (from 32.5% in 2009)
• Average life expectancy in Mindanao has improved to 67 years.
• 85% of all baranagays have functioning and amply equipped health centers accessible to all.
Chapter 7 Economy and the Environment:
In Quest of a Dynamic, Inclusive and Green Mindanao Economy
Where We Are Now: Situation and Challenges
As a regional economy, Mindanao has traditionally been viewed as a food
and raw materials supplier to Luzon and the Visayas primarily through Manila
and Cebu.
Where We Want to Go
Vision
Mindanawons manifest a widely expressed desire to see, in 20 years:
A vibrant Mindanao economy that I unified and integrated, driven by socially and environmentally
responsible enterprises that are internationally competitive, built on judicious and sustainable management of
its rich human, natural and cultural endowment and providing wide employment and broad and equitable
benefits to all Mindanawons.
Goals and Objectives
Targets
By 2016,
• Export revenues from Halal products exceed $20 million.
By 2020
• Forest cover in Mindanao has increased to atleast 35 percent of land area.
By 2030,
• Forest cover in Mindanao has increased to atleast 35 percent of land area.