Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

The Land and Its Potentials

Located in the Southwest part of the Philippines, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is composed of the mainland provinces of Magujindanao, Lanao del Sur and island provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan.

The region has a total land area of 11,996.47 square kilometers, representing about 4.0 percent of its 1,032,000 labor force is engaged in agriculture.

It has a climate that is conducive to year round crop production due to moderate and even distribution of rainfull throughout the year. ARMM has dry and wet seasons and generally spared from typhoons.

Along with commercial and industrial potentials, the region's comparative advantage lies in agriculture and fisheries pertinent regional laws were made to encourage large companies to invest on the development of the region's vast tracts of undercultivated lands and marine resources. The heartland of Maguindanao is marshy and fertile flatlands suitable to rice, corn, vegetables and other commercial crops. Like the other three provinces, Maguindanao has wide coconut and cassava plantatins for commercial or industrial purposes.

The vast coastline of Sulu has abundant coral reef rich in marine resources. With Tawi-Tawi, Sulu produces around 72% of the country's seaweeds. Pearl is one of the bounties coming from the deep vast Sulu Sea, the bearer of the world's largest pearl called "THE PEARL OF ALLAH". Coconut, cassava, abaca and the exotic durian and mangosteen abound in its rolling hills.

Lanao del Sur has existing large cassava and coconut plantations that showcase the potentials of the rest of its areas for extensive cultivation. Lanao Lake, the country's second biggest not only provides the whole of Mindanao mainland with dyroelectric power but it can irrigate the vast flatlands of the province.

Tawi-Tawi defines the boundary between the Philippines and East Malaysia. It produces the bulk of the country' seaweeds. Other marine potentials are culture of pearl, mussels, oysters, lobster and groupers. Its land is also suitable for rice, corn and fruit trees.

Although the regions agricultural and fishery resources are relatively underdeveloped due to past socio-political situations of the area, the region now has an array of fast-emerging agricultural and fishery industries. It is the country's top producer of carrageenan-bearing seaweeds. Mangosteen, durian, cassava and one of the five leading regions in corn production. The much sought after-yellow Fin Tuna abounds in Sulu sea which is rated as one of the richest fishing ground in the world. Plantation-scale production of banana, durian, mango and other high-value crops is becoming a trend. MAGUINDANAO

The province of Maguindanao can be divided into two physiographic units. There are the southwest cluster and Maguindanao lowland. The southwest mountain clusters include the two big groups of mountain elevation: Binace and Bilit. They are separated by the valley of MTUGAR RIVER which flow northwest into Moro Gulf and Liwasid River which flow into the Mindanao Sea. The Maguindanao lowland includes the north extremity of Cotabato basin northeast of the provincial highlands. The area is generally sloping from the foot of hills to relatively flat as it approaches the sea and materials derived from the weathering and erosion of adjacent emergent land mass.

The biggest and longest river in Maguindanao is the Rio Grande de Mindanao. The northeast boundary of the province and as much the west banks are within the province, jurisdiction.

This river meanders withflood rains developed at place together with extensive delta, which makes it immediate vicinity marshy. It drains westward into the Mindanao Sea. Several smaller streams and creeks are perennial type while the rest are intermittent.

The province falls under Type IV characterized by more or less even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. Its climate is comfortable. The average temperature range from 25.9 degree centigrade to 26.5 degree centigrade. The coldest months are from November to January.

The soil of the province is classified into various types according to land forms and landscapes. There are various broad landform types based on topography, location, elevation and morphology like plains, hills and mountains.

Agricultural areas 154,708 has. Expansion areas 75,575 has. Rehabilitation areas 89,181 has. Preservation areas 96,727 has. Wetland areas 72,293 has. Misc. areas 16,276 has. Total 504,760 has.

Climate:

Type IV- characterized by rainfalls are evenly distributed throughout the year

Temperature - 25 degree celcius

Annual rainfall 1,200 mm

LANAO DEL SUR

Generally, the topography of the provinces is 60% rolling and 40% plain. It is gifted eith enormous water bodies with Lake Lanao as the biggest. Among its big rivers are those of Masiu, Taraka, Rugnan, Ramain, and Lalabuan. There are also other smaller rivers which could be tapped for irrigation purpose.

