by
Rene V. Carbayas
 |
| Outgoing congressman and incoming governor Jim Hataman-Salliman receives the key of responsibility from outgoing governor and incoming congresswoman Jum Akbar. |
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.
