What I thought earlier to be just a friendly visit by a son of Maguindanao del Sur Governor Datu Ali Midtimbang may yet turn out to be the start of the transformation of this former troubled province into a major food production area.
Yesterday, Datu Anggal Mayor Nathaniel Midtimbang, former Vice Governor during the previous administration, shared breakfast with me during which he bared his real intention: Seek my help in turning Maguindanao del Sur into a major agricultural production area.
It was a message which struck a soft spot in my heart because ever since I entered politics, first as Mayor of Mlang and later Governor of North Cotabato, I had always dreamed of seeing our neighbor province, then just one province known as Maguindanao, rise to achieve peace through the development of agriculture.
While my offer for help were not really given much attention by previous leaders, this effort by Mayor Nathaniel Midtimbang to reach out may just be the opening that I had waited for so long.
“Sabi ko kay Ama (his father, Gov. Datu Ali) na kung walang pagbabago na mangyayari sa tatlong taon na Governor sya, wala kaming karapatan na humingi ng suporta ng mga tao sa darating na eleksyon,” the young Mayor told me.
I agreed with him that turning Maguindanao del Sur into a major agricultural production area will not be easy because of so many factors, one of which is the image of the province as a dangerous area.
Rightly so.
People still remember the Ampatuan Massacre, the Mamasapano Massacre of the SAF 44, the recent disappearance of three goat traders from Batangas and the presence of four of the major camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Beyond this fearsome reputation as a conflict area, however, Maguindanao del Sur has the natural resources to help it rise from being the 3rd Poorest Province in Mindanao with a 43.3% Poverty Incidence to a Food Production Zone.
With a land area of 547,174 hectares, including a large part of the Liguasan Marsh, Maguindanao del Sur has very fertile land ideal for Corn, Sorghum and Soybeans farming.
These three cash crops could pave the way for the development of the Cattle and Goat Industry while its share of the Liguasan Marsh could be developed for freshwater Aquaculture.
Following our lengthy conversation, I pledged to Mayor Midtimbang that I will contribute to Maguindanao del Sur’s transformation from a Land of Conflict and Violence to a Zone of Prosperity and Peace.
Early this morning, I started working on an Agricultural Development Blueprint for Maguindanao del Sur which I will share with officials of the province led by Gov. Midtimbang.
This is not going to be hard or difficult because these plans and programs had been stored in my head and burning in my heart for years now.
