DAVAO CITY, Philippines -- The chairman of the Mindanao Business Council (MBC) called for the consolidation and speedy passage of the proposed bills aimed at establishing a ?permanent body" that would ensure the continuity of development efforts on the island-region.

Vicente Lao, MBC chair, said on Tuesday they were wary that the bills would be put aside due to a general preoccupation with the coming elections.

"The Senate should take up the Mindanao agenda that would highlight peace and development especially since some of them have indicated presidential ambitions. Mindanao priorities and initiatives should not be downplayed or sidetracked by the current political landscape," Lao said.

The bills are pending before the Senate economic affairs committee chaired by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

The Inquirer learned that the sub-committee headed by Senator Edgardo Angara has scheduled public hearings on the proposed laws - the Mindanao Economic Development Authority (MEDA) bill and the Mindanao Development Administration (MinDA) bill - for next week.

"Special attention must be given to Mindanao, which has long suffered a fragmented and intermittent development," Lao said. He added the creation of the body would further solidify the gains that Mindanao has been experiencing.

Lao said Mindanao's economy grew by 7.2 percent in 2007 from 5.2 percent in 2006, with a 17.68 percent share to the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

"With a permanent development body for Mindanao, interregional concerns would be given more focus and important policies such as the equitable allocation of tax revenues in local governments would be given a stronger voice," Lao said.