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Geography |
Mindanao,
located in the southernmost tip of the Philippine
archipelago, is the country’s second largest island with a
land area of about 95,000 sq. kms.
The landscape is varied, consisting of plains and valleys
which are ideal for plantations, hills and mountains --
including the highest peak in the Philippines which is Mt.
Apo towering at a height of 10,311 feet above sea level --
forest areas, rivers, and an extensive coastline that is
rich in aquatic resources.
The region sits outside the typhoon belt giving it a
generally good weather condition.
The soil is rich, making it ideal for the production of some
of the country’s major agricultural products such as fruits
(pineapple, banana, etc.), palay, corn, and coconut. Some
areas are also good sources of mineral products. |
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Economic Status |
Mindanao,
along with the National Capital Region (Metro Manila),
registered an increase in its share to the national growth
in 2000. (The Philippine economy posted a modest growth in
2000 at 4% compared with the 3.4% registered in 1999. )
Mindanao’s share increased to 22.2% from 15.8% for the
period in review.
Mindanao also posted a 6.4% net improvement in terms of its
share to the national growth, owing largely to the
performance of Western, Northern, and Southern Mindanao
which offset the deceleration in Central Mindanao, Caraga
and in the ARMM. |
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Mindanao also played major roles in the gross domestic
regional product. For the gross value added in agriculture,
fishing and forestry (AFF), Southern Mindanao had the second
largest production level at 11.3% next to Southern Tagalog
at 18.3%. For the gross value added in indstry, Southern
Mindanao had the highest growth rate at 10.1% and the second
in terms of production level next to the National Capital
Region at 65.2%. For the gross value added in services,
Central Mindanao posted the highest growth rate at 5.6%. |
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Other
pertinent statistics:
3.9% growth in Gross Regional Domestic Product
3.6% growth in family income
31.0% growth in investments
18.4% growth in exports
22.6% growth in bank deposits
37.8% growth in loans
31.0% growth in energy use
While
infrastructure remains a major concern in Mindanao, the
region already has an established infrastructure system
including telecommunications, information technology,
major and arterial road network, domestic and
international seaports as well airports. |
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While Mindanao as a whole is considered as one big growth
area, it has several growth area subdivisions, namely:
Caraga (with 10 industrial zones);
Central Mindanao (key areas include Maguindanao, Lanao del
Sur, Cotabato Province, Cotabato City, Marawi City, and
Kidapawan);
Davao Gulf (key areas include Davao City, Davao Province,
Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Compostela);
Northern Corridor (key areas include Cagayan de Oro, Iligan
City, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Camiguin, and Lanao del
Norte);
Northwestern Mindanao ( Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte,
Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Ozamis City,
Oroquieta City, and Pagadian City);
SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and
General Santos) with key areas General Santos City, South
Cotabato, Sarangani, and Sultan Kudarat; and
Western Mindanao (Zamboanga City, Basilan, and Sulu). |
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Language / People
Mindanao, although
largely associated with the Muslim community, is home to a very
diverse group of people. Catholic settlements are largely spread
within and alongside the Muslim communities. Many indigenous
tribes are also settled here including T'boli, Yakan, Tausug,
Maranao, Samal, and Badjao among others. The agri-based economic
development in the region has likewise attracted other Filipinos
from other parts of the country as well as foreigners.
A wide variety of dialects, both local to Mindanao as well as
those from the Visayas like Cebuano and even from Luzon, are
spoken. The many tongues spoken here is a testament to the
diversity in cultures that thrive on this island. Filipino and
English, however, are fluenty used for most business and
official transactions.
Major products / Industries
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Mindanao’s economy is
by and large agriculture- and aquaculture-based. Its major
products -- contributing big percentages into the country’s
domestic demand as well as total exports -- include banana,
pineapple, tuna and other fish varieties which are used for
canning.
At the same time, Mindanao hosts major industries such as steel,
flour, metallic mineral, cement, food processing and canning,
furniture production, and native handicraft.
Despite the wave of negative news related to the region’s peace
and order situation, tourism is a thriving industry given
Mindanao’s rich natural destinations, including beaches, diving
spots, and eco-tourism sites. Mindanao’s rich cultural diversity
is also a come-on.
Mindanao is the Philippines’ link to the east asean region.
Trading ties are being strengthened in this area through the
Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean
Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
Mindanao has a number of strategic domestic and international
ports located around the islands. |
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Major Products / Industries
Mindanao’s economy is by and large agriculture- and
aquaculture-based. Its major products -- contributing big
percentages into the country’s domestic demand as well as total
exports -- include banana, pineapple, tuna and other fish
varieties which are used for canning. At the same time, Mindanao
hosts major industries such as steel, flour, metallic mineral,
cement, food processing and canning, furniture production, and
native handicraft.
Despite the wave of negative news related to the region’s peace
and order situation, tourism is a thriving industry given
Mindanao’s rich natural destinations, including beaches, diving
spots, and eco-tourism sites. Mindanao’s rich cultural diversity
is also a come-on. Mindanao is the Philippines’ link to the east
asean region. Trading ties are being strengthened in this area
through the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines
East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). |
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Mindanao has a number of strategic domestic and international
ports located around the islands.
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Brief History
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In the 10th to
the 14th centuries, Islam spread throughout southeast asia,
including Mindanao, the southernmost island of the Philippine
archipelago.
Mindanaoans, who were under different independent sultanates,
strongly resisted the Spanish rule in the Philippines which
spanned three centuries. While Luzon and the Visayas were
already operating under the Spanish colonial system of
governance, Mindanao remained largely unconquered by the
Spaniards.
During the succeeding American occupation and “independent”
Philippine government, alliances were forged with the different
and independent ruling sultanates in Mindanao. National laws on
land ownership were established, forcing Mindanao into the
country’s fold which the Spaniards did not succeed in enforcing.
During the 1960s, Mindanao saw a phenomenal population increase,
due largely to the migration of people from Luzon and the
Visayas as encouraged by the government. Along with this
population growth came a very rapid economic development. These
developments, however, saw the marginalisation of a number of
the formerly independent sultanates in Mindanao who continued to
refuse to accept inclusion into the national system. Thus, the
armed conflict in Mindanao, which dates back to the Spanish
rule, continued to beset parts of the region.
As early as the mid 70s, the Philippine government promised to
grant autonomy to several provinces in Mindanao, but it was not
until 1990s that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM,
covering Lanao del Sur , Maguindanao, Tawi-tawi and Sulu) was
established. This saw the partial resolution of the armed
struggle in Mindanao with the integration of members of the Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Administrations in recent history, including the current regime
under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, continues to pursue peace efforts
with another group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Today, Mindanao -- known as “The land of promise” -- is a
bustling region with many urbanized areas, large industries and
a strong agri- and aquaculture-based economy. |
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