Bangsamoro Chief Minister at the PH Mining Club Luncheon
By Marcelle P. Villegas
Philippine Resources Journal Issue 4 – 2019
9 Aug 2019 – 51st Philippine Mining Club Luncheon, I’M Hotel, Makati City (L-R) Mr Murad Ebrahim (Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), Mr Leo G. Dominguez (CEO, OLLI Consulting Group, Inc.) (Photo by Marcelle P. Villegas, Philippine Resources Journal)
For August, Philippine Mining Club’s special guest speaker was Mr Ahod Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. He mentioned that the results of the ongoing mining audit will be the bases of a ‘responsible mining law’ in the Bangsamoro region. [1]
The Chief Minister encouraged mining companies to invest in the mining operations in the Bangasamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). He noted that the Bangsamoro government will only approved the mining operations that respect the people and the environment. [1]
Present during the luncheon meeting were His Excellency Franz Jessen (Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines), His Excellency David Strachan (New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines), and His Excellency Steven J. Robinson AO (Australian Ambassador to the Philippines).
The interim government of the Bangsamoro, or the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), welcomes mining contracts into the ARMM, according the Chief Minister.
During his speech, explained the four bottom lines or priorities of the Bangsamoro government in relation to mining. He said, “We would like to use a concept familiar to business. This is the concept of bottom line. What are our bottom lines? The most important indicators of Bangsamoro economic success — four bottom lines and these are people, planet, profit and purpose.”
On people, he emphasised, “The ultimate goal of our economic development which will include mining activities is that it must facilitate full employment, human development, and social justice. The welfare of the people is a crucial bottom line.”
About the planet, the Chief Minister mentioned, “Our economic development must consider ecological balance and make sure that our natural resources are available not just to the present generation but to the future generations. The sustainability of the planet is a bottomline.”
With regards to profit, he said, “Economic activities must also be profitable to the private sector to come in. Without the reasonable return of investment, the Bangsamoro will lose the opportunity to entice and bring in investors which in turn will inspire growth in our homeland. Profitability is our bottom line and we know that our people could only feel the fruit of the peace process when they feel that there is something happening.”
Lastly, he concluded, “The fourth bottomline and that which I consider the most important is purpose. Why do we do the things that we do? What is the purpose?”
“For us, there is a spiritual dimension, a moral dimension to economic development. We have been an oppressed people that is why werebelled and now we see that things can change for the better… that our situation can change. We want to charge our situation from injustice to justice, from poverty to prosperity, from marginalisation to participation. In effect, we want to change. Change is the purpose. It is a bottom line.”
“In this end, and specific to the mining sector, I invite you to explore opportunities on mining to boost the economic development of the Bangsamoro. I hope that we do this with the lines of the four bottom lines that I have outlined. Profit, yes, but include also the people, the planet and the purpose for all this which is change for the good.”
“In closing, we express our gratitude and thanks to the contribution of the mining industry in the development of the Bangsamoro region, and at the same time urge everyone to please join us in our struggle… Our struggle for moral governance. Thank you very much and As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.” (”May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be with you.” ) [2]
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Reference:
[1] Ranada, Pia. (9 Aug. 2019). “Murad encourages ‘pro-people, pro-environment’ mining in Bangsamoro”. Rappler. Retrieved from – https://www.rappler.com/nation/237422-murad-encourages-pro-people-environment-mining-bangsamoro
[2] https://www.learnreligions.com/islamic-phrases-assalamu-alaikum-2004285
All other quotes were transcribed by Marcelle P. Villegas from a recorded audio file.
This article was published by Philippine Resources Journal and can be found in this link:
https://www.philippine-resources.com/post/bangsamoro-chief-minister-at-the-ph-mining-club-luncheon