PLATFORM AND PROGRAMS FOR MINDANAO  

.Introduction            
We shall work for peace, solidarity and the economic, social and political beloved island of development of our Mindanao.        
We  shall work for peace in Mindanao by bringing together all ethnic/religious communities comprising Christians, Muslims, Lumads and Mestizos as well as the political aggrupations such as the CPP/NPA, MNLF and MILF for a comprehensive and total peace in Mindanao. Among us Mindanaonons there is no issue nor obstacle that cannot be resolved peacefully.
We  will foster the solidarity of all residents of Mindanao. It is only when all Mindanaonons realize that they are all brothers and sisters in this island irrespective of ideology, religion and cultural background that we can all go forward for the common development of the islands and the best interests of all its  inhabitants.
We shall strive for the immediate economic, social and political development in Mindanao.            
We  shall advocate in Congress for the uplifting of  the status of the marginalized and underrepresented Mindanaonons  and liberate them from poverty and disunity.  
We will  seek and work for the liberation of Mindanao from “Imperial Manila” through legislation, resolutions  and administrative policy recommendations.          
Under the  unitary and centralized system of government, Mindanao has been  left behind in development. All decision making  and allocation of government funds are in the hands of “imperial Manila”. All promises have been given to Mindanao by Manila, but up to now these promises have remained  promises.          
Mindanaonons must get our  equitable share in the  country’s wealth and revenue. The budget for Mindanao should be commensurate to the wealth it produces for the entire country and in  accordance  with its population and needs.          
Mindanaonons should also liberate themselves from their  own disunity and prejudices. We must stop the war in Mindanao. The government should designate chairmen of  the Government  of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) panels who are true Mindanaonons who will then negotiate with fellow  Mindanaonons who are with the  CPP-NPA, MILF and MNLF.          
Mindanao is multi-sectoral, namely: Christian, Muslim, Lumad and Mestizos. These sectors should discard all prejudices against each other  brought  about by the wrong  policies  made by the national government in Manila since the Spanish  period up to now. They should consider themselves as all Mindanaonons living  in the same island who should have the same aspirations for lasting  peace and  total development.

a) 

MINDANAO’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL WEALTH

GROSS REGIONAL DOMESTIC PRODUCT

In Thousand Pesos

At current Prices

(Source: National Economic Development Authority, Pasig City)

 B)

MINDANAO’S SHARE IN THE NATIONAL BUDGET

REGIONAL ALLOCATION OF THE EXPENDITURE PROGRAM

(In Thousand Pesos)

(Source: Department of Budget and Management, Manila)

C)

COMPARISON BETWEEN MINDANAO’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL WEALTH

AND

MINDANAO’S SHARE IN THE NATIONAL BUDGET

(In Thousand Pesos) 

d)              

Seven of Ten Poorest Provinces of the Philippines are located in Mindanao

While the country’s poverty incidence has slight declined, Mindanao is home to seven of the 10 poorest provinces, according to the latest poverty data from the National statistics Coordination Board (NSCB).          
On the other hand, the 10 richest  areas or provinces are all found in Luzon where the country’s capital is located.          
The NSCB based its latest poverty statistics on the final results of the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) that the National statistics Office conducted in 2003.  The NSO conducts the survey every three years.          
Poverty incidence refers to the proportion of families (or population) with per capita income below the poverty line or threshold, the amount needed to meet basic needs.          
The NSCB put the country’s annual poverty threshold for 2003 at P12,475 per person, or P34 a day.          
Generally, since 1997 there has been an increasing trend in poverty in Mindanao. Zamboanga del Norte, the country’s poorest province, recorded the largest increase in poverty incidence – from 47 percent of the families in 2000 to 64.6 percent (about 573,506 people) in 2003.          
Rizal had the lowest poverty incidence at 3.4 percent.          
Nationwide, the poverty incidence among families stood at 24.4 percent, or 23.8 million people an improvement from 2000 when 28 percent of families could not make ends meet.          
This translated to a decrease of 124,000 in the number of poor Filipino families over the three-year period.          
In terms of population, 30 of every 100 Filipinos in 2003 lived in poverty, an improvement from 2000 when  33 of every 100 Filipinos did not earn enough to provide for their basic needs.          
This meant a decrease of 1.6 million in the number of Filipinos living in poverty.          
Besides Zamboanga del Norte, areas in Mindanao on the list of the 10 poorest provinces were Maguindanao, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte.          
Two Luzon provinces (Mountain Province and Masbate) and one Visayan province (Biliran) also made it to the list.          
Metro Manila (divided into four districts by the NSCB), Batanes, Laguna, Bulacan Cavite and Nueva Vizcaya  joined Rizal in the roster of the 10 richest areas in Luzon.  These provinces are near Metro Manila.  The resources must have spilled over.

