In Liguasan Marsh! True And Lasting Peace Begins In The Stomach

Bakat, Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao – Yesterday, I ventured into the young town of Rajah Buayan in Maguindanao accompanied by Agriculture Undersecretary Datu Zamzamin Ampatuan and organic farmer leader Renato dela Cruz to look into the potentials of the area for Sorghum farming and inland aquaculture.
Rajah Buayan is a small town with an area of only 7,198 hectares and a very high poverty incidence of over 70% as of 2018 but it holds resources which could make it a model for rural development among the towns in the periphery of the 250,000-hectare Liguasan Marsh.
The flatlands are ideal for rice, corn and Sorghum farming, which to my great surprise was planted by the farmers in the area in the early 70s locally known as “Bantar,” and the vast marshlands for aquaculture.
The only issues which hamper the development of the historic town which was visited by American Governor General William Howard Taft in March 1901 to settle a conflict in the Sultanate of Buayan are the very poor and bad road infrastructure and its proximity to Mamasapano where the tragedy of the SAF 44 happened on Jan. 25, 2015.
Today, except for the occasional sightings of the members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the town is peaceful.
In fact, yesterday, as part of the coordination protocols, I did not only meet with the Mayor of the town, Yacob Ampatuan, older brother of Usec Zamzamin, but also with the local Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Commander Nuran Ali Utto, great grandson of the Sultan sa Buayan, Datu Utto.
Commander Nuran, an engineering graduate of the Mindanao State University, said he welcomed the Sorghum project as he hoped it would provide income for the owners of idle lands in the area.
He also expressed great interest on fish cage farming for Tilapia in the many rivers of the town, including Dansalan River.
“Maganda itong project ninyo Sec. kasi pagkain. Dyan talaga sa tiyan magsisimula ang totoong kapayapaan,” Commander Nuran told me when I visited his base.
(This is a beautiful project Sec because it is about food. It is really in the stomach where true peace comes farm.)
If all goes well, the Sorghum farming program in over 2,000 hectares of idle land in the town will start as soon as there is a let up in the rains starting November.
#PeaceStartsInTheStomach!
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!