by Lovely A. Carillo
Brace yourselves for the influx of clove-infused cigarettes, or even nutmegs, from Indonesia as the Indonesia-based commercial vessel KLM Sunlia increases the frequency of its trips between North Sulawesi and Mindanao.
Actually, more and more Indonesian products are finding their way to Glan in Sarangani province, General Santos City and even in some parts of the Davao region through the backdoor. Smuggling between Indonesia and Mindanao has been an open secret for the longest of time because of the proximity of the two regions.
The local governments of Tahuna in Sangihe Island, Indonesia and government officials of Jose Abad Santos (Davao del Sur) and Glan want to curb smuggling in these areas by legalizing trading activities.
While this is an indication that the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) regional cooperation is making itself felt by virtue of economic agreements among the member countries along the way, it is also proof of what sisterhood agreements can accomplish.
“Trade agreements are only one aspect of the sisterhood relationship of JAGS-CT (Jose Abad Santos, Glan, Sarangani-Cooperation Triangle) and Tahuna,” Indonesian Consul General Lalu Malik Paratawana said. More important, he added, is the forging of socio-cultural and historic ties between the two regions.
However, it cannot be denied that KLM Sunlia is concrete proof that formal and official trading agreements between the two regions are in place.
Partawana said cultural ties between Indonesia and the Philippines began a long time ago, but it is only now that two countries are using this tie to benefit them mutually in socio-cultural and economic areas.
He said the first voyage of the Sunlia was in April this year, almost two years after the port of Glan was formally opened by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Sunlia is expected to make its next voyage to Glan on June 8.
Mindanao Development Authority chief, Secretary Jesus Dureza, said the second trip of the Indonesian vessel is just the start of a fruitful economic partnership between Sulawesi and Mindanao. “This is only one of the fruits of the BIMP-EAGA which we are reaping now because of our past efforts,” he added.
The Sunlia is expected to carry on board not only Indonesian entrepreneurs, but also various commodities from North Sulawesi, including, but not limited to, bird’s nest, nutmeg, fish, garments, electrical products and equipment.
Sisterhood agreement
The sisterhood agreement between JAGS-CT and Tahuna, Indonesia was forged in Manado, Indonesia in September of 2006 during a trade mission headed by Governor Miguel Dominguez of Sarangani. Dominguez was accompanied by the JAGS-CT delegation consisting of about 60 representatives from the different local government units and the business sector.
The city of Tahuna on Marore Island, Indonesia is very proximate to Mindanao’s Balut Island and only about three hours travel time by ship. That is faster than travelling between Davao City and Cebu.
Tahuna, which was a former Dutch colony, is not only proximate to Mindanao, it looks just like any Mindanao province. The island is lined with trees whose leaves are used to add a distinctive flavour to Indonesian made cigarettes. And just like Mindanao, Tahuna is also lined with coconut trees, altough the natives do not share the Filipinos’ penchant for drinking the tuba (coconut wine).
Despite this new development, Consul Partawana admits it will take a lot more of doing to promote tourism between Indonesia and Mindanao. For one, there is no direct flight between Davao and Indonesia. Filipino tourists and entrepreneurs have to fly to Manila for connecting flights to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.
BIMP-EAGA and the Davao Region
There are also significant BIMP-EAGA developments that can lead to the revival of old investments and the putting up of new ones in the Davao region. Island Garden City of Samal Mayor Aniano Antalan said they were informed about the intention of Malaysian investors to revive the Ekran Berhad-owned Samal Casino Resort.
The 250-hectare, 300-room world class resort started its operations in 1998, but folded up when it became a victim of global financial crisis. The resort, in fact, is subject to P35 million worth of fines and penalties owed to the local government. Dureza said the reopening of the resort will increase tourist arrivals in the Davao region and even lead to direct flights between Davao and Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
Local officials of IGACOS and those of Brunei have agreed on technology exchanges and investment missions between them, especially in mariculture. Dureza said they are also eyeing the possibility of shipping fresh fruits and banana chips from Tagum to Malaysia.
Joint ventures between Tagum and Sabah are also expected in various economic areas, including palm oil, jatropha and rubber. And speaking of rubber and palm oil production, the province of Sultan Kudarat has indicated the availability of at least 8,000 hectares of land for joint ventures in such products.
The BIMP-EAGA, as well as the sisterhood agreements between various cities in Mindanao and Indonesia, have actually improved the existing backdoor trading between them. But this time, the people in these areas are going full circle, from the less formal and/or illegal trading to more formal economic ties.
