Investors upbeat in setting up businesses in ARMM, says Hataman

MANILA, Philippines—Several investors have already expressed interest in putting up their businesses in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao several days before the formal signing of the “Framework Agreement” forged between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that is hoped to end the decades-old war in the region, ARMM Governor-in-charge Mujiv Hataman said Tuesday.

In an interview with anchors Susan K, Den Macaranas and Captain Dylan Halili of “Good Morning Inquirer” on Radyo Inquirer 990AM, Hataman said that two to three days before the signing in Malacañang Palace Monday, an investor expressed interest in building a 10,000-hectare plantation in their province.

“Hindi pa nagkakapirmahan, marami nang nagpahiwatig . . . what more ngayong napirmahan na and what more kung magkaron na ng final peace agreement (Even when the peace agreement was yet to be signed, may expressed interest already, how much more now that it’s signed),” Hataman said as he uttered confidence that socioeconomic developments in the region will help in speeding up the completion of the peace pact that will establish a new political entity called Bangsamoro.

Hataman said many Muslims, including those who witnessed the signing from afar, went emotional when Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chair Murad Ebrahim, and President Benigno Aquino III delivered their speeches in Malacañang during the signing of the Framework Agreement Monday.

“Kung i-compare natin itong framework agreement sa MOA-AD [Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain], malayo (If we compare the framework agreement with the MOA-AD, it’s too far-fetched),” Hataman said, noting that the Bangsamoro agreement is “99 percent accepted not only by the Bangsamoro people, muslims, [but] throughout the country.”

For the full interview, listen to the attached audio clip from Radyo Inqurier 990AM.