Balik Probinsya program seeks rural development

The 'Balik Probinsya' program aims to shift development efforts from urban centers to rural areas, addressing past policies that neglected the countryside.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol emphasizes the program is not a recycled effort, but a comprehensive approach involving 22 government departments.

The initiative responds to challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic in overpopulated areas and acknowledges previous flawed resource distribution policies.

To ensure success, the government must invest in rural infrastructure such as farm-to-market roads, irrigation, storage, and processing facilities.

Creating more economic opportunities in rural areas with appropriate incentives is essential for the program's success.

MinDA aims to increase Mindanao's share of the national budget from the current 12 percent (16 percent according to the national government) to a more equitable level.

Piñol highlights that the program is a response to the massive migration to big cities and overseas, which has stunted rural development and caused widespread poverty.

The goal is to reduce the need for Mindanao women to work abroad and achieve self-sufficiency in food supply.