By Manny Piñol
A Bangsamoro Group representing owners of 7,000-hectares of land in and around the main base of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Camp Abubakar, today signed an agreement with a corporation backed by Russian and Swiss investors for the development of the area for midland and highland bananas.
The signing in the Office of the Secretary was witnessed by Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, MILF Central Committee member Eduard Guerra and DA Undersecretary for Special Concerns Waldo Carpio.
The Bangsamoro Group was represented by former Buldon Mayor Taungan Macasandag and former Vice Mayor Nasrudin Maluag while Philippine-based French-Russian businessman Robert Gaspar represented TechIron Resources, Inc. and Solway Group.
Both TechIron Resources, Inc. and Solway Group have interests in mining and minerals but are now venturing into Agriculture and Aquaculture in the Philippines targeting the Russian market.
The project, estimated at P8-B, will be first and biggest investment in the Bangsamoro Area following the signing and ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
When fully operational, the project is expected to provide work for at least 10,000 people, many of whom former cadres and combatants.
The signed agreement would allow the investors’ group to conduct surveys, soil tests and aerial mapping of the area.
The survey team will proceed to Camp Abubakar on Monday, Jan. 28 and stay there for one week.
The Bureau of Soils and Water Management and the Information and Communications Technology Service of the Department of Agriculture will assist in the soil survey, aerial mapping and geo-referencing.
A private Solar-Irrigation group will join the team to determine sources of water because the investors intend to use irrigation facilities in the plantation.
The results of the survey and aerial mapping will be submitted to the Agriculture Secretary for validation.
The two groups have agreed to launch the project on Feb. 16 in Camp Abubakar targeting an initial 1,000-hectares for development.
Gaspar said Russian and Swiss principals are expected to arrive for the signing of the Joint Venture Agreement and the launching of the project.
“This is our modest contribution to the efforts of President Rody Duterte to bring peace and development to Mindanao,” Gaspar said.
(Photos by Alan Jay Jacalan and Mayette Tudlas)
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