Press Release No. 124-03
27 March 2003
OPLE
BROACHES MARSHALL PLAN FOR MINDANAO
Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople said yesterday the Department of Foreign
Affairs is drafting the blueprint for a US Marshall Plan for Mindanao, within
the framework of a total strategy to bring an enduring peace in the troubled
Southern Philippines.
The Secretary said the US government appeared to be warming up to this longer-term
vision of a peaceful and prosperous Mindanao, which can be held-up as a model
for future US programs for strife-torn Islamic societies.
Ople said there were back channel contracts with MILF leaders designed to
obtain their consent to a long-term US participation in the rehabilitation
and development of contested areas in Mindanao, especially the Linguasan
marsh in North Cotabato.
The Secretary, in an earlier statement, had said that international cooperation
was a key element in achieving peace and development in Mindanao. He said
that in today’s inter-connected world, it is in the common interest of every
nation that internal conflicts are resolved and that peace is allowed to
grow.
“We would also welcome the continuing role of other countries in the development
of Mindanao. Many Islamic countries, as well as European countries and Japan
have played important role in Mindanao’s development. We envision their continued
participation in an over-all plan to rebuild Mindanao,” the Secretary said.
End