By Manny Piñol
Camp Abubakar, Buldon, Maguindanao – A Russian business group is eyeing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) main enclave of Camp Abubakar in the boundaries of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur for investments in a midland and highland Cavendish Banana Project estimated at P8-B.
The Russian business group represented in the Philippine by French-Russian businessman Robert Gaspar is also looking into Aquaculture production in the Polloc Cove off the town of Parang, Maguindanao as another investment area.
Today, I and Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu joined the Russian Business Group in an actual inspection of the proposed Banana Plantation area in Barangay Oring, Buldon, Maguindanao.
MILF Central Committee member Ed Guerra and former Buldon Vice Mayor Hadji Nasruddin Maluag welcomed our group which arrived on board two helicopters.
Iranun landowners also joined the briefing made by Hadji Maluag for the visiting group.
Hadji Maluag said the available area for agricultural development is 5,000 hectares for midland and 2,000 hectares for highland bananas.
With a development estimated at P1.2-M per hectare, the Russian investment is estimated at P8-B.
“I never thought I would see a plain area as vast as this with very good soil and so many rivers,” Gaspar said as we were flying over what was once a battlefield where many soldiers and MILF fighters lost their lives.
Gaspar said he is excited with what he saw, including the clean blue waters of the Polloc Cove which Gov. Mangudadatu said has been identified as a mariculture park of the province.
The Russian Business Group, he said, has expressed interest in investing in the Philippines following the visit of President Rody Duterte to Moscow in May 2017 and his succeeding engagements with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The DA through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has already facilitated the entry of at least three Philippine companies involved in fisheries into the Russian market.
“Everything that we will produce here, especially bananas and sea products will have a waiting market in Russia,” Gaspar said.
Following the successful visit to the area, a formal meeting has been arranged at the Department of Agriculture (DA) Central Office on Jan. 24.
The meeting, which will be attended by the MILF Central Committee member Ed Guerra and leaders of the landowners and representatives of the Russian business group, will discuss the arrangements between the investors and the landowners.
The project is expected to employ about 10,000 workers, most of whom former rebel combatants and their children.
(Photos by Mayette Tudlas.)
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