Buldon, Maguindanao! Turning A Battleground To Food Production Zone

On Wednesday, Nov. 17, I travelled to the mountain town of Buldon, Maguindanao, one of the towns comprising the sprawling Camp Abubakar, the main camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), to be part of the Kaagapay sa Kaunlaran Program of the 1st Marine Brigade of the Philippine Navy.

Along with Support Our Troops Phils., Inc. led by Anna Parreño, wife of former Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Alvin Parreño, I committed to support the program by providing Manok Pinoy free-range chicken breeders, Giant Bamboo planting materials, EVIARC Sweet Jackfruit Seedlings and others.

Arriving in the area, we were met by 1st Marine Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Jonas Lumawag and the mayor of Buldon, Abolais Manalao who I learned later is the grandson of the late mayor and strongman of Buldon, Bangon “Blackteeth” Aratuc whom I befriended when I was a young radio broacaster based in Cotabato City.

Considered as a critical area until after the signing of the peace agreement which led to the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, I discovered during my trip that Buldon is a hidden agricultural paradise.

With cool climate and rich fertile soil, Buldon is a prospective agricultural production area, especially vegetables.

I promised the people I would come back to help them realize that dream.

(This video was prepared by the media team of the Biyaheng Senado ni Manny Piñol)