The Liguasan Marsh Development Master Plan is an offshoot of the initiative of the Local Chief Executives of the towns surrounding the Marsh from the provinces of Maguindanao in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and, Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat in Region XI. The project was realized through the financial support given by the Office of the President under the Ramos Administration. The formulation of the Liguasan Marsh Development Master Plan was initially contracted to a consortium of consultants and the project was started on 01 September 1997 and was completed in November 1998.
Liguasan Marsh si one of the country's largest freshwater bodies, teeming with aquatic life and inhabited by both large and microscopic plant and animal life forms. It is comprised of the three adjoining marshes of Ebpanan, Libungan, and Liguasan, singly referred to as Liguasan Marsh. tI is an important component of the whole ecosystem of the Cotabato River Basin.
The entire marsh area cuts across the three provinces of Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat. Further, the Marsh is part of the watershed system that covers most areas in the central portion of Mindanao and the converging point of major rivers of the Cotabato River Basin. The area also offers opportunities for productive agriculture on account of its fertile alluvial soils. its scenic character and unique cultural traits can be developed for eco-tourism.
The development and protection of Liguasan Marsh is envisioned to help in the a) alleviation of poverty among the people in the Marsh, thus maintaining a balance between development and ecological preservation; and, b) peace and order not just in the area, but the whole island of Mindanao through a combined strategy of peace and development.