Basilan Continues To Reap Fruits Of Peace

The construction of many infra-projects, such as the Matarling Bridge in Basilan island in Southern RP, is proof of a progressive province, now reaping the fruits of peace and development. (Sonny Mendoza)

BASILAN ISLAND (Sonny Mendoza / 09 Feb) – Basilan island in the southern Philippines is fast becoming progressive as more investments and infrastructure projects continue in the province, just several miles off Zamboanga City.

President Gloria Arroyo lauded Basilan, including Sulu and Tawi-Tawi for their economic gains through out the years. She even cited the hamburger fast food chain Jolibee which opened last year in Basilan.

She said the opening of Jolibee is not only a concrete indication of the improved purchasing power of Basileños, but also demonstrates the “peace-driven” progress that is taking root in this once strife-torn island. As a further testimonial to Basilan’s increased stability and economic growth, six Manila-based ambassadors, led by US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, who had visited the province late last year, ate lunch in Jolibee.

The diplomats also noted the bright economic prospects of the province, and they pledged to support Basilan’s continued peace and development efforts. It is not only the presence of a well-established food chain that is encouraging investors to view Basilan’s business potential more seriously.

The province’s improving infrastructure facilities are also helping to transform Basilan into a viable trade and investment destination.

According to Jam Rivera, Executive Director of the Basilan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the government infrastructure projects are undoubtedly a major component of their province’s march towards progress. “Infrastructure projects are very conspicuous signs of development,” he said.

To illustrate his point, Rivera describes the ongoing construction of the Matarling Bridge in the Municipality of Lantawan. Once the bridge is completed, Rivera said it will send a strong signal to local and foreign investors that Basilan is preparing itself for increased business activity.

“In order to entice business people to invest in an area, the necessary infrastructure facilities should be put in place. We are glad to note that the Basilan provincial government has identified infrastructure development as among its top priorities,” he said.

Scheduled for completion this month, the two-lane, 60-meter concrete bridge will ensure faster and more efficient movement of people and goods traversing the Isabela City-Lantawan-Maluso route.

The new facility will replace the old 42-year old, one-lane bridge, which has a capacity limit of 15 metric tons and can no longer accommodate the area’s rapidly increasing traffic volume.

The Matarling Bridge is among the forty-one Regional Impact Projects being built—in partnership with provincial and local authorities— by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program across the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict-affected areas in the island-region.

The construction of this facility is being undertaken in partnership with the Provincial Government of Basilan. Each of the projects constructed by GEM is designed to augment economic activity within a specific region of Mindanao.

Tahir Latip, Basilan provincial engineer, said Matarling Bridge will complement the circumferential road, which is being upgraded to accommodate increased two-way traffic.
Latip echoes Rivera’s view that economic activity in the area will significantly increase with the completion and full utilization of the new road and bridge.

“Improved mobility will help promote higher agricultural production, ensure the wider distribution of farm inputs, and stimulate the growth of agriculture-related industries in the province,” he said.

Basilan is the country's leading rubber producer and home to the plantations of major rubber companies such as B.F. Goodrich and Menzi. Other major crops produced in the province include coconut, coffee, black pepper, seaweeds and various marine products.

These products are shipped to major markets in Visayas and Luzon through a Roll-on, Roll-off (RORO) port, also built by USAID’s GEM Program, in the municipality of Maluso.

Since its construction, the port has significantly reduced the cost of doing business for local traders, as goods are now efficiently loaded and unloaded from vessels thus avoiding the damage and additional costs that are normally encountered when using the traditional mode of shipping products by sea.

Rivera said President Arroyo’s inclusion of the Basilan infra-projects in her State of the Nation Address, highlighted the progress in the province that helped promotes Basilan as business-friendly.

“The local business community is very grateful to President Arroyo for citing Basilan in her SONA. We hope to use the President’s statement to our full advantage by aggressively promoting the province as an ideal business and tourism location,” he states.

In fact, Rivera said Basilan’s successful hosting of last year’s ARMM Business Congress was a testament to the province’s capacity to organize major trade and investment events, and is an indication of the Mindanao business sector’s confidence in Basilan’s stable peace and order situation.

Rivera said the local business community is thankful to foreign donors, such as USAID, for their assistance to the province over the years. “In particular, USAID’s various infrastructure projects have enabled Basilan’s residents to conduct trading and other business activities more efficiently, and consequently, have helped uplift economic conditions in the province,” he said.

USAID’s level of commitment to the province of Basilan was summarized by USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios during his visit to the province in October 2004.

Natsios said: “When USAID comes to a village, a province or a region, it does not stay for a few days, a few weeks or a few months. It stays for years. We have a long-term commitment here.”