The climate of the province is classified as Type IV which is characterized by more or less even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. Dry season is observed during the months from January to March and maximum rain period is from may to October.

The mean temperature of the provinve is from 21 to 27 degree centigrade.

The soil type prevailing in the province are silt, loam and Las Catellanas Complex. Specifically, the municipalities of Masiu, Butig Lumbutan, Lumbayanague, Bayang, Binidayan, Gannassi, Pualas, Sultan Gumander, Malabang, Calanugas, Marogong, Balabagan, Kapatagan, Wao, Bumbaran, Madalum and Madamba have silt loam soil type. The clay loam soil type are found in the municipalities of Ramain, Bubong, Buadipuso-Buntong, Mulndo, Taraka, Tamparan, Poona Bayabao, Lumba Bayabao, and Maguing. Adtaya clay loam soil type is prevalent in the Municipalities of Saguiaran, Piagapo, Tugaya, Balindong and Bacolod Grande, the soil type is La Castellana Complex.

Agricultural areas …………………………….42,153 has. Expansion areas ……………………………... 54,403 has. Rehabilitation areas …………………………..55,508 has. Preservation areas …………………………...226,503 has. Wetland areas …………………………………..2,515 has. Misc areas ………………………………………6,208 has. Total …………………………………………387,289 has.

Climate: Type IV Temperature …………………………….21 degree C to 27 degree C

Annual Rainfall…………………………...2,250 m

SULU

The Sulu archipelago is marked by a number of mountain ranges that traverse the mid-section of the island of Jolo from east to west. The mountain chain includes Mt. Tumantangis, about 812 ft., Mt. Pula, about 281 ft., Mt. Kangangan about 663 ft. and Mt. Datu with 100 ft. Siasi Island is also hilly. The other islands, such as Pangutaran are coral formation resulting to low, swampy, flat and forested areas. However, numerous palces around the reef-sorrounded island afford anchorages.

The province of Sulu, being known for its shining land and moody sea lies on the southernmost part of the Philippines, with islands of varying terraius, which source is of volcanic origin while others are from coral formation with low, forested and swampy areas.

Sulu………………………………….. 160,040 has. Agricultural areas……………………. 92,165 has. Expansion areas……………………… 9,227 has. Rehabilitation areas………………….. 30,201 has. Preservation areas……………………. 2,552 has. Wetland areas………………………... 24,048 has. Misc. areas…………………………… 1,847 has.

Annual Rainfall……………………… 2,000 mm

TAWI-TAWI

The Tawi-Tawi archipelago is comprised of islands settled on top of a huge sea mountain. Among the islands, Tawi-Tawi has the least rugged relief. Its major peaks which include Mt. Datu Sali, St. Sitangkai and Mt. Baluk Sampan do not go beyond 600 ft. These peaks but across the main island Tawi-Tawi from north to south.

There are two rivers in the area-the Malum and Luuk. Malum is the biggest river. It serves as the transporatation passage of the residents in the upper area and also a drainage. It originates from Mt. Bulungan, Mt. Binwang and Mt. Datu Sali and flows Southwesterly receiving Magsagao Stream and its boundary.

Underground water in the islands of South Ubian, Tandubas, Sapa-Sapa, Bongao, Simunul, Sitangkai and Turtle islands is impossible since these islands are rocky. The municipalities of Languyan, balimbing, Panglima Sugala, and Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi have their own underground water table because these areas have a great volume soil and watershed that can hold water for many years.

The climate of the province except for the municipalities of South Ubian and Sibutu Island belongs to type 01 with maximum rainfall from May to August.

With the presence of only one (1) Agnomet Station at Balimbing (Bato-Bato climate mapping was based mainly on the result of the interviews).

Agricultural areas…………………………………… 32,320 has. Expansion areas……………………………………... 20,150 has. Rehabilitation areas…………………………………. 10,854 has. Preservation areas…………………………………… 25,337 has. Wetland areas……………………………………….. 19,131 has. Misc areas…………………………………………… 948 has. Total………………………………………………….108,740 has.

