Potential ARMM investors adopt wait-and-see stance

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Entrepreneurs eyeing investment in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have been holding back on such decisions pending the outcome of peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a regional official said.

“They are on a wait-and-see posture, a bit hesitant to pour in their capital investment as they await the outcome of the government-MILF peace negotiations,” said Ishak Mastura, chairman of ARMM’s Board of Investments.

Mastura said the issue of the peace process has always been a very sensitive matter to investors. “It is natural for any trader to ensure first and foremost that the investment is secured and safe,” he said.

He said that among the investments stalled by issues surrounding the peace negotiations was the P1.5-billion submarine cable communication project of EA Trilink Corp. in Tawi-Tawi.

The project, according to Regional Economic Zone Authority chair Rosslaini Alonto-Sinarimbo, was aimed at establishing at least 2,000 electronic centers in 30 selected towns in the ARMM and was envisioned to employ some 6,000 people.

“Even the region’s tourism prospects with foreign clienteles have been adversely affected by the off-and-on peace talks,” Sinarimbo said.

But Mastura pointed out that there were also projects being undertaken in the ARMM, including smaller-budgeted agri-business ventures in the provinces of Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Mastura has appealed to all stakeholders to help attain peace instead of muddling the peace process.

Meanwhile, the military said it has created a task force to address kidnapping, which has become another serious concern in Lanao del Sur, an  ARMM province.

Colonel Daniel Lucero, commander of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, said the task force, composed of the police, military and other law enforcement agencies, “will surely have its hands full in the next few days.”

Lucero said the task force will also run after carjacking syndicates and the so-called narco-politicians.

“The police could not do it alone. The criminals are well armed, so the task force is a very potent tool to contain them,” he said.