Caraga Business Leaders, Politicians Told: “Empower the Poor, Minimize Greed and Level Playing Field”

by Ben Serrano

December 26, 2008

BUTUAN CITY- Participants of the recently concluded Public Consultation on the Effects of Global Financial Crisis on Employment, Wages and Productivity held at the local hotel and convention center here urged business, government leaders and politiicians in the region to empower the poor, provide jobs, livelihood and level the playing field.

They claimed there is nothing new in as far as Caraga Region’s economy is concern saying it has been in crisis for years now having high unemployment rate, highest inflation rate in the whole of Mindanao thus it is expensive to live in Caraga than in Cagayan de Oro or Region 10, Panabo and Tagum cities.

The participants unanimously agreed that people-based economy where marginalized sectors like ordinary workers or wagers, fisherfolk, farmers, upland dwellers and the marginalized urban poor which comprises 75% of the total Caraga population if empowered is the only key to solve the economic crisis the region have experiencing over the years.

“In Caraga Region, only the few rich particularly the politicians and the middle class has access to opportunities and the poor especially those who has talents are left on the sidelines” participants said.

They added that it is high time for government and business leaders in Caraga Region to do an absolute reverse and policy changes, minimize the greed and to have political will in leveling the playing the field or else the vicious cycle of root causes of poverty remained.

“Let us accept the reality that the growing number of communist insurgents in Caraga Region is due to poverty, social injustices and the failure of government to address corruption in all branches of government from judiciary, prosecution and the total hemorrhage of the delivery of basic services due too much politicking”, participants conclude.

Some 60 business, government leaders, government agencies’ officials, local government units, NGO, private, media and labor sector representatives attended the forum.

However there were no representatives from fishermen, farmers and urban poor sectors.

Business leaders on the other hand complained the slow or scarcity of sales experienced by their respective business establishments for months now.

They claimed people only do window shopping since most consumers had no purchasing power. They urged government agencies to do some improvement in policy-making and calls for strengthening of government institutions to implement laws equal to all.

The forum however ended with a prayer with no solutions made on sight as critics claimed it was made like as a mere testimonial dinner not in finding ways to solve the burgeoning problem facing the Caraga populace.

Critics claimed the solution of the Caraga problem must come from unified efforts of all sectors not only from elite few.

Officials of the Butuan City Chambers of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. headed by most topnotch businessmen in the city attended the forum.

The forum was sponsored and spearheaded by National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga Regional Office, the Regional Tripartite Wages Board of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The current Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC) chair is Butuan City Mayor Democrito “Boy Daku” Plaza, II.