Maluso receives 17,000 tourist arrivals

Langgas Island: Maluso's Pink Beach

August 17, 2018, Maluso, Basilan - Maluso's Municipal Tourism Office announces today the first two quarters tourist arrivals have reached record-breaking of 17,000 during the first and second quarter of 2018. Based on the record from the Maluso Tourism Office, it shows that from January to March of 2018, there are at least 8, 753 tourist arrivals both domestic and foreign tourists, with 94.21% increase from April to June of 2018 with 17,000 tourist arrivals.

The Municipality of Maluso has become famous for the immaculate exquisiteness that nature has imparted to it and its people, a remarkable place in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that has made a clear-cut mark in the Philippines when it comes to luring in local, domestic and foreign tourists. Every barangay boasts of their different attractions, festivals and even delicacies and products unique only to their community.

The promotions of Langgas Island, the Maluso’s Pink Beach, had reached worldwide attention via social media and coverage on national televisions. For 2017, around 2,695 tourists, both local, domestic and even foreign had visited the island. With its natural beauty, the island is consider a virgin island for it possesses a natural scenic view with its pink fine sand.

Another attraction that the LGU is promoting is Kayumkuman Island, the fish and turtle sanctuary of the municipality for it has plenty of species of fishes and turtles. It was also promoted by GMA News and Current Affairs together with Langgas Island.

Yakan Village and Bajau Village were also promoted as Maluso’s cultural destinations. It is in here that Maluso’s best culture and traditions is seen. Its native dresses, clothes, antiques, foods and delicacies, were being shown in the villages.

Part in the tour package are the Garlayan Falls and Mahayahay Falls. With at least 1,939 tourists visited the falls for the last 6 months. 

To help maintain the beauty of these tourist sites, a series of clean-up drive was conducted to maintain the cleanliness and beauty of the tourist destinations of Maluso. A joint venture between the Municipal Tourism Office, the JCI-Maluso Sahaya, the 14th SFC, 68 IB and other local stakeholders in the community helped during the bayanihan, just to maintain the natural beauty of the tourist spots.

Remarkably, the first time in the history of Maluso despite of the issues on Peace and Order. Truly, it is really a big challenge on the part of the tourism office in the promotions due to the image of Basilan Province in the national tabloids and televisions. Thus, #RebuildMaluso is starting redefining Basilan into its new image.

Maluso, with its new local chief executive, trully redefined its image from drug-infested locality into a peace tourism community.

Maluso Town Chief convenes Peace and Order Council

Mayor Bud during the Municipal Peace and Order Council Meeting

August 1, 2018, Maluso, Basilan - Mayor Hanie A. Bud convened immediately the Municipal Peace and Order Council in relation to the recent incident happened in Lamitan City. In attendance are the 20 Barangay Chairmen, the security forces from the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Mayor Bud reminded everyone to be more vigilant in their respective communities and report the same to the authorities of any suspicious groups or individuals. The town chief have ordered the PNP and AFP to conduct check points and be visible in all public areas. "Ayaw kong mangyari sa Maluso and nangyari sa Lamitan, kaya hinihikayat ko ang lahat na maging alerto at magmasid sa bawat isa", says the Mayor.

The PNP and AFP assured the local chief executive that they will be guarding 24/7 in order to safeguard the municipality. Mayor Bud instructed all the 20 barangay chairmen to organized their Barangay Patrol Auxiliary Teams to guard in their respective barangays and report immediately any suspicious individual or groups.

Maluso honors Town Fiesta 2018

Volleyball Tournament for Maluso Town Fiesta 2018
spearheaded by the Maluso Federation of Women Association

Maluso will be celebrating its Town Fiesta 2018 in honor of its patron Immaculate Heart of Mary on August 21-22, 2018 at Barangay Townsite, Maluso, Basilan.

There are series of activities like field demonstration sponsored by Brgy. Townsite, Volleyball for women sponsored by the Federation of Women in Maluso and the annual Ms. Maluso spearheaded by the Parish Pastoral Council of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.

