Marcos vows to transform Mindanao into bastion of peace, economic progress

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said a series of transformative projects are already underway in Mindanao as his administration aims to foster economic growth and sustainable development in the region.

During the inauguration of the San Miguel mega poultry farm in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur, Marcos vowed to transform Mindanao as a "bastion not only of peace and security but also of progress and food sufficiency in the years ahead."

"I assure (…) the private sector and our people in Hagonoy and the rest of Mindanao, that we still have many initiatives including big-ticket projects in store for the island," Marcos said.

"The government will continue to pursue infrastructure projects and other endeavors that will sustain the socio-economic growth of the entire island of Mindanao and with that the rest of the country," Marcos added.

Marcos also promised to deal with the region's farming problems, such as the cases of Avian flu and Panama disease.

He continued that infrastructural initiatives like the Mindanao railway project would spur regional interconnection.

Marcos joins calls to preserve Mt. Apo

In the same speech, Marcos joined calls to protect Mt. Apo as it tries to get on the list of world heritage places maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

"We are also one with the people in the call for the preservation and conservation of nearby Mt. Apo as we vie for its inclusion in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) list of World Heritage Sites," Marcos said.

With an area of 54,974 hectares, Mount Apo was made a Natural Park in 2003 by Republic Act No. 9237, also called the Mt. Apo Protected Area Act.

As well as being an ASEAN Heritage Site, it is on the UN List of National Parks and Equivalent Reserves.

With a height of 2,956 meters above sea level, Mt. Apo is the highest peak in the Philippines.

There are three towns in its 64,000-hectare land area, which is spread out over Regions 11 and 12.

*Marcos asks RSA to invest further in Mindanao*

Meanwhile, Marcos thanked Ramon Ang for investing in Mindanao through the newly inaugurated Magnolia Poultry Farm in Hagonoy.

In the same speech, Marcos said Ang became the government's reliable partner through investments in food, beverages, infrastructure, and other sectors, aligning perfectly with this administration's socioeconomic agenda.

Marcos also expressed his optimism that he would also consider expanding his company in Mindanao.

"When I was listening to you and you mentioned that you were thinking of establishing something in Maguindanao, I believe it's a good idea to set up, not necessarily in Maguindanao, but in a (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) province," Marcos said.

"This way, we can help the BARMM government, provide livelihood opportunities, ensure a stable food supply, generate economic growth, and ultimately contribute to the stability of the BARMM region," he added.