PGMA's Arrival Statement in Mindanao

Departure Lounge, Davao City Airport Davao City, Davao del Sur (10 June 2003)
Maayong buntag sa tanan. Lingkod, palihog.

Good morning.

Please.

Officials of Mindanao, people of Mindanao, nalipay gyud ako nga dinhi sa inyong manindot nga lunsod diri sa Davao City gisugdan kining akong pagbisita karon sa nagka-laing-laing siyudad sa lunsod sa Mindanao diri sa Davao.

Today, I start one week of intense and focused attention on the priorities for peace and development in Mindanao. The concerns of Mindanao have always been among the most important matters of my administration. This coming week will be an opportunity to make headway on many issues facing Mindanao.

Sa pagsugod tignan ko gihapon ang mga prinsipyo sa atong Mindanao framework o ang tibuok gitukuran sa pagpa-uswag sa Mindanao. Usa ka prinsipyo maoy ang atong ultimo nga tuyo kinahanglan ang kalinaw ug kauswagan na nagkauban.

Ikaduha nga prinsipyo mao'y ang atong pilosopiya kinahanglan nakabase sa konstitusyon. Soberenidad ug atong nasud ug integridad ug atong teritoryo.

Ikatulo nga prinsipyo mao'y... Atong sosyedad mao'y multi ethnic na kinahanglan nakabase sa social justice alang sa tanan ug ang institutionalized accommodation of ethnic traditions. Kristiyano ug Muslim, intsik ug Tsinoy, Tagalog ug Cebuano, mao kini ang gamay ra nga mga ngalan nga gitubagan ug Pilipino sa usa ka gwapo nga testimonya sa akong dako ug laing-laing pamana isip nasud.

Sa nining tulo ka dako nga prinsipyo modagdag nato ug ika-upat. Sa atong pangitas ug kalingaw walay lugar ala sa terorismo ug brutalidad. Kini mga akto kinahanglan kondenado ug tanan. Ang mga elemento sa atong Mindanao framework ug tibug gitukuran sa pagpa-uswag sa Mindanao uban ang domestic o lokal na elemento ang diplomatic ug pang diplomasya nga elemento, ang security o pangseguridad ug ang development o pagpa-uswag.

Iyung mga elemento dunay pareho o kumon nga polisiya ug stratehiya manginuha kita aron makagamit ug puhunan bisan ug lokal o langyaw ang giginkanan ug kining tanang puhunan kinahanglan pang tipunon ug ibutang sa Mindanao.

Kining mga puhunan kinahanglan nga balansehon ta aron sakto ang pagkuyog ug pagsagol sa mga inisyatibo nga alang sa seguridad ug sa mga buluhaton sa pagpa-uswag aron mopaspas gayod ang taong pagkabot sa kalinaw ug modali dayon ang maki-angayon nga pagtaas sa atong ekonomiya sa Mindanao.

I come to Mindanao after a series of successful visits to America, Japan and South Korea. While the gains from these visits will benefit the whole country, I've tried my best to focus the benefits in favor of Mindanao. Much of the trade concessions will obtain benefits for many products coming from Mindanao. A considerable portion of new public and private investments we will mobilize will create more livelihood and employment opportunities for the people of Mindanao.

The bulk of military and law enforcement assistance we secured will provide better security and greater protection for the communities of Mindanao. Much of the grant and official development assistance we obtained will be targeted and focused on providing unmet needs of Mindanao's poorest and most vulnerable.

Members of my Cabinet headed by Secretary Romulo and senior government officials will further amplify on the concrete impact and specific benefits for implementing the agreements that were formalized and finalized during my foreign visits.

I regard the remaining year of my administration as a unique window of opportunity for building the foundations of an enduring framework for principled peace and development. Our government is committed to building an enduring and just peace in Mindanao within the framework of our constitution. Such a peace can be obtained and preserved through political solutions. But our government must have the means to fully guarantee on the ground eventual compliance with whatever might be the terms of a political settlement of the armed conflict in Mindanao. While we welcome and expect sincerity and discipline from those with whom we shall dialogue, the AFP and PNP must have the full capacity and adequate means to protect our communities and enforce our laws without depending solely on sincerity or strength of other parties.

Even as we talk, we will not allow terrorist attacks to go unpunished. Even as we talk patiently, we will not tolerate enclaves of terrorism to exist within our countries territory. Peace can be advanced by patient and sincere dialogue back by our governments capacity to enforce the legal authority of our constitution. Peace will also be needed to be sustained by concrete gains in the welfare and living standards of Mindanao's poor.

The remaining year of my administration will also be an opportunity to deliver these development gains that are crucial to building public confidence and popular demand for continued peace.