Population ____ as of _______ census

TEMPERATURE Annual Rainfall……………………………….1,900 mm.

GRAINS PRODUCTION

RICE

The regional output in rice is in rising trend particularly in the last three years from 172,331 mt. In 1993, 327,918 mt.in 1994;327,187 mt. 1995 qnd 527,520 in 1996. Prodution in 1997 was greatly reduced by the El Niño-included drought In the next two years, we hope to register another dramatic increase with the ASIAN Development Bank Funded/Kabulnan Irrigation and Area Development Projects which will irrigate 11,500 hectares. An additional area of 3,600 hectares will be irrigated by the Malmar Irrigation Project. More areas in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are being considered for irrigated rice farming. Currently the region is participating in the national grains production program called "Gintong Ani" It is a program that provides production loans to farmers in two provinces of ARMM-Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. In the near future, ARMM is expected to produce extra output for other BIMP entities.

1. Datu Paglas, Maguindanao hosts a meeting of a rice productivity task force. 2. A rice technology demonstration. Note Lanao Lake at the background. 3. The dam to irrigate 11,500 in Maguindanao. 4. Irrigation water started to flow early in 1998.

CORN

The ARMM provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur are traditionally producing bumper corn harvest during peak seasons. ARMM is aranked as one of the five leading corn-producing regions of the country. Even in times of drought, corn serves as the farmer's savior as thousands of hectares of wetland and swamps dries up for excellent corn farming. With this seasonal surge in production level, corn farmers of ARMM encounter marketing problems as most of the country's major corn user or processors are located in and around Manila. The country's shipping problem makes ARMM's corn relatively uncompetitive with corn imports because of high freight cost. Studies suggest that the alternative markets in the nearby BIMP-states should be developed and area-based processing industries such as feed mills be established in the region.

The region produced 493,503 Mt.in 1993; 619,416 Mt.in 1994; 516,672Mt.in 1995 and 623,796Mt.in 1996. Production in 1997 was greatly affected by the El Niño drought.

HIGH VALUE COMMERCIAL CROPS

The region is pursuing its commercial high value crops development program. This concerns the expanded production of Durian, Mango, Jackfruit, Banana, Cassava, Mangosteen and Cutflowers. ARMM is currently strengthening its effort to establish fruit nurseries all over the region to meet the rising needs for seedlings. Again, the commercial scale goal is designed to make the region a market player. Similar effort is being exerted for Cassava and Coconut.

FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES

In the past years, the region has established its national leadership in seaweeds production by producing 72% of the national output. However, while the region is exerting effort to expand the production area, the problem on marketing and processing monopoly exists.

Efforts are therefore directed to find alternative markets and product handling support. Seaweeds trading agreements such as the one signed between the Sulu Federation of Seaweeds Growers, Inc. and the BIMP-EAGA Holding company are being pursued.

Both the seas, lakes and swamps of the region are being targeted for commercial-scale fishing industries needed to push the economy of the region.

Around 10 millions genetically improved Tilapia Nilotica fingerlings were earlies dispersed in the fresh water bodies of ARMM. This year, supply of fully grown tilapia becomes abundant due to high survival rate and fast reproduction. Consumers in ARMM now enjoy a cheap supply of fish. A commercial potentials of the abundant and cheap fishes is on fish meal production.

The region has the second biggest lake in the country with an approximate area for 32,000 hectares. Lake Lanao, the deepest in the country and considered one of the major tropical lakes in Southeastern Asia, is the source of hydroelectric power for the whole island of Mindanao aside from providing irrigation water and various fishes of commercial potentials. It has other minor lakes such as Lake Buluan and Lake Dapao that are also potential resource of commercial scale fish products. The region has the largest share of swamp area of around 105,000 hectares that is being programmed for extensive agricultural and fishery development.

LIVESTOCK

The region has identified goat production not only for domestic consumption but for the EAGA market earlier identified in a series of market tours and consultations among the member-state officials. ARMM considers goat production as one of its production strengths due to cultural compatibility with its largely Muslim inhabitants and the need of the nearby Muslim states. Commercial scale cattle production is also being pushed along the effort to improve Carabao breed.