TUBURAN, BASILAN—Jann Jakilan is on a mission; a mission to change minds about the capacities and future of his province.
“When I hear people comment that Basilan is a dangerous place, I challenge them to visit the province and see for themselves if what they say is accurate,” says the soft-spoken Jakilan, President of the Autonomous Basilan Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Chances are, he says, visitors will depart with a different perception of Basilan.
Jakilan recalls a Manila-based business person asking him if Basilan was prepared to host the 5th ARMM Business Congress. “He was surprised when I confirmed that the province would not only be hosting the Congress but would also be conducting other business-related and tourism activities in line with the event,” he states.
The municipality of Lamitan did host the two-day Congress last year, and it was a huge success, attracting more than 400 delegates from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other areas in Mindanao.
“Our visitors were very impressed with what they saw, particularly with the economic transformation that has taken place in our province,” he relates, with pride.
Jakilan, who is also the ARMM’s labor secretary, explains that by hosting the Congress, Basilan and its people demonstrated to the rest of the country and to the whole world, that the province is not only a peaceful and beautiful place, but more importantly, ready for increased business activity.
“It’s just unfortunate how a negative event can stereotype an area, and consequently, restrict its economic development,” he laments, referring to the Basilan hostage crisis of 2001.
Jakilan is quick to point out that the province has, by all indications, moved forward and that it is working hard to position itself as a viable trade and investment destination. He cites Basilan’s fast-improving infrastructure facilities as among the major reasons behind the province’s dramatic economic turn-around.
As an example, he described the Tuburan Road Improvement Project, which is being undertaken by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program in collaboration with the ARMM Department of Public Works and Highways and the provincial government, and which includes the resurfacing and widening of almost 13 kilometers of road, which was almost impassable for wheeled vehicles during the rainy season, The all weather surface of the upgraded road ensures that it will be accessible to motorized vehicles regardless of the weather, thus assuring the efficient movement of passengers and of goods to market.
The road project is one of forty Regional Infrastructure Projects—including port improvements, road improvements and bridges—being built by GEM in partnership with provincial governments and agencies throughout conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.
To date, GEM has completed three regional projects in Basilan, which include improvements to the Lamitan Port, the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Cabcaban Bridge, and the upgrading of the Tuburan Poblacion Port. Three additional regional projects in the province are underway. These include the construction of a new Matarling Bridge, the upgrading of the Maluso Port, and the construction of the Camanse Bridge. Each of these projects will benefit approximately 344,00 residents across Basilan, and will contribute to faster, more efficient and less costly transportation costs in the province.
Working with local governments, GEM is also constructing approximately 815 smaller, barangay infrastructure projects—such as farm-to-market roads, community centers, trading centers, small water systems and pedestrian bridges—in the region. GEM has already constructed fifteen such projects in Basilan and will build twelve more by August 2007. All of the projects constructed by GEM are designed to accelerate economic growth and development in Mindanao.
The municipality of Tuburan has been historically among the most depressed areas in the province. Local officials attribute this situation to the extremely poor road conditions in the area, which for many years have been an impediment to Tuburan’s economic progress, since transporting goods to market was slow, cumbersome and expensive.
Once completed, the Tuburan Road Improvement Project will benefit the municipality’s adjoining 30 barangays, –with almost 30,000 residents, by assuring faster, more economical transportation of goods and people to and from the region. Thus, more goods will move more quickly and less expensively to markets, and passengers will have easier access to a wider variety of social and educational services.
Jakilan, who also operates a van rental business in the province, explains that the road project will result in lower vehicle operating costs and in passenger time savings for residents and traders from surrounding areas.
“More traders and entrepreneurs from neighboring municipalities will also be encouraged to come to Tuburan and undertake more business activities,” he adds.
Jakilan relates that Basilan’s business community is optimistic that with the establishment of modern infrastructure, the province will lure more local and foreign investment, which he considers the lifeblood of the area’s economy.
To illustrate the increasing commercial attractiveness of the area, he points to the recent opening of a Jollibee branch in Isabela, Basilan, which was cited by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her State of the National Address.
“My colleagues in the local business community believe that prospective investors will not hesitate to do business in Basilan once they see that the necessary infrastructure facilities are in place,” Jakilan says.
The economic potential of the province is huge. Basilan is, for example, the country's second largest producer of rubber, with large plantations such as Sime Darby Filipinas' in Isabela and Menzi's, located in the town of Maluso. Its provincial waters teem with high-value marine products such as grouper, tuna, squid, octopus and marlin. In addition, the province has the only lobster fattening operation in Western Mindanao.
“The Governor is really determined to transform Basilan into a bustling area of trade and commerce. We in the business community are solidly behind him in realizing his vision for the province,” Jakilan states.
In all, Jakilan is confident that Basilan—with the continued support of USAID and others— will soon attract additional investments, because of improved infrastructure, good governance and a united business community.
(GEM Program)
Also published in Malaya, April 21, 2007
Top | News & Features |News Archives | Home
