Mindanao

Location
Situated in the southernmost section of the Philippine archipelago, Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines. With a land area of 102,043 square kilometers, it occupies one-third of the Philippines' total land area and is larger than a number of Asian countries like Taiwan or Singapore.

Mindanao is strategically located within the East ASEAN region, almost equidistant to the eastern sections of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. This key geographic location underscores its potential to be a major transshipment point and center of trade in the region.

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Natural Richness
Situated outside the typhoon belt, Mindanao enjoys a generally fair tropical climate, evenly distributed throughout the year. Its rich soil accounts for bountiful harvests of a variety of farm products. It grows most of the Philippines' major crops such as rubber (100% of national production), pineapple (91%), cacao (90%) as well as banana, coffee, corn and coconut (over 50%). The island also produces exotic fruits like pomelo, mangosteen and durian.

Mindanao is likewise endowed with rich mineral resources. Its metallic deposits include lead, zinc, ore, iron, copper, chromite, magnetite and gold. Gold mined in Mindanao accounts for nearly half of the national gold reserves. Its non-metallic mineral resources include marble, salt, sand, gravel, silica, clay, and limestone.

Cultural diversity and the island's natural beauty make Mindanao one of Asia's favored tourist destinations. White sand beaches, scenic volcanoes, vast orchid gardens, and various ethnic festivals are only some of its unique tourist attractions.

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Economy
Agriculture is the driving force behind Mindanao's economy. Close to a third of its land area is devoted to agriculture. More than one-third of the island's labor force is employed in the agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors. Mindanao accounts for over 40 percent of the Philippines' food requirements and contributes more than 30 percent to the national food trade. Mindanao's evenly distributed tropical climate makes it ideal for year-round crop production. If wisely harnessed, Mindanao's rich agricultural resources can serve as the Philippines' foundation for sustainable growth.

Mindanao's economy grew at an average of 3% in 1995-1997. This dipped to 0.5 % in 1998 due to the Asian financial crisis but improved to nearly 2% in 1999. Its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) in 2000 grew a noteworthy 4.95%, higher than the national growth rate of 4.01%. This was due to the bullish performance of its agriculture sector (5.84%) and industry sector (5.09%).

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People
The primary asset of Mindanao is its people. Based on the year 2000 census, 18.1 million people or a quarter of the Philippines' total population reside in Mindanao. The island is home to some 27 indigenous cultural communities, as well as migrants from Luzon and the Visayas. Rather than an impediment, the pluralism of cultures in Mindanao is a major source of strength, particularly in trading with its multi-cultural neighbor countries in East ASEAN.

Mindanao has a relatively young albeit highly literate population. One-third of its population is aged 15 to 19 with a literacy rate of 90%. The island also boasts a versatile, adaptive and English-speaking work force. Generally, Mindanaoans are known for their positive outlook, pleasant disposition and warm hospitality.

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Opportunities and Development Imperatives
Due to its rich natural resources which surpass those of Luzon and the Visayas, economic opportunities in Mindanao abound. With the recent revitalization of BIMP-EAGA of which Mindanao is an organic part, economic activities in the island are seen to further expand. However, Mindanao's resources must be judiciously managed to ensure their sustainability.

In its drive towards economic development through global trade competitiveness, Mindanao's leaders must not lose sight of social issues such as poverty and peace and security. These likewise need to be urgently addressed to ensure the island's sustainable development. Economic development programs should be undertaken hand in hand with programs targeted at alleviating poverty and installing conditions that would lead to long-term peace.

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