The annual festivity is a traditional celebration of all constituents in Barangay Townsite.

Maluso SK Federation spearheads Linggo ng Kabataan

The official activities for the week long celebration

Maluso, Basilan - Youth in this peaceful town on the Western end of Basilan island are currently celebrating the first Linggo ng Kabataan with the theme, “Isang Linggong Pag-Ibig ng mga Kabataan para sa Kapwa nila Kabataan” from August 12-18, 2018 at Townsite covered court, Townsite Maluso Basilan, and spearheaded by the town's Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation. 

The week-long celebration was started with a kick-off parade convening over 200 youth coming from the 20 barangays of Maluso. As per mandate from the Local Government Code, every province, city, municipality and barangay in coordination with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation at all levels, shall conduct an annual activity to be known as the "Linggo ng Kabataan" or youth week.

Maluso youth conducted various activities focusing on peace, health, education and security, tourism, livelihood, sports, human rights and governance convergence. Larong Pinoy is also one of their peace project. Altogether, this event aims to enhance the physical, social, political, intellectual, moral and culture development of the youth.

The said event is organized by the SK Federation of Maluso in partnership with Aldrin Bucoy Abdurahim, Junior Chambers International (JCI) - Sahaya Chapter and the Maluso local government.

Mayor Bud leads orientation for 47 Newly Elected Brgy. Captains

Mayor Hans orients the 47 Newly Elected Brgy. Captains about Western Basilan Alliance

Last August 14, 2018, the 47 newly elected Punong Barangays coming from the 5 (five) municipalities of Maluso, Tabuan Lasa, Hji. Muhtamad, Lantawan and Sumisip were gathered for the Consultation and Orientation of Modeling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) and Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) at Querexeta Formation Center, Isabela City, Basilan.

Mr. Ramil Tarami, the Technical Officer of MILAB Project, expounded the purpose of the consultation and orientation. First is to introduce the concept of Western Basilan Alliance and its initial strategic plan as well as to present to the participants the Agencia Espaῆola Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID) funded MILAB Project and how this will support the WBA as a development platform. And to familiarize participants with the Western Basilan Alliance priorities on Fisheries, Agriculture, Environment, Peace and Order, Good Governance, Education, Health, and Eco-Tourism. 

Modeling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) was introduced by Mr. Noor Saada, the Project Manager of the said project. As explained by Mr. Noor, the project is managed by Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with Zamboanga Basilan Integrated Development Alliance (ZABIDA). The project began last October 2017 and will end up by March of 2019. Its objective is to support the institutionalization of the Western Basilan Alliance as an inter-LGU model in the pursuit of common local development agenda.

The beloved mayor of Maluso, Hon. Hanie A. Bud gave an orientation regarding Western Basilan Alliance (WBA). According to Mayor Hans, during the inception workshop, WBA envisions the five municipalities to become models of peaceful municipalities in Basilan and to be prosperous, founded on good governance and sustainable economy. The vision that they have come up is in line with the vision of the province. He then enlightened them with the 6 (six) priorities of WBA which are Fisheries, Agriculture, Environment, Peace and Order, Good Governance, Education, Health, and Eco-Tourism. Mayor Hanie added that everyone must promote the eco-tourism in the province. The eco-tourism was included thru the initiative of the Provincial Governor, Hon. Jim Hataman. According to him when a place is peaceful many visitors will be interested to visit it. In Maluso alone, even foreigners come to visit the beautiful sceneries. He even added, in 2015, Basilan is included in the 20 poorest provinces in the country but hopefully with the help of WBA by 2020 Basilan will be out of the list. 

Later on, a workshop was done by consulting the newly elected punong barangays regarding the 6 (six) priorities. 

As an impression towards the activity Hon. Abdulhasan Isseck from Sumisip expressed, “Hopefully after this consultation, we will continue to serve our community well for the benefit of all, most especially as newly elected official.”