e)   

Widespread Poverty and Government Neglect of Mindanao:

Mindanao is rich in natural and human resources:

1. produces 44% of all traded agricultural products
2. enjoys comparative advantage over other regions, being typhoon-free and having vast fertile land and rich marine resources;
3. endowed with natural scenic sites, with vast tourism potential;
4. contributes 17% to 19% of the national wealth (GDP—Gross Domestic Product);

However, Mindanaonons are suffering from widespread poverty and government neglect:

• 7 of top 10 poorest provinces of th ecountry are in Minddnao, with Zamboanga del Norte being the poorest with 64.4% of families being poor, having a per capita income of less than P12,475 per year or P34.00 per day;
• other poor provinces are Maguindanao (2nd at 60.4%), Surigao del Norte (4th, 54.5%), Agusan del Sur (5th, 52.8%), Surgiao del Sur (6th, 48.6%), Mis. Occ. (48.1%), Lanao del Norte (10th, 46.5%);
• while Mindanao contributes around 17% to the national wealth and has a population of 22% of the entire country , it only receives back around 10% from the national budget;
• much lesser concrete and asphalt roads, farm-to-market roads, bridges and school buildings compared to Luzon and the Visayas;
• Lack of representation and voice of Mindanao in national government (only one senator out of 24, only 2 out of 25 party-list congressmen, only one Secretary of a line agency), with policies promulgated, and programs implemented, affecting  Mindanao, with little or no participation of Mindanaonons.

F)      

Mindanaonons  Still the Happiest and Optimistic people in the Philippines            

In spite of the  widespread poverty of the people of Mindanao  according to the latest survey of the Social Weather Station (SWS) SWS,  the people of Mindanao (70% of the area) saw a happy Christmas in December 2006. 
Mindanaonons are therefore a happy and optimistic people inspite of poverty while the most pessimistic and unhappy people are from Metro Manila (45%).          
The percentage of Filipinos expecting  a happy Christmas (62 percent) was the same as last year, the SWS said.          
Expectations of a happy Christmas have been on the downtrend since 2002.  Four years ago, 82 percent of Filipinos said they looked forward to a happy Christmas.  Only 77 percent in 2003 and 64 percent in 2004 shared the same sentiment.          
In the latest survey, a total of 1,200 respondents from all over the country were asked:  “Sa  pangkalahatan, masasabi po ba ninyo na ang inyong Pasko ngayong taon ay magiging masaya, malungkot, hindi masaya at hindi rin malungkot  (In general, can you say that your Christmas this year is happy, sad, or either happy nor sad)?”          
Only 7 percent this year said they were anticipating a sad Christmas, while 29 percent said they were neither happy nor sad.          
Among the respondents expecting a happy Christmas, most are in Mindanao (70 percent of the area), followed by the rest of Luzon (65 percent), Visayas (60 percent) and Metro Manila (45 percent).          
Sixty-nine percent of respondents from the A, B, and C classes said they anticipated a happy Christmas, compared to 62 percent from the D class and 58 percent from E class.          
Asked what they were most thankful for in life, 41 percent of the respondents answered “good health.” 
This was followed by the 28 percent who said they were thankful for “being alive.”          
These were also the two most popular reasons cited in the 2003 survey. 
Other reasons cited were “being able to cope with day-to-day living,” having food on the table,” better job/business, and blessings.         
  The latest survey had a margin of error of plus and minus 3 percentage  points.                      
G)

