Pres. Aquino lauds PBSP’s inclusive agri-business initiatives for Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Sept. 08 – President Benigno Aquino III lauded the inclusive agribusiness initiative of the Philippine Business for Social Progress for Mindanao, saying that the program comes in time as the government seeks to transform the island from the “Land of Promise to the Land of Promises Fulfilled.”

At the launch of PBSP’s Mindanao Inclusive Agribusiness (MIA) Program today at SMX Convention Center in the city, Aquino recognized the program to have outlined “clear strategic imperatives towards harnessing the resources of Mindanao for the common good.”

PBSP introduced its current undertaking to advocate inclusive business and to draw support from the organization’s member companies, non-member companies, civil society organizations and government officials.

The MIA program upholds PBSP’s Inclusive Business Imperative (IBI) campaign in Mindanao, aiming to particularly address poverty, job generation and the need for climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

The President further commended PBSP’s efforts for inclusiveness, equitability and meaningful progress, “one that has enabled countless Filipinos to live more dignified and productive lives.”

“Instead of viewing communities as mere locations for factories or markets for their products, PBSP and its partners sought to develop those communities into partners towards development—whether through PBSP’s flagship program for tuberculosis control, for example, or the construction of public school classrooms through your initiative, or even the sustained promotion of corporate social responsibility in all of your activities,” he stated.

The President also assured that PBSP’s suggestions for the national agencies to implement “are welcome input, as we both work to make Mindanao a more attractive area for investments.”

“We are well aware of the great potential of Mindanao, especially in terms of agriculture. Mindanao, after all, is our country’s top source of rubber, cacao, pineapple, banana, coffee, and coconut” he said.

Aquino also recognized Mindanao produces over 40 percent of the country’s food-supply, and more than 30 percent of the produce traded domestically, as well as the island’s “strong contribution to our fisheries production.” 

The priority industries of PBSP’s MIA program include coffee, cacao, corn, palm oil and rubber.

At the launch of the inclusive agri-business initiative, PBSP Mindanao Regional Committee chair Paul Dominguez handed over to the President PBSP’s Resource Book: Inclusive Agribusiness Investment Portfolios.

Meanwhile, Dominguez inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Mindanao Development Authority chair Lualhati Antonino for a collaboration to implement PBSP’s initiatives and programs that aim to achieve inclusive business growth for the Mindanaons. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)