President Marcos assured the people of Soccsksargen that the government would build more infrastructure to ensure the region's progress.

Marcos said this following a query in General Santos City regarding the national government's plans to ensure the region's development. Soccsksargen comprises South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City.

During the interview, the President said the national government has a lot of plans for General Santos City and the region but admitted that there were challenges due to the intensified and prolonged dry spell.

"Maganda na ang takbo ng development sa GenSan (General Santos). Ang gagawin ng national government ay patuloy ang pagdebelop ng imprastruktura dun sa ‘Build, Better, More’ na aming ginagawa (GenSan's development is on track. What we'll do in the national government is continue developing the infrastructure under the 'Build, Better, More' program)," he said.

"Pag nabuksan natin lahat ng mga iba’t ibang lugar, maliwanag na gaganda ang economic situation sa mga lugar na 'yan (Once we've allowed access to the different places, their economy will surely improve),” he added.

General Santos City has major projects led by the construction of General Santos City underpass/ interchanges. It is the first mega infrastructure project of the DPWH-Soccsksargen. The project is 740 linear meters long with a 560-linear meter underpass tunnel alongside a bike lane.

"Tuloy-tuloy lang naman. Kasama sa plano ang buong bansa sa social development plan (It's ongoing. It's part of our overall social development plan)," Marcos said.

"Dahil marami na kayong magandang imprastruktura ay pagagandahin pa natin para talaga mararamdaman na dadami at mas magkaroon ng trabaho at mas malaki ang kinikita (Since you already have plenty of infrastructure, we'll improve them so you'll feel them and there will be more earnings since there will be more jobs),” he added.

According to President Marcos, the government's plan for the region includes the farmers and fishermen, stressing the government’s long-term plan is to provide corn and palay seeds, fertilizer, farm equipment, and pieces of machinery for processing.

In addition to the existing cold storage facilities for the region’s fishery industry, the President promised to provide more. Fishery is one of General Santos City’s major industries, particularly tuna fishing and canned tuna processing.

"Ang tawag diyan (What we call that) is we invest in success," he said.

"Napaka-successful na ng ginagawa ng GenSan kaya’t doon kami maglalagay ng investment ng galing sa national government (You have been successful in what you do here so the national government will invest in that industry),” he added.

In terms of agricultural production, General Santos is engaged in livestock and poultry and the production of coconut, pineapple, asparagus, bananas, and rice.

Marcos was in General Santos City on Friday, May 10, to personally deliver presidential assistance and other government aid to farmers and fishermen hit by the continuing onslaught of the El Niño phenomenon.