DAVAO CITY (PIA) -- Heads and representatives of foreign chambers of commerce with presence in Mindanao fully supports a survey conducted by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) which delves on the level of confidence of the residents and visitors to Mindanao on their overall safety and security.

The scientific survey on Mindanao’s perceptions among its peoples revealed high marks on people’s trust on the police, respect of police to the community, and overall satisfaction on the police services to secure the community.

“This is a first step and a great step that we have, an initial movement towards having big investments from Japan,” said Keisuke Nakao, the president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Mindanao.

According to Antonio Peralta, the chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines Southern Mindanao, the survey is very important as the results will be used in the decision making of the business sector whether or not they will be investing in Mindanao.

“This is a very important document, previously we did not have any basis except what the media will say,” added Peralta, who is also the current honorary consul of Finland.

Nakao echoed Peralta’s view that previously the potential investors have no reliable study to make decisions on investing in Mindanao.

“We are only given the local sensational news carried by the national media and we consider it as the entire picture of Mindanao, including Davao, and we see the whole Mindanao as very dangerous and not a safe place, hence, many companies hesitate to send their representative to make research or pre-investment study,” Nakao said.

For Sven Toune, the General Manager of Park Inn by Radisson Davao, the results of the survey should be communicated to more businessmen particularly during the upcoming Davao Investment Conference set on July 17-19.

“I really think the study can be very useful to attract more people to Mindanao,” Toune said.

the survey results should be disseminated to foreign investors as Mindanao is a different region 15 or 20 years ago.

“Mindanao is very different now compared to 15-20 years ago but again if the perception is not changed then the travel advisories they have issued in the past, will still carry on what they have learned from the past. So this survey is a really good first step by MinDA,” Claudio said.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson Secretary Maria Belen Acosta said the study was meant to guide the local government units and private sector on safety and security.

“This is a very good indicator when we invite investors and they want statistics we will be able to show them how high the trust index is especially here in Mindanao and relatively we have higher trust index compared to other parts of the Philippines,” Acosta said.

She stressed that the study will be done on a regular basis and also converge regularly to they can communicate to the stakeholders particularly the business community to give them the reference points that will help them in deciding to invest in the region. (RGA/PIA XI)