Political analyst Richard Heydarian’s recent remarks comparing the Human Development Index (HDI) of different Philippine regions to those of Southern Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa have sparked a firestorm of debate. While his intention may have been to highlight stark disparities in development, his comparison paints a misleading and incomplete picture of the reality on the ground.
The data clearly show that no region in the Philippines, including Luzon, comes close to the HDI levels of Southern Europe. Even the National Capital Region (NCR), the most developed part of the country, only registers an HDI of 0.743—far below Spain’s 0.911 or even North Macedonia’s 0.765. Meanwhile, Mindanao’s HDI scores, though lower than Luzon’s, are not anywhere near the worst-performing Sub-Saharan African nations. For example, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the lowest-ranking region in the Philippines, has an HDI of 0.629—higher than Nigeria’s 0.548 or Niger’s dismal 0.381. Clearly, the Philippines as a whole is struggling with development, not just Mindanao.
Colonial Exploitation and Historical Neglect
One crucial context missing from this discussion is the historical baggage that has led to these disparities. Southern Europe, despite suffering from economic crises in recent decades, has had centuries of wealth accumulation—much of it built on the backs of their former colonies. Spain and Portugal, for instance, extracted vast amounts of resources from their colonial territories, including the Philippines. The economic and social progress these nations enjoy today was, in part, financed by centuries of exploitation and oppression in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The Philippines, in contrast, has been forced to rebuild itself from the ruins of colonial plunder. After World War II, development efforts disproportionately focused on Luzon, particularly Metro Manila, while Mindanao was largely left behind. Unlike Luzon, which was able to concentrate on economic recovery, Mindanao continued to struggle with armed conflicts—first with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), then the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and later the persistent insurgency of the New People’s Army (NPA). While Luzon moved forward with infrastructure projects and urban expansion, Mindanao was burdened with war, displacement, and underdevelopment.
Land Grabs and Economic Exploitation
Adding insult to injury, the historical land settlement policies of the Philippine government further marginalized Mindanao’s Indigenous and Muslim populations. Under the National Land Settlement Authority (NLSA), vast tracts of ancestral land in Mindanao were given to settlers from Luzon and the Visayas, displacing local communities and exacerbating ethnic tensions. These policies prioritized economic migrants over Indigenous groups, creating long-term socio-political strife that persists to this day.
Despite being sidelined in national development efforts, Mindanao remains the country’s agricultural backbone. According to the Asian Development Bank, 40% of the Philippines’ total food production comes from Mindanao. It produces:
- 87% of the country’s pineapples
- 78% of its bananas
- 75% of its cassava
- 60% of coconut and copra exports
- 41% of the country’s goats
- 36% of the country’s cattle
- Nearly half of the national gold reserves
The irony is glaring: Mindanao, the so-called “Sub-Saharan Africa” of the Philippines, provides food, raw materials, and wealth for the very regions that have historically neglected and exploited it. Without Mindanao, Luzon would struggle to sustain itself.
The Path Forward: Recognizing and Rectifying Historical Injustices
It is time to abandon the outdated mindset that views Mindanao as a peripheral region in need of charity. The region is not a burden—it is an economic powerhouse that has been shackled by systemic neglect and historical injustice. Rather than drawing misleading comparisons to Southern Europe or Sub-Saharan Africa, policymakers must focus on bridging the developmental divide between Luzon and Mindanao.
Key steps include:
- Massive Infrastructure Investment – Developing roads, ports, and transport systems to integrate Mindanao’s economy more effectively with national and international markets.
- Peace and Security Initiatives – Strengthening governance structures and supporting Bangsamoro’s autonomy to maintain stability.
- Land Reform and Indigenous Rights Protection – Ensuring land ownership is fair and that Indigenous peoples are not further marginalized.
- Education and Technological Advancement – Expanding access to quality education and technology-driven industries beyond traditional agriculture.
- Local Empowerment – Allowing Mindanaoans to lead their own development, rather than imposing Manila-centric policies.
For too long, Mindanao has fed the nation while being treated as its backyard. It is time to recognize the region’s true value—not as a laggard to be compared with Africa, but as a resilient, resource-rich land that deserves equitable growth and development. The Philippines cannot progress if it continues to neglect its southern heartland. Mindanao does not need pity—it needs investment, justice, and respect.
