Basilan newly-elected barangay captains orient on alliance building

Mayor Hani Bud (standing) explains the Western Basilan Alliance
to newly-elected barangay captains in the alliance municipalities.

August, 14, 2018, Isabela City, Basilan – Forty-seven (47) newly-elected barangay captains from the municipalities of Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso, Sumisip and Tabuan Lasa converge today at the Querexeta Formation Center, this city, to be oriented about the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA). The orientation is facilitated by the “Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB)” Project.

In his presentation, Mayor Hanie Bud of Maluso detailed the evolution of the WBA and what this interlocal cooperation aspires to achieve and deliver. He emphasizes the role of local leaders as consolidators of local efforts. “Development is extra challenging for local governments dependent on internal revenue allotment (IRA); however, this can be mitigated with extra efforts in identifying tax collectibles, transparency in transaction and engaging tax payers proactively.” He cites his experience in Maluso, what took one year to collect is now collectible within the quarter.

Participants also engage in a workshop to bring ideas and perspectives from their end and wove it into emerging development focus of their alliance. Those from insular barangays focus on proposing marine-based livelihood; while those in the mainland focus on alternative and additional livelihood in view of the falling rubber prices, their primary crop, and the cocolisap infestation affecting coconut growers.

In his closing statement, Mayor Bud encourages participants to seize the opportunity of their new term to start fresh and right with the welfare of the community at heart.

The MILAB Project is funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development (AECID) and is being implemented by the Institute of Autonomy and Governance (IAG) with the Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance (ZABIDA) as the local NGO partner.

Local legislative officials assemble for Western Basilan Alliance

The five municipal groups discuss and suggest ways to institutionalize the Western Basilan Alliance.
In photo, Councilor Al Yasin of Maluso presented his group output. 

February 15, 2018, Sumisip, Basilan – Municipal legislative officials from Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso, Sumisip and Tabuan Lasa municipalities assemble today for an orientation and consultation about the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA), at the Municipal Conference Hall, in this flourishing town center of Sumisip, Basilan.

In his opening statement, Mayor Gulam “Boy” Hataman of Sumisip happily welcome the participants to his town and wish the best for the local legislators present.

Mayor Hanie Bud of the Municipality of Maluso was tasked by his fellow mayors to present to the vice mayors and local legislators present the concept and strategic plan of the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA). He explains why this interlocal cooperation is being pursued and how they can play positive and complementary roles to institutionalize the alliance. He emphasizes the shared values needed to jumpstart and sustain the alliance – to encourage broader participation ownership; promotes leadership that serves and delivers; includes peoples and embrace diversity; united by love of God and neighbor, being fair and equitable.

Among the participants is 3-term woman-councilor Shehama Manuel of Lantawan who echoes the call for unity among local legislators. Councilor Ashier Abdulla of Tabuan Lasa admires the idea of alliance building and thinks the time has come to behave as a bigger group. Councilor Zia Ul Haq Basa of Maluso believes the local legislators should rally around this idea and expresses support for the needed resolutions. Councilor Mahdawi Ibrahim of Sumisip is happy for their experience in hosting inter-municipality event like this consultation; while councilor Zaldy Ahmad reckons that aside from the support from local legislators, he urges his colleagues to pray for its success.

This event is the 3rd and final in the consultation series is supported by AECID and implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) through the 18-month “Modeling Inter-LGU Alliance for Basilan” (MILAB) Project. (MILAB/Ramil Tarami)

 

Western Basilan forms alliance to spur development

By Rene V. Carbayas, PIA

LAMITAN CITY, Basilan, Feb 5 (PIA) -- Local chief executives from the five municipalities of the western part of Basilan Island forged an alliance to spur peace and development in the area.

At the recent consultation meeting with municipal executive officials and partners in Lantawan, the concept of Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) as a development platform was presented.

Noor M. Saada, Project Manager of the Modeling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) project said that the consultation is second in a series to inform and mobilize support for the WBA. The Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (Spanish Agency for International Development) AECID-funded MILAB Project and how this will support the WBA as a development platform was also introduced.

More importantly, the consultation aimed at familiarizing participants with the WBA priorities on fisheries, agriculture, environment, peace and order, governance, education, health and eco-tourism.

“The idea of WBA came from the mayors. They have this realization that there is a misconception that Basilan is always in conflict. They would like to demontrate and correct the misconception that not all the areas in Basilan are in conflict, and that a portion of Basilan is ready to jumpstart development because it is relatively peaceful,” Saada said.

He explained that forging an alliance is significant in order to project a bigger impacting project that would entice donor agencies. He added that rather than plan for development in just one town, many donors would be encouraged to support if more areas are covered by their projects.

The Institute of Autonomy and Governance (IAG) leads in the implementation of the MILAB project that intends to support the institutionalization of WBA as an inter-LGU model in the pursuit of common local development agenda.

The 18-month MILAB project intends to capacitate the five towns belonging to the western part of Basilan, namely: Lantawan, Maluso, Hadji Muhtamad, Sumisip, and Tabuan Lasa to undertake and move forward the WBA.

During the meeting the participants were grouped into the six components: fisheries, agriculture, peace and security, good governance, critical social services, and eco-tourism. Various programs and projects were identified that each town may compliment and for possible cooperation and funding.

