GMA to inaugurate Malmar bridge today

President Arroyo is set to inaugurate today the bridge and siphon component of the P3.18-billion Malitubog-Maridagao (Malmar) irrigation project in Mindanao.

Agriculture Secretary Luisito Lorenzo, presidential assistant Marita Jimenez, National Irrigation Administration head Jesus Emmanuel Paras and Japanese Ambassador Kojiro Takano will assist the President in the inauguration ceremonies.

Expected to be on hand are officials of Maguindanao and Cotabato which will be linked by the bridge. Among them are Maguindanao Rep. Guiamid Matalam, Cotabato Rep. Emylou Talino-Santos, North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol, Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan, as well as town mayors of the project area and farmer beneficiaries.

The Malmar irrigation project is a major development and peace initiative of the government funded by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) under a loan agreement amounting to ¥4,867 billion.

The project took 14 years to complete because the project area was a veritable war zone between the military and the Moro National Liberation Front (MILF).

The bridge, 100 meters long and six meters wide, connects Maguindanao and North Cotabato and spans the narrow strait between Barangay Gocotan in Pikit, North Cotabato, and Barangay Kilangan in Pagalungan, Maguindanao.

The siphon on the other hand diverts water to irrigate some 4,278 hectares in Pikit for Stage I. For Stage II, another 7,619 hectares in Pikit and 1,142 hectares in Pagalungan will be served. When completed, it will irrigate a total of 19,601 hectares of productive farmland benefiting and total of 10,389 families in the area.

The President inaugurated the diversion dam on Sept. 22 2001 with CETIC Corp., a construction firm for the People’s Republic of China as contractor. The original contractor, Shinsung Corp. of South Korea, was unable to proceed with the project due to the peace and order situation.

In a related issue, two warring clans were disputing ownership of some 200 hectares of land in the area.

In an effort to get the construction finished, Congressman Matalam, MNLF commander Datu Dima Ambil, and project manager Noldin S. Oyod, called on the two warring clans to settle their claims in a peaceful manner and impressed on the two groups that the project will ensure food sufficiency, generate jobs, and raise income.