7th ARMM Biz Confab coins Polloc as ‘Peace Zone’

COTABATO CITY – A Resolution declaring Barangay Polloc as a ‘Zone of Peace’ wrapped up the 7th Business Congress in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) held in Marawi City, province of Lanao del Sur on August 5 to 6, this year.

With the theme “Maximizing Investment Gains to Propel Economic Development in ARMM,” more than a hundred entrepreneurs from various business entities around the five-province autonomous region unanimously supported the Resolution pronouncing Polloc as a ‘Peace Zone’ that would serve as gateway to attract and induce local and foreign businessmen to invest in ARMM.

Barangay Polloc in the municipality of Parang, Maguindanao homed the 123 hectare-Polloc Port that has a potential to be transformed into an international seaport and trading center, according to ARMM officials.

The seaport had already started a facelift in December 2008 when ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP), a program funded by the World Bank and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) extended P22.8 million. The concreting of road network within the port zone and installation of rubber fenders in the berthing area was already completed. The rehabilitation decreased rate of accidents and damages to cargoes and port users.

The resolution stressed that Polloc’s declaration as ‘Peace Zone’ is imperative “to create an environment where development can overcome insurgency, restore economic setbacks and create jobs.”

ARMM Business Council (ABC) Chairperson Haron Bandila said that the move will persuade investors both local and foreign to dedicate their capital investments and locate their business enterprises in the ARMM economic zone in Barangay Polloc.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines also made share in the effort on Polloc as ‘Peace Zone’ by establishing a peace landmark that will serve as significant marker on its economic importance.

Earlier, ARMM officials is expecting Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan to declare Polloc as its first economic zone before the year ends – a vital strategy to make ARMM in a competitive position in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

ARMM Deputy Executive Secretary, Atty. Ishak Mastura, also the chair of Regional Economic Zone Authority (REZA) said that the idea to develop Polloc as ecozone is consistent with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s goals and objectives in creating an era of peace and development in the country.

“The ARMM regional govenrment is optimistic that the attempt would promote permanent solution to secessionist problem,” Mastura said.

The resolution was signed August 6 by ABC Chairperson Bandila, Regional Board of Investments (RBOI), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-ARMM), City Government of Marawi and Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur.

Governor Ampatuan foresees making Polloc Port a premier gateway of trade and commerce not just in mainland ARMM and Central Mindanao but throughout the BIMP-EAGA. (BPI-ARMM)