MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led on Monday the inauguration of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project Stage II (MMIP II) in Pikit, Cotabato, a legacy of the administration to turn the province from a warzone to an economic hub as envisioned under “Bagong Pilipinas.”

In his speech, President Marcos said the MMIP II will not only supply water to the farmlands in Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces, but will also nourish peace and democracy the administration is pushing in conflict areas.

Since 2020, never-ending deadly gun attacks were reported in the barangays of Pikit Municipality where 60 people were killed in bloody clashes. The locality has been called the crime capital of region 12 owing to these violent incidents arising from clan wars.

“With this irrigation project, the land will become a fertile field of grain. It will bring many bountiful harvests, nourish many families and ensure their children will get their fair share of progress. It will put food on their plates, so that people may share their blessings at the table of peace,” President Marcos said.

“This irrigation would water not only the crops that we supply, but the peace that we want to take root in this land. Because peace and freedom must be tended and watered as well. Only then we can be assured that it will flourish and bear fruit for all,” he added.

President Marcos said the MMIP II is not only an agricultural project but also “a major infrastructure for peace and development.”

The irrigation project in Villarica, Midsayap is expected to supply water to over 10,000 hectares of farmland in Pikit and Aleosan in Cotabato Province and Pagalungan and Datu Montawal in Maguindanao, which is twice the size the city of Manila.

More than 4,000 farmers are expected to benefit from the project, including former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants, making their harvest abundant amid the prevailing El Niño phenomenon.

Apart from improving the lives of the farmers, the project is also instrumental in convincing the beneficiaries to stop the war and make it the peace zone area, a legacy in transforming this warzone into an economic zone.

Meanwhile, it was learned the MMIP II project was envisioned by former Ferdinand Marcos Sr. as a peace project of the government to raise agricultural productivity in socio economic development in the conflict areas of Mindanao.

“Nabuo ang plano ng proyektong ito sa panahon ng pamumuno ni dating Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. Na-kumpelto ito sa termino ng kanyang anak,” NIA Administrator Eddie Guille, referring to President Marcos Jr., said.

Before concluding his speech, President Marcos thanked the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the local government units (LGUs) and the stakeholders who helped in the realization of the project.

The chief executive also reminded the residents to take care of the “people-owned infrastructure” so that it will remain useful for the next generation. (PND)