Agri masterplan up for Bangsamoro area

MANILA, Philippines — The government will craft a 10-year agricultural masterplan for the Bangsamoro region in a bid to increase productivity and reduce poverty in the area.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol said the agency is eying BARMM as a potential food and fisheries production area for the country.

The Department of Agriculture will join the Bangsamoro Autonomous Government Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform in preparing a 10-year agriculture masterplan with the aim of tapping the region’s resources, including its rich fishing grounds.

“The BARMM agriculture and fisheries masterplan is expected to be completed in less than two months with the DA using its available data and satellite maps to support the planning process,” Piñol said.

Two months ago, the DA committed to help BARMM Agriculture Minister Mohammad Yacob in drafting the region’s masterplan.

Piñol will present the framework of the masterplan, after which the DA and the BARMM Agriculture Ministry will convene a multi-sectoral workshop.

BARMM, which comprises Lanao Sulu, Maguindanao, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi and the city of Cotabato, has one of the highest poverty incidence rates among the country’s regions.

“This is in spite of the fact that the region possesses vast resources like Lake Lanao, Liguasan Marsh and the vast fishing grounds teeming with fish,” Piñol said.