MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday promised continued support to farmers in Mindanao by providing them farm machineries and equipment as well as irrigation systems and technologies to boost their production.

“Kukuha tayo ng mga makinarya, ng mga equipment… farm equipment, kasama na diyan ‘yung tractor, ‘yung mga post harvest facility. Para mas maganda ang hanap-buhay ng ating mga farmer,” President Marcos said during a media interview after leading the inauguration on an irrigation project in Cotabato.

“At hindi na sila masyadong nag-aalala at mas mababa pa ang production cost para mas malaki naman ang kita nila. This is the same thing that we’ve been trying to do all around the country.”

And with regard the current El Ñino phenomenon, President Marcos said the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) plays a key role in government preparations.

According to the President, when the weather bureau released a forecast of a strong El Ñino, the agency was tasked to focus on the country’s irrigation system.

Starting in November last year, the government prioritized the irrigation systems, dams and impounding pools, which later paid off with a much better agriculture production during the latest harvest season.

“Kaya’t kahit papano the irrigated areas— siyempre bababa ang ani natin dahil walang tubig. Ngunit sa mga area na may patubig mas tumaas ang production rate natin. Mas malaki ang mga tons per hectare sa mga irrigation dahil marami tayong bagong ginagawa,” the President said.

“So, ang susi talaga rito ay palawakin ang irrigation system. At ‘yun ang ginagawa natin. Isang magandang halimbawa itong ating binuksan ngayong araw,” he added.

President Marcos was in Cotabato to lead the inauguration of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project Stage II (MMIP II). (PND)