(AAI has been working in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Philippines for more than six years. Despite being one of the most world's most troubled regions, Mindanao also has great economic and social potential as the "Rice basket of the Philippines" to help the entire country rise above the scourge hunger and poverty. Below is an insightful commentary on Mindanao written by Ms. Rohaniza Sumndad, AAI's Philippines branch Officer-In-Charge and Program Coordinator
Mindanao is known to be the Land of Promise – where resources are vast but without much development because of the ongoing conflict and a lack of social and economic development during the past 4 decades of war and instability. A dozen years after the signing of the unfulfilled promises of a Peace Accord that established the Autonomous Region, Mindanao, along with AAI's other project area in Sulu Province, still ranks the lowest in all areas – Education, Health and Economy. Muslims and Christians in Mindanao continue to barely survive in their own personal struggles with poverty while facing fear of an-ever present threat of armed conflict. With the challenges that the people of Mindanao face today, can we say that Mindanao can still be the Land of Promise? Is there a chance for Mindanao to prosper in pace, for its children to have decent education, and eventually be the breadbasket of the Philippines because of its innate natural resources?
These are some of my thoughts during my July 2008 visit to Lanao del Sur, which is my home province. I have always thought that peace is definitely achievable but my doubts were always on when peace will be completely achieved. I have to admit that reaching the ultimate goal of peace will take time. The Asia America Initiative has always envisioned its work for peace and development in Mindanao on a long-term progressive manner. We believe that the key to peace is through education, health, community building and economic development. We describe our approach as "inter-generational" building a culture of peace one step at a time.
As we are expanding our Development for Peace Program into Lanao del Sur, my last visit in July 2008 was an eye-opener. Having different meetings with the Provincial Governor, Provincial Agriculturist, Department of Education, Health Sector and Philippine National Police gave me the whole picture of how AAI’s program should approach the province. Our Development for Peace in Sulu Program has become successful because of routine and consistent community consultations and community counterpart activities, so they are the owners of each project. These are some of the approaches that we have always conducted to make our projects owned and safeguarded by the community.
In my visit to schools, I found out that for this year’s National Achievement Test, Lanao del Sur’s rank is the lowest in the country with an average score of 21.7 % out of 100. Most of the students in Lanao del Sur have lost interest in going to school because of violent conflict, poor access to schools (some students walk two or three miles to attend schools on dirt roads that wind through farm lands), no electricity, no water or sanitation. Some students would rather work with their parents in the rice fields because of poverty and because most of their classrooms are not conducive to learning. I saw 3 to 5 pupils sharing one armchair and others sitting on the floor on cloth sacks while listening to the teacher. Most of the schools that I visited like Macadar Elementary School, Lumbayan Nagui Elementary School, Andong National High School, Sugod II Elementary School and Pualas Elementary School, have no libraries, lack textbooks, tables, desks and chairs with dilapidated blackboards where even I could not see the teacher’s writing. Clinics have no medical supplies and most of the teachers teach eight subjects, including the principal.
Much assistance in the Education Sector is needed. The Health Sector is in dire need as well. Each district has its own Barangay [Community] Health Sector responsible to cater to the needs of the community but they all lack medicines, medical supplies and basic medical equipment.
I also had a chance to meet with different associations of farmers. One statement that I cannot forget came from one of the farmers in Lumba Bayabao when he said, “We do not want to be used again. We were promised by some visiting people in the past to be able to assist us in our farming needs. But they just took pictures with us and never returned, and took advantage of the situation”. I emphasized to him that in AAI, we are non-profit and make sure that the assistance that we give is directed to our beneficiaries and we closely monitor the progress of our beneficiaries. This is just one of the sad stories that I have heard out of all the sentiments of the farmers. The farmers make the most out of the little that they have. Most of them do not have tractors, drying facilities, threshers and sprayers but they struggle to find ways to be able to farm in order to live and feed their families. They could not even buy fertilizers because they do not have enough money. Fertilizers cost far more than farmers can afford and they must take loans from unscrupulous lenders. Given all the things that they need and what they must spend just to prepare their lands and harvest, it seems that a decent life is impossible. With the vast farmlands and abundant water tables throughout Lanao del Sur, it could feed the Philippines, but due to lack of resources and facilities, this is still impossible.
AAI is currently holding discussing with United Nations agencies and the World Bank to provide assistance to the farmers of Lanao and other areas of the Autonomous Region as part of the overall peace process.
The absence of peace is not just equivalent to war but also poor education, hunger, poverty, unstable economy and poor access to health services. I hope that people everywhere realize that PEACE is the key to development, and DEVELOPMENT is the key to peace. Creating hope and assisting a community that has suffered from conflict will inspire them to make the necessary steps to move forward. Mindanao has a CHANCE to still be the Land of Promise, but not receiving the types of opportunity for education, health and economic development will result in more conflict and more suffering for millions of people.
Mindanao is still the LAND OF PROMISE if only we promise to give it a CHANCE.
