ZaNorte local officials call on PGMA to sign MinDA Bill
(February 2, 2010)
Dipolog City—As the approval of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Bill is now one critical step away from the creation of a permanent island-wide development agency, Zamboanga del Norte (ZaNorte) officials are now appealing to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to sign the bill into a law.
In its regular session last 01 February 2010, the Provincial Government of Zamboanga del Norte passed Resolution No. 97, urging President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, to sign into law, the MinDA Bill, entitled “An Act creating the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), defining its powers and functions, providing funds therefore, and for other purposes.”
The resolution was passed when the provincial legislators learned that the MinDA Bill has been approved on the third reading in November 2009, and has been approved during the bicameral meeting between the Senate and the House of Representatives last 19 January 2010. The Bill was further ratified last 26 January.
“Beyond the realm of promises, Mindanao needs a permanent agency that integrates a Mindanao-wide agenda and that boldly and effectively articulates these agenda to national government priorities,” stated the resolution.
“The political leaders of ZaNorte are urging the President to listen to our appeal. It’s about time that Mindanao has a permanent, institutionalized mechanism to catch up with mainstream national development,” noted Atty. Rolando E. Yebes, Provincial Governor of Zanorte.
If approved, the MinDA Bill would strengthen the existing Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), and upgrade it into a permanent office that would also focus on the social, political and cultural aspects of development in the island-region.
Established in 1992 through EO 512, MEDCo operates as the only Mindanao-wide government mechanism that provides a coordinated and rationalized platform for program implementation and monitoring, investment promotion and policy advocacy for Mindanao.
Specifically, the MinDA would serve to coordinate and integrate the formulation and implementation of various inter-regional and/or Mindanao-wide development plans, programs and projects. It shall also act as implementing agency for Mindanao-specific interregional and Mindanao-wide programs and projects.
The authority shall cover all provinces and cities in Region IX, X, XI, XII, Caraga and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Moreover, the MinDA shall promote the active participation of Mindanao and Palawan in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
In the event that the President signs the bill into a law, the development would serve as a significant milestone, as stakeholders have been noted to call for a Mindanao-wide planning and development institution since 1960.
The Senate earlier approved SB 3496 last December 15 2009 while Congress approved HB 6958 last 16 November 2009.
SB 3496, the Senate version of the bill is principally authored by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and co-authored by Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Edgardo Angara, Manny Villar, Richard Gordon, Lito Lapid, Jinggoy Ejercito-Estrada, Ramon Revilla, Loren Legarda and Mar Roxas, Pia Cayetano and Juan Ponce Enrile.
Meanwhile, the House version is principally authored by Deputy House Speaker Simeon Datumanong and Sultan Kudarat Representative Datu Pax Mangudadatu and co-authored by 37 congressmen from the Mindanao bloc.
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