Concrete and Specific Platform and Programs for Mindanao  

To achieve lasting peace and solidarity among all the inhabitants of Mindanao by a)  creating a Christian, Muslim and Lumad Tripartite Commission to resolve all existing conflicts among these sectors; and b)  creating a Mindanao Peace Commission to provide for dialogues among the CPP/NPA, MNLF, MILF and the Government and  resolve conflicts peacefully.
To hasten Mindanao’s growth and development by enacting legislation to finance and support: a) medium and small enterprises in the countryside, through tax exemption, lower interest bearing loans,  and technical assistance; and b)  agricultural producers by lowering the costs of inputs of production  such as seedlings, fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides and by assisting in the marketing of their  products.
To protect the environment by: a) stopping all logging and mining operations in Mindanao; b)  the massive reforestation of public lands and planting of trees along all the highways of Mindanao, and c)  the planting of mangrove trees along coastals areas and the restoration of coral reefs and sea grass ecosystems in the seas of Mindanao.
To work for affirmative  action by the national government to correct the inequitable and inadequate government budget and resources infused  to Mindanao by increasing the share of Mindanao  in the annual national budget from only 10% to 20%, commensurate to its contribution (17%) to the national wealth (Gross Domestic Product) and its population (22% of the Philippine Population).
To advocate for the adoption of the federal system of government to empower the six regions of Mindanao to formulate their  own polices and independently implement them for the immediate and total development of the regions of Mindanao.

PLATFORM AND PROGRAMS FOR THE FILIPINO NATION          

a)       Good Governance                                   
Rufus  Rodriguez is firmly committed to advocate for good governance as  a Member of the House of Representatives.  Public office is a public trust and all government officials must at all times be accountable to the people and  serve with integrity and efficiency.                   
In Congress,  Rodriguez will sponsor legislation to fight graft and corruption.  He will also cause the investigation of government deals which is tainted by corruption.  He will serve  as a fiscalizer of the administration and a watchdog for the people so that all government funds will be protected.                   
According to a World Bank Report, around 30% of the  Annual National Budget is lost to corruption.  Our 2007 Budget is around P1.2 Trillion Pesos and 30% of this is P360 Billion.  This amount if properly utilized will certainly bring more development to our country.  Rodriguez will help prevent this P360 Billion from being pocketed by corrupt officials in cahoots  with unscrupulous persons.                          
While  he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration, he successfully implemented measures to curb corruption in the Bureau.  He will have the same zeal and fervor  in preventing or exposing corruption in government while in Congress.  
b)       Pro-Poor Legislation                
Rodriguez will initiate legislation to improve the lives of the underprivileged and the marginalized, specifically  in the basic  areas of health, education and employment.  More budget and livelihood should be given to the top ten poorest provinces of the Philippines, seven of which are in Mindanao.
c)       Legislation to Support Medium and Small Businesses in the Countryside
Rodriguez will file a bill creating the Medium and Small Industries Development Authority.  This body will set up a mechanism of  harnessing  fourth year college students enrolled in economics, accounting and business management courses all over the country and train them to assist entrepreneurs located  in the countryside in the preparation of project feasibilities studies and all other assistance in order for them to open up new businesses or expand existing ones.          
d)       Legislation to Protect Our Environment
The highest form of national security is the protection of our environment.  We must conserve, protect and restore (CPR) the elements of life,  namely: land, air and water (LAW).  Rodriguez will initiate legislation to further enhance the protection of our environment.  There should be legislation to ensure  the cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of our environment.