by Arnold Garbanzos

Baloi plays a very strategic role in the Lanao provinces. It is a municipality that straddles between two of its key cities-Iligan and Marawi. It is a municipality that balances the Christians and Muslims of the area. 

Baloi is the home of Newtech Pulp, a major abaca business and NPC’s Agus 5.

Baloi is also the home of the Baloi Airport otherwise known as the Iligan airport. The municipality therefore is designed and destined to be a trade destination for travellers all over Mindanao. It can be a jump off point from Northern Mindanao to Southern Mindanao. 

With its vast lands and rich water resources Baloi can be the hub of the BIMP EAGA in Northern Mindanao. 

BIMP EAGA stands for Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asean Growth Area. A trade and economic area with no less than $ 300 billion in business potential. 

Take note that not one City or place in Northern Mindanao owns the title “BIMP EAGA hub of Northern Mindanao”. It might as well be Baloi in Lanao Del Norte. Also being a close neighbor to the only Islamic City in the country, Baloi rightly deserves the distinction.

One of the reasons why Davao grew as a City is because it is the “Southern Mindanao hub of the BIMP EAGA”. There you will find the embassies and consulates of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. With these three Muslim nations nestled right in the heart of Davao we find a robust and dynamic trade between Davao and these 3 Muslim nations. This can also happen to Baloi and its two major neighboring Cities-Iligan and Marawi. This will bring peace and prosperity to the area in shaa Allah.

Other than trade,  tourism and technology transfer is one of the hallmarks of the BIMP EAGA concept. 

Recently I heard the Dimaporo siblings in Congress are passing House Bill 2659 to make Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao Del Norte a BIMP EAGA international ship and trading post. Being very near to the island of Borneo and its open seas. 

The same direction can also be taken for Baloi. But this time through an international air interconnectivity route using the existing facilities of the Baloi Airport. This airport by the way must be improved and expanded with the help of the budget of the CAAP and the DOTC. 

If Baloi is interested in this economic direction then the local government can decide to donate lands for the BIMP EAGA Center in the area. This center will house the ambassadorial and consular residences,  the consulates and offices of the 3 Muslim nations. The donation would be a good investment in exchange for the tremendous economic activity it will bring to the area. I do hope Mayor Ali heeds the suggestion.

By making Baloi the hub, the rich Maranao culture and products of the Lanao provinces can have a huge market in these 3 nations. Palapa,  malong,  palapa,  bakas,  marang and other unique Maranao products can be traded. 

Making Baloi the hub will also jump-start the economic development of the MIRAIC area,  which connects Baloi to Matungao and Linamon. The 70 hectare MIRAIC special zone will house 200 locators. They might as well come from the BIMP EAGA nations and generate many jobs for the people of Lanao. 

By making Baloi the BIMP EAGA air port hub in Northern Mindanao will also jump-start the economic progress of Iligan as a commercial and industrial post for these 3 nations, while Marawi can become the academic and tourism post for Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. Thus fulfilling the vision of its founding fathers -Senator Tomas Cabili and Cong Ali Dimaporo. 

The halal industry would flourish and exchange of ideas and expertise would be facilitated. 

What I would like to see is the Maranao culture rise as a major tourist attraction. Making the Maranaos dollar earners in their very own territory.  One would be proud to see the singkil dance every day before a huge and fascinated international crowd. Pater I think as a food item will become popular. Plus the roti with its various flavors. 

I heard the family of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo are putting up an international convention center and hotel facility in the two hectare  land they donated to Iligan. This convention center and hotel would be a great beneficiary of the move to make Baloi the Northern Mindanao hub of the BIMP EAGA. The Macapagal property is a 20 minute drive from Baloi using the MIRAIC highway. 

Other than this the family is putting up a Tri-people Peace Museum on their property. Showcasing the rich history of Muslim, Christian and IP relationship. There will be three major exhibition halls in the proposed Museum.  There will be a Bantogen Hall to showcase the Tri people heroes of Lanao. The Ashtiname Hall to showcase the kind and generous acts made by Muslims towards the Christians. And a St. Francis Hall showcasing the kind and generous acts of the Christians towards the Muslim community.  There will also be a Salsilah (genealogy) hall showcasing and outlining the lineages and genealogy of major Lanao families, most prominently the Macapagals, Cabilis, Dimaporos, Lluchs, Badelleses, Alontos, Lucmans etc.

Baloi by being the hub of the BIMP EAGA in the area can be the nucleus of progress and peace building in the area. 

Trade of water for oil between Lanao and Brunei can also happen. This possibility has always been a dream and can come true once a trading post is established between Baloi-Iligan and the 3 nations. One barrel of oil for two barrels of fresh water would not be a bad exchange. 

Baloi and Lanao del Norte must catch the idea before other LGUs do. The Council of Baloi must make a move and seek the help of the Province of Lanao Del Norte to make this happen. 

Hope this idea will help alleviate or put a closure to the decades old Iligan-Baloi boundary dispute. Most importantly Baloi will rise economically and its people become productive. 

On the other hand, Baloi holds a very special place in our hearts for the Rotary club of Iligan. It is there we donated hospital equipment worth almost a million. It is also the place where we donated books for the Mumongan Academy owned by the Mackno and Doro family. 

It is my prayer that we see it rise as a municipality that balances Christian and Muslim culture alike. 

May Allah swt grant the dreams of the people of Lanao.  My salaam to all.