After the peace deal - hopes for a better future.<br/> <br />Residents in the Philippines' resource-rich southern Mindanao region - where more than 120,000 have been killed in a 40-year conflict between Muslim insurgents and the government - are hopeful that last week's peace agreement will pave the way for an economic revival.<br/> <br />Businessmen Abdul Kahar Nul is building an upscale hotel and a mall offering the area's first modern cinema.<br/> <br />He says the agreement is a big deal for him as he's been waiting for the opportunity to expand his business.<br/> <br />Mindanao has an estimated $312 billion in mineral reserves including gold, copper and nickel.<br/> <br />Asian Development Bank's country director Neeraj Jain says the peace deal is a game changer.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK COUNTRY DIRECTOR FOR PHILIPPINES, NEERAJ JAIN, SAYING:<br/> <br />"So the expectation that that area of Mindanao, a very large and resource-rich area of Mindanao, will finally see peace and political stability -- by itself will generate expectations".<br/> <br />The landmark deal between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government will see Muslim-majority areas transformed into a self governing political entity called Bangsamoro, by 2016.<br/> <br />But the south's volatile politics could still hamper the plans with a breakaway group already vowing to continue fighting for an independent Islamic state.
