SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said she is pushing for six investment projects in Mindanao to be backed by Saudi Arabia.
“There were six project proposals that were prepared by the six congressmen in the delegation and this afternoon of Manila time, which is noontime in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), they will be presenting to the Jeddah Chamber the six proposals,” Ms. Arroyo said in a chance interview, Wednesday.
The Speaker recently led an investment mission to Saudi Arabia with six Mindanao legislators — Lanao del Sur-2nd district Rep. Mauyag B. Papandayan, Jr., AMIN Reps. Makmod D. Mending, Jr. and Amihilda J. Sangcopan, Maguindanao-1st district Rep. Bai Sandra A. Sema, Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby M. Sahali and Kusug-Tausug Rep. Shernee Abubakar Tan.
Among the project proposals were a Public-Private Partnership to rebuild the Montaner Hospital and expand Al Haj Memorial in Lanao del Sur and two other hospitals destroyed during the Marawi siege, development of a Halal economic zone, a cacao plantation in Cotabato City, the development of the seaweed industry in Tawi-Tawi and oil and gas exploration activities in three blocks in the Sulu Sea.
“Our commercial attache who is based in Dubai is there so hopefully she will be able to follow through,” the Speaker said.
The Speaker said the investment efforts intend to supplement implementation of the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“It is now our responsibility to try to do what we can in order to fulfill the expectations of the people of Bangsamoro that they be lifted out of poverty and the best way to fight poverty now in the Bangsamoro is to be able to create jobs,” she said in a statement, issued on Wednesday.
“The last attacks we believe were terrorist attacks and we are very grateful to Saudi Arabia because they are with us in the fight against terrorism. When I was President of the Philippines, I always said that terrorism is very much related, at least in the Philippines, to poverty. And in the Philippines as well the problem of peace in Muslim Mindanao are also very much related to the problems of poverty,” she said.
During her visit, the Speaker met with the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority (SAGIA) headed by its Governor Ibrahim Al Omar and then with Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al Sheik, her Saudi Arabian counterpart as President of the Majlis Al Shura of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s legislative body. — Charmaine A. Tadalan
