MINDANAO IS THE PHILIPPINES' Land of Promise, with its verdant mountains, fertile valleys, and rich seas. For the most part, however, it remains as a land of promises unrealized as a long history of neglect and conflict has rendered it the poorest of the three biggest contiguous areas in the country.
Helping fulfill the promise that is Mindanao is the Agri-Aqua Development Coalition. By bringing together people's organizations of farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples and peasant women, AADC seeks to
- Pursue coalition building in three levels-local, sectoral, and regional-and steer people's organizations to undertake collective action when solving community problems;
- Develop programs and other appropriate interventions for the realization of the SPBU at the community level;
- Create venues where government and community folks can interact and work for the common good; and,
- Build a culture of solidarity in the communities and within the organization and promote the values of unity, trust, and interdependence.
“We are committed to pursue reforms in government and ensure people’s participation is genuine and meaningful. We bind ourselves to consolidate the people into coalitions that work for change and for the development of the community. We strive to effect progression within the ranks of the rural poor through the implementation of our banner program, Community Economic Development (CED), where ... government, private sector and civil society are mobilized by a common interest to work for the efficient use of resources, such as natural, financial and human, towards economic growth and equity including environmental protection,”
says Agnes Bolaños, Administrator.
