Mindanao’s Development: A Response to Richard Heydarian’s Comparison

Recently, political analyst Richard Heydarian compared Mindanao’s Human Development Index (HDI) to that of Sub-Saharan Africa, while saying that Northern Luzon’s HDI is similar to Southern Europe. This statement raised concerns, but it’s important to understand the facts and what this really means for Mindanao.

Is Mindanao Really Like Sub-Saharan Africa?

First, let’s be clear: Mindanao is not at the same level as Sub-Saharan Africa when it comes to HDI.

• The Philippines’ overall HDI is about 0.699, which falls under the “medium human development” category.
• While some areas in Mindanao, especially conflict-affected places, have lower HDIs compared to other regions in the Philippines, they are still not as low as Sub-Saharan Africa, which has an average HDI of around 0.547 (considered “low human development”).

In fact, cities like Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and General Santos are growing fast and showing positive development in education, health, and income.

Why is There a Development Gap?

The reality is that Luzon, especially Metro Manila, has received more investments in infrastructure over the years—like better roads, airports, and public transport. These improvements help grow businesses and attract investments.

In Mindanao, progress has been slower. For example:

• Only about 70% of major roads in Mindanao are paved, compared to 82% in Luzon.
• Infrastructure projects in Mindanao often come later, leading to fewer opportunities for business and growth.

But despite the slower pace, the difference in HDI between Luzon and Mindanao isn’t that big. This shows that Mindanao has been developing, just not as quickly in terms of infrastructure.

Opportunities for Mindanaoan Cities

Even though Mindanao faces challenges, there are many reasons to be hopeful:

1. Government Projects – The government has started to focus more on Mindanao. Out of 194 big infrastructure projects planned for the Philippines, 76 are in Mindanao. Projects like the Mindanao Railway and the Davao Public Transport Modernization will help improve travel and business opportunities.
2. Strong Local Economies – Mindanao is known for agriculture and is one of the country’s biggest suppliers of bananas, pineapples, and other crops. Cities like Davao and Cagayan de Oro are also growing as business hubs.
3. Becoming More Competitive – Mindanaoan cities are working to attract more investments by improving their services, infrastructure, and business climate.

While Richard Heydarian’s comparison highlights the development gap in the country, it’s important to recognize that Mindanao is not as underdeveloped as Sub-Saharan Africa.

Yes, Mindanao needs more support and faster infrastructure development, but it is slowly but surely catching up. The region has strong potential, and with more investment and attention, Mindanaoan cities can continue to grow and improve the lives of their people.