LAMITAN CITY, BASILAN — As the consultation for the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) continues, the five sectoral committees of the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC) through Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), gathered information and solicited recommendations and inputs from the officials and representatives of the provincial local government unit (PLGU) of Basilan and its eleven (11) constituent municipalities during the consultation-workshop held on Thursday, Oct. 13 at the Capitol Building, Basilan Government Center in this city.
The municipal LGUs present during the said consultation were Akbar, Hadji Muhtamad, Tabuan-Lasa, Al-Barka, Maluso, Sumisip, Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Tipo-Tipo, Lantawan, Tuburan, and Ungkaya Pukan.
BPDA Director General Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali emphasized that consulting the said LGUs is the Bangsamoro Governmentโs initiative in ensuring an inclusive formulation of the 2nd BDP.
โWe want to ensure that as we write the content of the 2nd BDP, we took consideration of our stakeholders to take part in this by providing relevant information to make this plan inclusive,โ he stressed.
Further, this activity is the sixth leg of region-wide consultation facilitated by the BPDA, following the consultations with the LGU officials and representatives of Cotabato City, Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi, Special Geographic Area (SGA), different civil society organizations (CSOs), academe, and private sectors in the mainland of BARMM.
In his message, Basilan Provincial Governor Jim S. Hataman-Salliman highlighted the improved peace and order and road connectivity in the province. He also cited Basilanโs experience during the Zamboanga siege and COVID-19 pandemic which prompted the provincial government to prioritize food security in the province.
โZamboanga siege, 19 days lang, muntik nagutom ang Basilan, tapos dinagdagan ito ng pandemic. So isa sa major program namin is โyung food security,โ he shared.
Gov. Salliman also discussed other priorities of Basilan PLGU such as recovery of coconut industry, strengthening of fisheries industry, improving the facilities of Basilan international seaport to meet with the international standards, establishing a domestic airport for passengers and cargoes, opening of two existing rubber processing plants, construction of government centers for municipal LGUs, and exploring Basilanโs potential for economic zone.
During sectoral workshop, Engr. Nelson Akmadol, Basilan Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator (PPDC), said that the two rubber processing plants located at Brgy. Lumbang in Isabela City and Brgy. Calubusan in Lamitan City will start their operations this year. He further explained that Lamitan City funded the land acquisition for the said domestic airport, wherein the Basilan PLGU has provided the initial funds for its development.
Moreover, the Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) constantly supports this region-wide consultation for the said development plan, with the assistance of Ma. Victoria Z. Maglana and Eric John Matela as facilitators. (Mary Lovella Lao-Lastimosa, BPDA-BARMM)
