Tom,
If it's in Gen. Santos itself, that would make sense. GenSan has grown a lot in the past few years, become a major fishing port and a possible outlet for the pineapples, etc. of South Cotabato. The facilities were badly overloaded already last time I was there, and that was 8-9 years ago. It would be a good candidate for a major infrastructure upgrade. A few years ago in rosier times there was a lot of talk (and money) revolving around a "growth triangle" based somewhat improbably around Mindanao, Sabah, and someplace I can't remember. I assume this project was part of that.
I still don't think there are any real military implications to it. If the VFA is signed they will use Subic or Manila. If it's not, they'll go elsewhere. GenSan is not actually in Muslim country, and the kidnapping/peace & order situation is better than it is in, say, Zamboanga, Cotabato, or Basilan, but I suspect the US military would view any port call in Mindanao as a serious security risk.
Thinking of the growth triangle puts me in mind of another of these lunatic "growth zone" projects, this one in the Ilocos region. I read through the plan, a voluminous tome concocted at vast public expense by an American consulting firm. It was clear that the entire plan would depend on "management efficiency" in "local government units". The consultants proposed to deal with the perceived lack of such efficiency by holding training seminars on financial management for local leaders!
Meat to the slaughter.
Steve |
