MILF: ‘Imperial Manila’ to blame for ARMM poverty
By ROGER M. BALANZA
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said recent government statistics placing the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) at the bottom of the poverty rating is correct.
But the secessionist Moro group said “Imperial Manila” should be blamed for what it said is a reality against which Mindanao Muslims should “act decisively and rightly.”
Khaled Musa, deputy chairman of the MILF, said he would not wonder why the latest statistics from National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) rating placed the so-called Muslim Mindanao as the poorest region in the entire Philippines.
Government neglect, he said, is the reason why Mindanao Muslims have to suffer this ignominy.
Musa said the report is very discerning to everyone in the region who must see reality and act decisively and rightly.
“The report is just a paper validation of what really is the correct economic (situation) of this region,” he said, adding, however, that this poverty is mainly the offshoot of a deeper problem and the long running trouble in Mindanao.
The poverty of the Moros is the consequence of neo-colonialism by “Imperial Manila” that deprived our people to run themselves unfettered and unhampered, he said in a statement posted at the MILF website luwaran.com.
Musa said the continuous fighting in Moro areas explained why the people are unproductive. “They keep on moving from one place to another and this non-permanency of residence makes them rely on mostly short-term means of livelihood,” he explained.
“The Moros are not indolent; they just lack correct motivation and sufficient support from the government,” he added.
Poverty incidence in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), according to the 2006 Official Poverty Statistics, reached 55.3 percent, a 9.9 percent increase from 2003’s 45.4 percent. The incidence of poverty in the pre-dominantly Moro region is more than two times the national average of 26.9 percent.
This is not the first time that ARMM registered the highest poverty incidence. In 2000, the region was the country’s poorest with a 53.8 percent poverty incidence.
Three years later, it was dislodged as the poorest region by CARAGA (Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur).
Three of ARMM’s six provinces—Tawi-tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur—were also among the ten poorest provinces in the country in 2006.
Tawi-tawi had the highest poverty incidence of 78.9 percent among 81 provinces. Maguindanao had the third highest poverty incidence at 62 percent, while Lanao del Sur ranked sixth with 52.5 percent.
Other ARMM provinces, like Basilan and Sulu had poverty incidence rates of 31.7 and 46.5, respectively.
Filed under: Mindanao Muslims, milf | Tagged: milf, Mindanao, musa, muslims, poverty
Muslim Mindanao is Phil, really poorest region. We know why. First is that if there is no peace and order of course the investors doesn’t put at risk their capital.
Second; until the Muslim brothers do not achieve thier dreams as Mindanao for muslim then there will be no progress at all. Lastly Mindanao is not only for one particular religion but for all the Filipino citizin. Mindanao is not absolutely an islamic region but an interreligious land it means it is for all. Everyone has the rights to live in freedom, a true freedom. We can do say that freedom is not sopouse to be obtain by war but it thrugh dialogue.
The common people of Mindanao says that we respect with perfect dignity to our muslims, christians brothers.
in my own opinion or observation, Mindanao is poor because of Lack of Peace.. i believe that if our land will have a peace, we will have a sustainable life and will have development also in economic because of our natural resources that we preserve most.
Hummm Maybe it’s the poorest because the cult of Islam IS NOT a religion of peace but fear and oppression.
what money?