President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday led the launch of the Antong Dam and Irrigation System in Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat, a P1-billion infrastructure project expected to improve water supply for thousands of hectares of farmland in Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato.
The project, located in Barangay Manili, is designed to irrigate up to 3,000 hectares of rice fields and restore agricultural productivity in areas affected by flooding in 2021. Officials said the system will help stabilize farm output and support income recovery among farmer-beneficiaries.
The President inspected the facility and later joined farmers for a “boodle lunch” before proceeding to Koronadal City for a series of government program launches and assistance distributions.
In Koronadal, Marcos led the rollout of the “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” program and turned over Socio-Civic Project Fund assistance worth P40 million to the provincial government of South Cotabato and P96 million to Cotabato province.
He also met with presidential scholars, barangay officials, and local leaders from both provinces during the visit.
Government agencies likewise showcased ongoing social protection and food security initiatives, including the Department of Agriculture’s Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty Program and the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Walang Gutom Program.
Officials said the Walang Gutom Program currently supports thousands of families in South Cotabato, including 7,728 households in Surallah, and is targeted for expansion to cover up to 600,000 food-poor households nationwide this year.
The administration said the combined infrastructure and social programs aim to strengthen rural livelihoods, improve agricultural resilience, and expand access to basic services in vulnerable communities.