Business in Mindanao must be promoted in right context -- Loren

Koronadal City, September 18 -- If business and industries are to thrive in Mindanao, they must take into consideration the country's rich cultures of different ethnic groups, while not forgetting the value of nature to tourism.

Senator Loren Legarda raised this point today as the guest speaker of the Mindanao Business Conference at Fit Mart Mall Convention center in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

The gathering was attended not only by businessmen in the area, but also by representatives from Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines - East-Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Region.

"To be competitive, it is imperative that Mindanao should meet the demands and challenges of the times," Loren told a select group of businessmen that attended the annual affair. This year's theme is "One Global Filipino Rising Above the Global Challenges."

"In promoting business here in Mindanao, it is important that we put it in the right context - that it must be undertaken to protect the welfare of the people and the environment." she said.

Minority groups, Loren said, must not be treated unjustly. She noted that certain crimes such as terrorism, murder and kidnapping are often deliberately and wrongly attributed to a religious affiliation.

She added, "These obvious prejudices run counter to our country's policy of promoting equality and justice as embodied in the Constitution."

Loren disclosed that she had filed Senate Bill No. 2594, entitled an "Act Prohibiting Religious or Racial Profiling against Indigenous cultural Communities," which seeks to protect the country's indigenous cultural communities from being stereotyped.

Loren told the forum of the urgent need to review the Indigenous People's Rights ACT (IPRA) and its implementing rules and regulations, and see it in wider perspective by looking into its sociological, anthropological and cultural dimensions.

Business-wise, Mindanao is becoming a haven for the Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs) industry which she referred into as a "silver lining in the cloud of global economic crisis."

In addition, she said she had filed bills to promote the BPO industry, including Senate Bill 920 which pushes for the creation of the Department of Information & Communications Technology (DICT).

Loren also mentioned tourism as another industry that could well thrive in Mindanao owing to its manifold scenic spots, which if properly developed, would also involve the local communities so they could enjoy their rightful share in income generated and other benefits of activities.

"These are some of the potential industries that will free Mindanao from its problems of poverty, conflict and neglect. The most important thing is to remember is to put into context the many socio-economic aspects that are unique in the region," said Loren, who is also one of the authors of the Tourism Act of 2007.

"In that way, we can meet the demands and challenges of emerging business as we preserve the unique culture of our region and our country," she added.