REPRESENTATIVE Rufus Rodriguez of the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro City on Tuesday urged urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to increase the allocation for Mindanao in next year’s national budget by at least five percent or by P286 billion.

“We request President Marcos to include this commitment in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday,” Rodriguez said.

He said Mindanao is entitled to additional funds “because based on the 2020 census, it had residents totaling 26.3 million, or 24 percent of the country’s population of 109.6 million.”

“We contribute 17 percent of the nation’s yearly total output of products and services,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez pointed out that Mindanao was allocated only 13 percent or roughly P650 billion in this year’s national budget.

“If our island receives five percent more next year, or 18 percent of a possible P5.2-trillion budget, our total allocation would come up to P936 billion, or an additional P286 billion. That would go a long way in helping our people and developing our region,” he stressed.

To further speed up the island’s development, the House leader suggested that the President transfer the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to Mindanao.

He said the President should also appoint the secretaries of the two departments from qualified Mindanao professionals.

“The heads of these agencies will have their hands full in growing and exploring the farming and natural resources sectors, including minerals, in our island. However, the President should ban the highly destructive open-pit mining,” he said.

The government should vigorously implement programs to help farmers and fisherfolks recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, high fuel prices and fertilizer costs, and increase food production, including extending credit and farm input assistance and constructing more irrigation systems, he said.

He added that the President could likewise include in his first SONA the following projects for Mindanao:

– Immediate funding for the P83-billion, 102 kilometer first phase (Tagum-Davao City-Digos) of the planned 1st phase of the Mindanao railway

– Faster implementation of programs for coconut farmers under the Coconut Trust Fund Law (Republic Act No. 11524)

– Completion of the rehabilitation of Marawi City

– Final peace talks with the CPP-NPA for lasting peace in Mindanao.