BUSINESS AS USUAL IN BASILAN

For years, Basilan was considered a dangerous province in Mindanao because many have the perception that danger lurks in its every corner.

But then, organizers of the 4^th Zamboanga Peninsula Business Conference decided to hold these two day event, which took place last April 25-27, 2008 in the province with the main objective of highlighting both its investment and tourism potentials.

The event, considered the largest gathering of members of the business sector of Western Mindanao showed what the province has to offer for investment and tourism. There were over 102 participants coming from the chambers of commerce and industry of the cities of Dipolog, Zamboanga, Ozamiz, Pagadian and Basilan.

On its first day, a special session was conducted at the Isabela City Council Session Hall with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Philippine Chamber Development Institute as the main discussant on private-public sector partnership.

The opening ceremonies at the Juan S. Alano Compound's Julio Amphitheater was hosted by the city of Isabela where guests were treated to a banquet called “Pesong Kaam”, a Yakan term for welcome.

Main Business of the Day

Tackled during the summit of business men were sessions that discussed corporate social responsibility among companies, linkages between business and government; global trading and financial development for Mindanao. There were also representatives from Australian Aid’s Enterprise Challenge Fund and USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao who spoke about development oriented projects that the business sector can avail of.

The joint meeting of the of the Isabela City Small & Medium Enterprise Development Council (ICSMEDC) and the One Town, One Product Technical Working Group also took place with the desire of strengthening the partnership among government agencies and the city's private sector.

Yakan Crafts and Wares

The partnership with the Basilan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc. and the Isabela City Tourism Office and the Department of Trade and Industry – Isabela City and the Alano Group of Companies led to the inauguration of the Isabela City Pasalubong Center . The center was a show room of Isabela City's products, specifically the Yakan crafts and weaves, bamboo appliances and furniture and hand-woven mats. These are used in home furnishings which are at times featured in architectural magazines. If you want to get them for a bargain price;its time to go to Isabela.

The Isabela City Exposition and the Annual Isabela City Agro-Industrial Fair was opened with City Mayor Cherrylyn Santos Akbar leading the event held at the Plaza Rizal. Supporting the trade exposition were the delegations from Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga delNorte, as well as local producers' associations and local craft and livelihood organizations showcasing their products.

The Business Students of Isabela

To highlight the important role of the young and future entrepreneurs , the 1st Zamboanga Peninsula-Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao Business Camp for Business students of the different public and private tertiary educational institutions was held at the Juan S. Alano Memorial School, Inc.

The students were from the cities of Isabela and Lamitan, Zamboanga and Dipolog. The event also held a series of plenary sessions on entrepreneurship handled by the Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. – Asosasyon ng mga Nagkakaisang Kabataan tungo sa Pag-unlad at Kapayapaan and the Metro Basilan Junior Jaycees (MBJJCs).

Now who says life and business is dull in Basilan?

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August will be very busy month for the academe and the tourism industry of Mindanao. Davao City will be the host of the largest gathering of technical vocational schools, labor and business leaders all over the island. The 7^th Mindanao Human Resource and Skills Development Forum will be held on August 6-8, 2008 at the Mandaya Hotel. This years theme is “Beyong Borders.Meeting the Challenges of Change”. The main organizers is the Mindanao TVET Association and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)

The biggest tourism and travel exposition; the 3^rd Mindanao Travel and Trade Expo will be on August 8-10,2008 at the Shoemart Entertainment Center. This year’s theme is “Barkadahan sa Octo-break” and this will be participated by the Local Government Units of Mindanao, the Department of Tourism Regional Offices and Travel and Tour Operators

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(Joji Ilagan Bian is a strong and respected advocate for the development of the region. She is Chair of Joji Ilagan Foundation ( www.jojiilagancareercenter.com) ; President , Phil. Call Centers Alliance and Mindanao Tech Voc Schools Association; Mindanao Rep, Export Development Council. Email comments jojibian2@yahoo.com)

SAILING THE BIMP EAGA SEAS

The sea linkage between two trading points, or among several others, is very important considering that this is needed in hastening the movement of goods and products at a lower cost. Businessmen and traders will always want lower transportation cost.

I notice that while much has been taking place in the air linkages within the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines (BIMP) East Asean Growth Area (EAGA) in an effort to facilitate tourism promotion, the sea linkage proposals have not improved that much despite the signing of two memoranda of agreement last year among the four countries.

INITIATIVES

Based on the report of the Mindanao Economic Development Council, as a result of the meeting in April in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam, there was no significant movement in the sea linkages among the four countries.

However, the report mentioned some "flagship programs and projects" that the top officials of the four countries were considering,

Among others, the report cited the discussion on a proposal for a tariff reduction of the roll-on roll-off ship operation between Zamboanga and Sandakan, Malaysia. In that meeting, Philippine representatives wanted the Philippines and Malaysian governments to enter into a bilateral arrangements that will reduce port tariffs for their ports. For Malaysia, the agreement will be implemented in its Sandakan port.

The Philippines also requested that the ship be accommodated at a roll-on-roll off terminal.

SOLE LINKAGE and OTHER INITIATIVES

Today there is only the Zamboanga-Sandakan shipping route that is being served by two Zamboanga City-based companies, the Aleson Shipping Lines and the Sampaguita Shipping Lines.

The servicing of the General Santos City-Bitung, Indonesia route has been suspended.

The implementation of a memorandum of understanding on the "establishment and promoting efficient integrated sea linkages" was also one of the key points being explored. The officials for the four countries raised the issue of updating one another on the development of port facilities including the privatization of some of them. This is necessary because this will allow each of them to come up with their respective plans on sea linkages, taking into consideration the viability of using the ports of their trading partners.

The representative of the Asian Development Bank, the sub-regional advisor, was tasked to update the four countries on the pre-investment study that would identify the "shortfall in ports performance and capacity among the designated BIMP EAGA gateway ports and develop project priorities for bridging the performance and capacity gaps as mandated by the BIMP EAGA MoU on Sea Linkages."

There is so much has to be done to improve sea linkages and that it will take much time and political will for all the stakeholders , both government and private sector to make these sea linkages sustainable. Volume of traffic, both passengers and goods have to be present. More business activities have to be created.

I share the optimism of those who are involved in these endeavor, taking note of their efforts in promoting trade among the four countries.

As a leader of the Mindanao business sector, it is also my desire to see that every plan, big or small, finally takes shape to realize the dream of making the sub-region one big borderless economy.

(Joji Ilagan Bian is a strong and respected advocate for the development of the region. She is Chair of Joji Ilagan Foundation ( www.jojiilagancareercenter.com) ; President , Phil. Call Centers Alliance and Mindanao Tech Voc Schools Association; Mindanao Rep, Export Development Council. Email comments joji@jojiilagancareercenter.com