Farmers buoyant as P5.1 billion NoCot irrigation system opens

Operation of the MMIP with water source from Maridagao River started right after its inauguration on April 29 led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr, North Cotabato Province governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, Rep. Samantha Taliño Santos, and National Irrigation Authority (NIA) administrator Engr. Eduardo Guillen.  This was confirmed by Mendoza in an interview prior the inauguration ceremony.

Ibrahim Harrom, president of Bago A Lupa Irrigators Association said MMIP 11 will help transform the four municipalities which used to be battlegrounds into centers of development.

MMIP 11 beneficiary Anthony Dinopol is thankful they can now till their farmlands with the opening of the irrigation system, which means more food on the table and a more decent life for the family.

Tanny Mandas, also a beneficiary said the irrigation facility is of great help to increase production and profit.

Up to 4,043 farmers/members of different Irrigators Associations stand to benefit from the MMIP 11 covering a total of 9,528 hectares of agricultural land in the municipalities of Pikit, Aleosan, Pangalungan of North Cotabato province, and Datu Montawal in Maguindanao del Sur under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao(BARMM).

Based on NIA’s projection, MMIP 11 will generate a projected harvest of more than 110 cavans of rice per hectare. This is equivalent to an average of 1 billion production value per year.

 The president in his speech said  MMIP II is not only an ordinary project that will provide good yield and profit to farmers, but it will also bring development to the project's beneficiaries.

“ With this irrigation project, the land will become a fertile field of grain. It will bring many bountiful harvests and nourish many families and ensure that their children will get their fair share of progress,”

 The president in an interview after the ceremony assured the farmer-beneficiaries will continue to receive government assistance to sustain their farmlands.

 “For this project, the DOLE will provide our farmer associations assistance through TUPAD program (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers) which they will use to establish smaller canals to get water from the big irrigation system. Apart from that, we will provide machinery, farm equipment, and postharvest facilities from PhilMech to help the farmers reduce production costs and increase their income,” the president said adding that the same thing will be done throughout the country in the wake of the El Nino phenomenon.

 In previous years, farmers used to pay for the use of irrigation systems put up by the government. This however changed now.

 Also in an interview, Guillen confirmed the farmers will use the irrigation facility for free and NIA will shoulder its maintenance. “Irrigation now is free. We are happy with this project.  With an irrigation facility we see the improvement of the farmers’ lives and ensure food security,” Guillen said.

Meanwhile, Mendoza sees the MMIP 11 as a big help for the peace and order situation in the areas served. “The farmers need water to help them improve their livelihood, thus, they will now focus on farming and there is no reason for them to join certain or other groups,” she said. The four municipalities used to be confronted with armed conflicts.  The skirmishes according to Mendoza had hampered the completion of MMIP Phase 2. The entire MMIP project started in 2001, she said.

She lauded various government agencies that worked hard to reach the completion of MMIP 11 despite all the challenges, particularly security.

 To sustain the beneficiaries’ farming,  she assured that concerned local government units will help NIA and the Department of Agriculture in terms of providing agricultural assistance to the farmers.

She also thanked the President. “Maraming, maraming salamat po mahal naming pangulo para sa lahat ng tulong ninyo sa lalawigan ng Cotabato.”

Cabinet members present during the inauguration include  Special Assistant to President Anton Lagdameo, Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Leo Magno, and DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., and other national and local officials. 

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr  opens the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project (MMIP) Stage 11 in Barangay Bagoinged, Pikit as North Cotabato Province Gov. Emmylou Talino-Mendoza and other officials look on. Photo Cotabato Province

Farmers beneficiaries of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project (MMIP) Stage 11 line up  for registration of government agricultural assistance. Photo NewsFort

Irrigation Project farmers/beneficiaries, News Fort photo

Media interview with the President. Photo Cotabato Province