New Basilan guv to address security, investments, energy challenges

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, June 30 (PIA) – Newly installed Basilan governor Jim Hataman-Salliman has revealed to address security, investment, and energy issues and challenges at his inauguration, Thursday.

 Speaking in Filipino, Gov Jim said that some of the issues that the provincial government needs to confront are the issue of illegal drugs, which draw applause from spectators.

 “This is not just because of the call of our new President of the Philippines, but that we already have done something and we just need to intensify the campaign versus illegal drugs,” he said.

 Thus, he asked those who are engaging in the trade to surrender, while the government is still exercising diplomacy, but warned those stubborn traders that the full force of the law will be enforced against them through the police.

 He also cited as one of the immediate concern to address is the problem of cocolisap.

 “We had a meeting recently with secretary of the Presidential Assistant for Food and Security. There, it was revealed that more than two million coconut trees were already affected by the infestation,” he said.

The governor revealed that the income from the coconut industry reach over two billion every year and that this will be lost if all our coconuts will be destroyed. He said that he will look into what has been done already and intensify those effective measures. He banks on the support of the legislative body to solve the problem.

 “If there’s a need for us to declare again a state of emergency in the province, we will do it,” he declared.

 He expressed concern over the state of business and investments in the province. He cited the issue of extortions proliferating around that affected the business community. Added to this was the perennial problem of terrorism and peace and security issue involving lawless Abu Sayyafs.

 He stressed the need for the government to identify and analyze the underlying factors that hindered the attainment of genuine peace in Basilan. And address them not only through military force, but through alternative means.

 Recalling the golden years of industries in Basilan, like the presence of multi-national companies like Menzi, Sime Darby, and BF Goodrich, among others that has brought better life for workers, Gov. Jim lamented the state of the Cooperatives in Basilan today that struggles to cope with the daily needs of its workers.

The new governor recognized the need to address the peace situation in order to accelerate the economic potentials of the province, especially with the good roads at hand.

 He also planned to hold a Power Summit soon to address the energy problem of the island.

 He urged the public and all stakeholders in Basilan to help his administration attain the vision of development for the people through good governance. (RVC/PIA9-Basilan)