Meanwhile, Maluso Mayor Hanie A. Bud said that the WBA is a product of brainstorming among local chief executives of the five towns and other support group, who after being enlightened by similar models of cooperation and alliance, decided to form the WBA.

“One unique in western Basilan, aside from the fact that we are relatively peaceful, is the feature of multi-cultural community in the different towns, which we find common and unique to us, and which for us is advantageous,” Mayor Bud explained when asked why the idea of a WBA.

The IAG revealed that Governor Hadjiman “Jim” Hataman-Salliman is really pushing the LGUs and stakeholders on the need to be actively engaged, emphasizing WBA is not a project from the outside, but a culmination of conversations with partners on how to maximize the relative peace and order now at hand in the Western seaboard communities of the province. (ALT/RVC/PIA9-Basilan)

Reference: http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1004726

This article was also published in Mindanao Daily, February 6, 2018, in Cagayan de Oro City, page 2.

Western Basilan Municipal Executives and CSO Partners Explore Alliance Building

Mayor Rustam Ismael of Lantawan, Basilan for hosting last Thursday's consultation meeting for Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) under our “Modeling Inter-LGU Alliance for Basilan” (MILAB) Project supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

Also in photo (Seated L to R): Mayor Hanie Bud of Maluso, Mayor Boy Hataman of Sumisip and DepEd Basilan Assistant Superintendent Hadja Nuriya Jamaldin and (partly hidden) PNP Chief Inspector Nelbis Madiwo of Basilan PNP Provincial Police Office.

Lantawan, Basilan – Municipal executive officials and local CSO partners from Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso, Sumisip and Tabuan Lasa municipalities convene today at Barangay Pamucalin, Lantawan, Basilan for an orientation and consultation under the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA). Also present are officials from the provincial offices of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), and civil society organizations such as the ChildFund and Nagdilaab Foundation.

In his opening statement, Mayor Rustam Ismael of Lantawan says the activity is the second in a consultation series which started last month in Maluso. Together with his fellow mayors, Hanie Bud of Maluso and Boy Hataman of Sumisip, he warmly welcomes the participants to his home municipality which is hosting the meeting. He acknowledges the government offices and civil society partners who made it to the event.

Mayor Hanie Bud of Maluso presents the concept and strategic plan of the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA). He underscores that the task at hand is difficult, but he believes it is time for the Basilan municipalities to dream big “to reach for the moon and even if we fail, we will still land among the stars”.

In this one-day consultation, participants also assess and explore complementation between WBA and their respective municipal development priorities and identify resource mobilization to expedite the realization of their complementing plans.

This second in a consultation series is supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) through the 18-month “Modeling Inter-LGU Alliance for Basilan” (MILAB) Project. (MILAB/Ramil Tarami)

NOTE: This article is also published at the IAG website: http://iag.org.ph/index.php/news/1536-western-basilan-municipal-executives-and-cso-partners-explore-alliance-building

Western Basilan barangay chairpersons convene for alliance building

Photo: Basilan Governor Hadjiman “Jim” Hataman-Salliman inspiring the barangay captains from Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso, Sumisip and Tabuan Lasa municipalities to support and be active in the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA), an inter-LGU alliance supported by the Spanish Aid Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and implemented by the Institute of Autonomy and Governance (IAG).

January 04, 2018, Maluso, Basilan – Local chairmen and chairwomen from ninety-six (96) barangays of the municipalities of Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso, Sumisip and Tabuan Lasa convene today for an orientation and consultation under the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA), today, at the covered court of Claret School of Maluso, this municipality.

In his opening statement, Mayor Muctar Junaid of Tabuan Lasa highlights the uniqueness of the gathering, how the idea of the alliance evolved from the consensus of the local executives and acknowledges the support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) in capacitating the five municipalities in pursuing inter-LGU alliance. He said, they are equally invigorated by the promise and opportunities of this alliance as this is the first of its kind in the island province.

Mayor Hanie Bud of Maluso and concurrent president of the League of Municipalities in the province at, presented the concept and strategic plan of the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) to the barangay captains. He explained the motivation behind the alliance building, and articulated its vision and shared values, models of alliance building, the development priorities and strategies. Further, he explained that through the WBA platform the five municipalities should be able to attract partners and partnership from both government and non-government entities.

In his inspirational message, Governor Hadjiman “Jim” Hataman-Salliman relates the power of ideas. He reckons that elected officials are used to view development in terms of infrastructure. It has its own merit, too. He said, but he thinks the better and sustainable way is to appreciate the power of ideas whose time has come, like the alliance building that is now being pursued in the five provinces. Ideas begin with conversation, imagining about the future and not just criticizing the past or complaining about the present. He thinks, local leaders should be engaged in creative thinking because the words we think can become the world we will live in. In closing, he extolled the barangay captains to support and be active in the Western Basilan Alliance, because this platform is an area of engagement towards good governance.

In this one-day consultation, participants also engaged themselves in a workshop where they reflect on and suggested ways on how to make the development priorities and strategies more meaningful and relevant to the needs of their constituency. They also identify their community’s top three development priorities.

This consultation is supported by AECID and implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) through the 18-month “Modeling Inter-LGU Alliance for Basilan” (MILAB) Project. (MILAB/Ramil Tarami)