Sa sunod nga walo ka adlaw, natamo ako sa laing-laing nga mga aktibidades nga mao'y mga simbolo nining saad o commitments. Pangunganahon ko nga labao pa nga makusog ang pagtinabangay sa sektor sa mga negosyante ug ang mga ubang mga pumuluyo sa komunidad dinhi aron dayon nato malihog ang usa ka kumprehensibo ug balansyado nga programa sa pagpakusog sa ekonomiya ug pagpalambo sa mga maisog ug epektibong buluhaton aron masuklan ang terorismo samtang mauhag pa sab ang mga rebeldeng grupo ang kadtong mga nagasimpatiya sa kanila aron mubalik na sila sa kinabuhing naga sunod sa atong mga balahod.

During this week's work in Mindanao, my administration will focus on preparations for school opening; implementation of key infrastructure projects in transport, highways, communications; accelerating progress in our initiatives in agriculture, trade, industry, tourism and livelihood; securing improvements in law enforcement and police administration. We recognize that armed conflict in Mindanao has been a monster. Bred by injustice, neglect, underdevelopment, poverty, ignorance, disadvantage and economic exclusion. While we're committed to end the current armed conflict by dissuading its most ardent adherents, we are also dedicated in reducing and eliminating the main conditions that might continue to breed conflicts in the future. I realize that one week of effort even by the whole national government wouldn't solve the massive and long standing problems we face in Mindanao. But I'm hopeful that our many strong and committed partners in Mindanao's peace and development will vastly amplify our efforts.

I look to our provincial, city, municipal and barangay governments including the regional government of ARMM as the primary frontline agents for peace and development in our community.

May I take this opportunity to acknowledge these partners who are here with us today: our host mayor, Mayor Rudy Duterte; Congressman Dolfo del Rosario. Ay, Governor Dolfo del Rosario; Congressman Tony Florendo; Congressman Dimaporo; Congressman Ben Cruz of the farmers party or Butil; Region XI cord Bebot Alvarez; Mayor Roger Antalan; my Presidential Adviser for Strategic Concern, Rene De Villa; also my Senior Adviser for Mindanao Affairs, Paul Dominguez; my Presidential Assistant for Mindanao, Jess Dureza; my Consultant on local governments, Luis Santos; RDC XI Chair, Chito Ayala; Arena President, Dolly Castillo; ATO Manager, Felix San Felix.

And may I also recognize and introduce the members of the Cabinet who are joining me here today. I mentioned already Secretary Romulo; Secretary Afable of the Presidential Management Staff; Bobi Tiglao here? Mai Jimenez; Nani Braganza; Angie Reyes; and Chief AFP, Narciso Abaya; Chief PNP, Jun Ebdane; Deputy Chief PNP Virtus Gil; Southcom Commander Roy Kyamko; from the PNP, we have also general Oscar Calderon; and PNP Region XI head, General La Peņa; from the Amed Forces Colonel Ubaņana.

And I will also greet various city councilors, city department heads of Sangguniang Kabataan members all of whom are our partners, and head of the OMA, Sam Ampatuan.

I'm also optimistic that civil society in Mindanao including non-government and people's organizations, religious leaders and tribal chieftains would continue to provide the cause-oriented conscience in grassroots capacities for effective poverty reduction and outreach to the most disadvantaged.

And I'm sure that our business community in Mindanao will respond with entrepreneurial vigor in translating government's development policies and projects into sustainable production income and livelihood opportunities for the people.

I'd like to take this opportunity also to greet one of the generals of our industry, not captain of industry, Don Antonio Florendo for being here with us.

I know that the people of Mindanao themselves have the greatest stake and stronger commitment to a peace that they most fervently seek and a sustainable development they most surely want.

Nahibalo ko kay ako usa sa mga katawhan ug Mindanao. Isip bata nidako ko usahay sa lungsod sa San Juan, Rizal usahay sa pang-uuma ug akong lola sa Lanao. I have come sa gihapon to join the people of Mindanao secure for themselves and their children the blessings of peace and bounties of development. I come here, dili ra tungod kay ako isa sa mga bata ug Mindanao kundili sab because Mindanao is crucial to our nation's welfare.

May I also recognize Mayor Lopez of Lanao Del Sur and Mayor Barabag and other barangay captains. Ah, yes Mayor Barabag and I already I think recognized the barangay captains of Davao City. Daghang salamat sa mga barangay captains.

My administration has a sound strategy for peace and development in Mindanao. We're implementing this strategy that across many areas of action. From security to infrastructure, to education, to economic growth, to poverty reduction, to law enforcement. We're mobilizing local governments, civil society and the business community to achieve this strategy. Government is joining hands with the people themselves in attaining peace and development in Mindanao. May the almighty his name be praised bless our common undertaking.

"Mindanao muna tungo sa isang matatag na republika." unahon ug Mindanao paadto sa usa ka kusog nga republika.

Daghang salamat sa inyo tanan.

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