March 2, 2022 | Isabela City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Isabela City, presided by Vice Mayor Kifli Hataman-Salliman, passed SP Resolution No. 22-6366 approving the establishment of the ISABELA CITY AGRICULTURAL ECOLOGICAL ECONOMIC ZONE, located at Sitio Lantung, Baluno, this city. The resolution was sponsored by City Councilor Candu I. Muarip, Chairperson of the SP Committee on Agriculture.

The City Government of Isabela de Basilan under the leadership of Mayor Sitti Djalia A. Turabin-Hataman is applying to register the proposed ECOZONE with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), a priority project meant to propel the local economy even further, especially as we come out of the more than 2-year global pandemic brought about by COVID19.

The proposed ISABELA CITY AGRICULTURAL ECOLOGICAL ECOZONE, located at the city’s sprawling 33-hectare former open controlled dumpsite, is envisioned to undergo a near-total transformation, featuring on the one hand, high-yield farms and fruit orchards, nurseries, animal breeding centers, organic free range production facilities and farmers training facilities; and on the other, an Ecological Park which sports a fully functional and sustainable sanitary landfill, mega-recycling/upcycling and material recovery facilities, as well as waste-to-energy incinerators for renewable energy production.

The city invited a delegation from PEZA in December 2021 to push for the establishment of the City’s very own ECOZONE.

This high-impact project is aimed at improving the city’s food security by helping reduce food importation, provide gainful employment to at least 1,000 Isabeleños, while reducing the city’s carbon footprint further.

“This will be a great boost for the agricultural sector, and a step closer to an even greener and environmentally-sustainable Isabela City,” Councilor Candu Muarip said. “This is something that we should fully and strongly support”.

Vice Mayor Kifli Salliman shared that the breakneck development being experienced by the city of late can be attributed to all stakeholders hewing closely to a clearly defined vision and direction for the city over the past three years – as encapsulated in the Mayor’s 9-point Agenda. The importance of having everyone on the same boat, rowing in cadence as a team, and towards the same destination cannot be over emphasized since, clearly, synergy is the bedrock of true development.

Hindi lang pagkakaisa, kundi kailangan ding magtrabaho lahat, tungo sa parehong layunin, na may transparency at pagpapahalaga sa bawat isa, kahit gaano pa kalaki o kaliit ang ambag nito.

The city is set to conduct trade missions and investor promotion roadshows in the next few months to help ensure that the vision of an economically progressive and sustainable city is fully realized.