MinDA: Federalism to foster more culture-responsive economies

THE MINDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) is advocating federalism, saying this form of government would foster localized economic policies that are more culturally responsive. Citing the recent rice shortage in the Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi (ZamBaSulTa), Dr. Adrian M. Tamayo, MinDA’s public relations head, said the supply crisis should be assessed and understood within the context of the geographic and historical backgrounds of the area. “What happened is there’s already the cultural system of barter economy that occurs in Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi tawi. Some others call this as backdoor. But in the course of time, it is actually a cultural economic set up,” he said at the Habi at Kape media forum last week. Mr. Tamayo also pointed out that the centralized set-up of the National Food Authority as well as logisitical considerations slow down supply distribution. “Given the legal and the rest of the instruments mentioned coming from the top, all of those regular economic activities were hampered because the decisions again were consistent with a centralized set-up. But where are the cultural context of the economic activity.? These were not understood and addressed and so therefore federalism will provide a leeway how to make these things — the culture, economic, political, structure, and even internal security — be addressed, he said. — Maya M. Padillo