TRANSFORMING THE BANGSAMORO: FROM BACK DOOR TO FRONT DOOR?

Outline

WHY BOTHER WITH MUSLIM MINDANAO?I. STRENGTHS/ADVANTAGES OF ARMM

•The only autonomous region, hence capable of regional legislation •Untapped natural resources•Rich fishing grounds and fertile lands•Cultural links with Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia•Trade links with Indonesia and Malaysia (barter trade)•Majority Muslim population:

–Islamic financing–Halal food market

STRENGTHS/ADVANTAGES OF ARMM

• More than 60% of the country’s agri-products came from Mindanao. ARMM contributes: 11.46% in corn production; 11.43% in coffee production, 8.09% in coconut production; and 3.57% in palay production (BAS, 2011).

• ARMM highest contribution to national fish production (MT), accounts for 17.5 percent but only 6.5% of value (BFAR, 2010)

• ARMM accounts for almost 70 percent of the Mindanao seaweeds production (BAS, 2012).

Mindanao and ARMM’s contribution to GDP

Leaked US Embassy cable: reference to natural gas and oil deposits in 288,000 hectares Liguasan Marsh and an area straddling Tawi-Tawi and Sulu.

PNOC: estimated natural gas deposits in Sultan Sa Barongis will fuel a 60 MW power plant for 20 years.

Economic Interests: Tremendous Potential of Bangsamoro

Others: Entry into Islamic finance market valued at US$1 trillion (2010). Entry point to halal food market, US$634.5 Billion in 2009 and $661.6 billion in 2010 (Source: World Halal Forum)