International groups announce development project in the Philippines

SOME 1.2 million acres of the world’s biologically diverse undeveloped lands will be the site of new projects to be led by a partnership consisting of the Global Action Platform, Global Partnership for Sustainable Solutions (GPSS) and the Indigenous People's Economic Union (IPEU). These organizations recently inked a 25-year agreement for integrated economic, social, and environmental development for the CARAGA region, a group of provinces located south of the Philippines. 

According to Global Action Platform, the objective will be to push shared value economy for CARAGA residents through sustainable global businesses, among which are extensive agricultural projects on cocoa, coffee, bananas, coconut and corn.

It is said the projects are in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and will create a new global standard for comprehensive economic/environmental/social development that can be replicated.

“Our goal is to set a new global standard for sustainable development in underdeveloped and rural regions.  We will work for scalable, sustainable solutions for abundant food, health, and prosperity and align the projects with the new Sustainable Development Goals, just launched by the United Nations,” According to Dr. Scott T. Massey, Chairman and CEO, Global Action Platform.

Bryan Thomas and Jonathan Gershon, GPSS, said, “With our global networks and business expertise, GPSS will identify and vet socially and environmentally responsible companies and impact investors for a multi-stakeholder strategy.”

According to Sultan Kapun-on Mamakow Makapandong Julius Salahay Mabandos V, titular leader of the IPEU, “This partnership is a tremendous opportunity for our people and the world.  For the last 500 years, the indigenous people of the Philippines have been disenfranchised and have suffered hardship and deprivation in the midst of rich natural endowments. Today, we are taking our destiny into our own hands.  In forming this agreement between the IPEU and GPSS, we look to a brighter future.”

The partnership believes the scope and scale of their integrated initiative can become a paradigm for other regions and nations throughout Southeast Asia and the world. For this endeavor to be successful, the partnership calls on the cooperation, collaboration and investment of other foundations, governments, development funds, impact investors and corporations.

The CARAGA, created through Republic Act Number 7901 on 25 February 1995, is composed of five provinces namely Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur; six (6) cities: Butuan,Cabadbaran, Bayugan, Surigao,Tandag and Bislig ; sixty-seven (67) municipalities and 1,308 barangays. Butuan City is the regional center.¹

Interested parties may contact Dr. Scott Massey by email: stmassey@GlobalActionPlatform.org, Bryan Thomas - Bryan@L-evate.com or Jonathan Gershon - jonathan@gpfcapital.com.

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¹http://www.nnc.gov.ph/regional-offices/caraga/58-region-caraga-profile/322-caraga-region-history-and-geography