Office of the Governor, Capitol Building, Isabela City, Basilan Province Tel. Nos. (062) 200-3414 Fax Nos. (062) 200-3427 Click here to send us email

GOV. UST. WAHAB M. AKBAR

A CHARISMATIC AND
LEGENDARY
LEADER

"BEHIND BASILAN SUCCESS"

It takes a thousand journey for anyone who dreamed to become a Governor of an island province blessed with may bounties in the early years of existence, being describe by many travelers and merchants as an Island of hope, bestowed with different cultures and traditions, rich in aquatic resources and considered the trading center of Mindanao in early century.

The geography of Basilan has been very impressive and typical, its setting reflects the true description of an island paradise. Moreover, its fascinating history, legend and cultures reveal the real nature of a promising land.

Many of its settles and even transients feel the comfort of living because of its fertile soil, abundance of fruits, attractive and convincing location, proximity, with affordable basic necessities, which many of them decided to stay and enjoy the wonders of the island province.

In the past two decades, different scenario of reform was considered in an attempt to institute effective agenda and to consolidate the solid force of power-influence aimed to rehabilitate Basilan in its hour of depression.

However, the hope to overcome such difficulty has opened the way to pose another alternative in its pursuing effort to gain the momentum of peace and progress.

In the succeeding years, the call for another agenda of leadership has become persistent and urgent, this spectacular event marks the significant hour, when the political leadership of Basilan was in question, a young native leader and typical Islamic scholar, Idealist and charismatic, who came from a humble beginning, a youngest son of the first Mayor of Lantawan, the late, Hadji Mohtamad Salajin, an advocate of justice and humanity, a defender of the oppressed, and legendary who championed the cause of the poor, a former student of the Araneta University, Manila, who envisioned to articulate the advocacies of his people, USTADZ WAHAB M. AKBAR by Vox populi; with strong mandate was elected governor and bowed to lead the people of Basilan towards unity and peace.

As a typical man of the hour, his leadership focused on the settlement of various feuds, conflicts, and other conditions of injustices, land disputes, which can hamper peace efforts of the national government.

Governor Akbar had also championed the cause of the poor and shall continue to pursue a relentless endeavor described to formulate urgent solutions that serves as a possible vehicle to enjoy the dividend of peace and solidarity.

His crusade against illiteracy problem has further encouraged and motivate the parents to send their children to school and to avail the opportunity of educating themselves through formal schooling, because he believes education is key to peace and development.
Governor Akbar played a pivotal role having first broached the three (3)-story public market building to allow market and street vendors reap the convenience and profitable area of livelihood.

Moreover, social reforms scenario of the province is likely to happen that the highlight of economic agenda of Basilan has now focusing on trade and investment, and its effort of making Basilan as domestic activities paving the way to industrialization.

Many of his priorities were successfully attained and appreciated because it fit the needs of his constituents, many of its remain unpublished. However, other projects are still ongoing, like other infrastructure and livelihood program, Agricultural equipment, financial support program for students, both tertiary and secondary level, managing Provincial information and news casting program, to keep the constituency of Basilan informed and assists them in any emergency call. This is indeed a clear indication of mutual, cordial and responsible radio program designed to bring the provincial government closer to the people, supervised and operated by potential radio and broadcast personalities covering the day to day happening both local and international news service.

When six Municipalities and one component City can be reached by two three hours travel, perhaps, the influx of local trade could even trigger foreign and domestic exports. Success came slowly. In recent years projects were undertaken in various rural Barangay by his administration and even US sponsor projects like, Bailey bridges in Mahayahay and repair roads linking Maluso and Sumisip, Lamitan, Tipo-Tipo and Sumisip section during the joint RP-US Balikatan Exercise 02-1

The development is evident by another significant medical opportunity awarded by the energetic Governor to Eleven Thousand (11,000) recipients of PHILHEALTH consist mostly of indigents and deserving families from the Six (6) Municipalities and the City of Isabela.

He took the reigned of Basilan with pride and honor for almost five years, and has perceived to be an action man rather static type. Basically, he had shown a high degree of competency as he profoundly exercised leadership by example, and the launching of his pilot and magnanimous project, the completion of a newly built Capitol Building, certainly, became his trademark and legacy.

Basilan before is beyond comparable today, the Provincial engineering Department, has now achieved a strong capacity of fast tracking roads and building constructions, Despite of limited allocation of funds, the energetic Governor in a spatter of television appearances appealed for support as he disclosed the possibility of improving the Island Province and the economic condition of its constituents, yet, he underwent successive lobbying in Manila as a manifestations of his dedication and hard work in the interest of public service.

In the early years of his incumbency, he had articulated the grievances and needs of his people, one of his major concerns is the emancipation of poverty, never had in the reign of Basilan encompasses the various programs on agro-business and fishing industry.

At the forefront of the peace development efforts, he had lamentably indicated the true essence of the agony of compassion as he begun to collaborate vital alternatives to effectively the social menace engulfing the province. His major breakthrough was the normalization of criminalities and lawlessness.

His concern for his people can be manifested by his commitment brought about by series launching of basic services both urban and rural folks despite of alleged tribal and cultural outlooks the charismatic governor had extremely designed a progressive options that will motivate common understanding and peaceful co-existence among local folks.

Apparently, his being a legendary leader brought him to preserve the virtues of an ideal God-Fearing unto his constituents that there is no substitutes to worship and humanity. His foundation and discipline being the son of a legendary Mayor of Lantawan Municipality had profoundly put his leadership in order.

The legacy of humanity has somehow inspired his administration to what he perceived a clear picture of people empowerment. Nine years after, the realization of his dreams, when nothing is impossible under the heat of the sun, Basilan from an Island paradise lost to an Island paradise regained.

Undeniably, Governor Akbar faces an uphill to finally stabilize peace and economic development in Basilan due to insurgency and other disturbances the country is facing today, which alternative and solution is beyond his political will and decision. However, he had set the most applicable drive to protect his constituents from any domestic threat and violence, presumed to be divisive and destructive.

According to Secretary Angelo C. Reyes of Department of National Defense (DND) during the 29th Anniversary Celebration of Basilan and I quote, "Governor Akbar he always the talks of Visayas, Luson and Malacanang people for his decisiveness, dedication and tough decision." According to Deputy Speaker for Mindanao, congressman Gerry A. Salapuddin, and quote, "Ustadz Wahab Akbar the fighting governor of the modern times of pro-poor and more than ever will lead Basilan to achieve it's grandeur unto Glory….