AMAI MANABILANG, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The administrator and chief executive officer of the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) said the newly launched Agro-Industrial Development Program (AIDP) for the municipalities of Wao and Amai Manabilang will bring a windfall of benefits to the two municipalities.

Administrator Abdulghani Salapuddin said the AIDP which brought in two international companies, the Asia Pacific Precision Agriculture Group (ASPAC AG) and the Kennemer Foods International, will generate employment for the local population and tax revenue for the local government.

"This will bring financial benefits to the two municipalities, and the province of Lanao del Sur, and the BARMM generally because ASPAC AG and Kennemer will be paying their local taxes," he said.

Local farmers, on the other hand, can learn the technology and plant the same crops that the company is producing and sell it to them.

"They don't have to worry about marketing their products kasi kahit gaano kalaki [no matter how big] the company has the capacity to absorb," he further said.

Salapuddin said the AIDP will also facilitate the transfer of modern agriculture technology and engineering.

According to him,  SPDA intends to establish an agriculture technology and training institute, and when this is completed, they will invite colleges and universities in Mindanao to have a tie-up program between SPDA and their College of Agriculture so their students can come, observe, learn and immerse themselves in the precision agriculture technology employed by both ASPAC AG and Kennemer Foods International.

"In that way, we instill in the minds of the youth that modern agriculture with the aid of modern technology and machine can make farming easier and convenient," he said.

With this, the SPDA administrator called on residents and the local governments involved to support the program by maintaining peace and order in their areas.

"Together let us make this happen. Pinaplano pa lang ito sa Luzon pero nagawa na natin. Ang mahalaga lang ay paano natin mapursige at masustain [This is still being planned in Luzon but we have already done it. All that matters is how we persevere and sustain]," he added. (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur)