Mindanao aims to become palm oil hub

14oilpalm2Despite still unresolved conflicts between military groups and authorities in some parts on Mindanao, the Philippines’ southernmost province keeps building up its economy.

The latest project is an initiative to transform the island into a major producer of palm oil in the next two years, which has now been kicked off through joint efforts between major oil palm industry players and the government.

The Mindanao Development Authority said that under the cooperation, oil palm companies would increase the total area devoted to oil palm cultivation to 177,000 hectares in the period.

Currently, the total area used for oil palms in Mindanao is 54,448 hectares, according to data from the Philippine Palm Oil Development Council. Priority areas considered for expansion are those in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and in the Caraga region. There are also plans to open a $40 million oil palm nut crushing facility in Carmen, North Cotabato.

In another move, the Mindanao Development Authority is promoting the island as the food and logistics corridor of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

The authority said that positioning the island as a food and logistics corridor could lead to the entry of Mindanao bananas to Malaysia. However, infrastructure has to be improved which could be done with the help of the Asian Development Bank, which came up with a master plan for a food and logistics corridor.

While Mindanao has reached major peace initiatives with rebel groups in the past, sending encouraging signals to investors, tensions flared again on May 25 when clashes between the Abu Sayyaf rebel group and Philippine security forces left 14 dead in the troubled Sulu region.

Meanwhile, the two largest rebel groups, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), signed an agreement on May 23 to end violence after recent conflict displaced over 7,000 villagers.



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Despite still unresolved conflicts between military groups and authorities in some parts on Mindanao, the Philippines' southernmost province keeps building up its economy. The latest project is an initiative to transform the island into a major producer of palm oil in the next two years, which has now been kicked off through joint efforts between major oil palm industry players and the government. The Mindanao Development Authority said that under the cooperation, oil palm companies would increase the total area devoted to oil palm cultivation to 177,000 hectares in the period. Currently, the total area used for oil palms in...

14oilpalm2Despite still unresolved conflicts between military groups and authorities in some parts on Mindanao, the Philippines’ southernmost province keeps building up its economy.

The latest project is an initiative to transform the island into a major producer of palm oil in the next two years, which has now been kicked off through joint efforts between major oil palm industry players and the government.

The Mindanao Development Authority said that under the cooperation, oil palm companies would increase the total area devoted to oil palm cultivation to 177,000 hectares in the period.

Currently, the total area used for oil palms in Mindanao is 54,448 hectares, according to data from the Philippine Palm Oil Development Council. Priority areas considered for expansion are those in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and in the Caraga region. There are also plans to open a $40 million oil palm nut crushing facility in Carmen, North Cotabato.

In another move, the Mindanao Development Authority is promoting the island as the food and logistics corridor of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

The authority said that positioning the island as a food and logistics corridor could lead to the entry of Mindanao bananas to Malaysia. However, infrastructure has to be improved which could be done with the help of the Asian Development Bank, which came up with a master plan for a food and logistics corridor.

While Mindanao has reached major peace initiatives with rebel groups in the past, sending encouraging signals to investors, tensions flared again on May 25 when clashes between the Abu Sayyaf rebel group and Philippine security forces left 14 dead in the troubled Sulu region.

Meanwhile, the two largest rebel groups, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), signed an agreement on May 23 to end violence after recent conflict displaced over 7,000 villagers.



Support ASEAN news

Investvine has been a consistent voice in ASEAN news for more than a decade. From breaking news to exclusive interviews with key ASEAN leaders, we have brought you factual and engaging reports – the stories that matter, free of charge.

Like many news organisations, we are striving to survive in an age of reduced advertising and biased journalism. Our mission is to rise above today’s challenges and chart tomorrow’s world with clear, dependable reporting.

Support us now with a donation of your choosing. Your contribution will help us shine a light on important ASEAN stories, reach more people and lift the manifold voices of this dynamic, influential region.

 

 

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