Arroyo ready to sign into law Mindanao Dev’t Authority Act

DAVAO CITY — President Golria Macapagal-Arroyo has assured that she would sign the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Act of 2010 into law as soon as she receives the transmitted copy of the bill, as she stressed the importance of the law in promoting the development of Mindanao as well as Palawan. During a media night she hosted at the Waterfront Insular Hotel here, President Arroyo said she is excited about the bill, saying she authored a similar bill when she was still a senator. "If I had received it, I would have signed it right here, but I don’t have it yet. I’m very excited about it because I authored that bill when I was a senator. Finally now it’s passed. I remember I had a meeting right here in Waterfront Insular with the Mindanao leaders telling me how important the bill is to them," she said. The President said the bill would help Mindanao realize its potential for development and as the food basket of the country. “It will be food basket once we are able to develop the human and natural potential of Mindanao," she said. Speaker Prospero Nograles and Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong, who were among the authors of the bill, said the creation of MinDA aims to promote, coordinate and facilitate the active and extensive participation of all sectors to effect and accelerate the socio-economic development of Mindanao. Under the proposed law, MinDA – which would cover Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Palawan province – shall oversee the promotion of the Mindanao and Palawan in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). MinDA, which would recommend programs to the National Economic Development Authority, shall coordinate, facilitate extension of plans, management, and provide technical assistance to prospective investors, as well as draw up a comprehensive database on Mindanao and BIMP EAGA that are needed for planning and decision-making. It shall also act as official and permanent Philippine Coordinating Office for the BIMP-EAGA, and help in the formulation of policy programs and monitor activities. The law also provides that appropriations for the Mindanao Economic Development Council shall be transferred to MinDA.- LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV