Isabela City, Basilan – The Marina Regional Office IX (MRO9), headed by OIC-Director Farida T. Cunanan, Ph.D., is set to roll out the Maritime Safety Culture Awareness Campaign Caravan in April 2025. The initiative coincides with the city’s Sakayan Festival, a celebration of its rich maritime heritage.

During a courtesy visit on 16 January 2025, MRO9 officials met with Vice Mayor Jhul Kifli L. Salliman and City Administrator Pedrito A. Eisma, representing Mayor Sitti Djalia A. Turabin-Hataman. Both leaders expressed their full support, highlighting the campaign’s alignment with the city’s vision of a secure and thriving maritime environment.

OIC-Director Cunanan also briefed the City Council on the campaign’s objectives and strategies. The councilors welcomed the initiative, recognizing its potential to enhance community safety, mitigate maritime risks, and boost the local maritime industry, a key economic driver in Isabela City.

The caravan will feature activities promoting maritime safety practices, regulatory compliance, and community empowerment, engaging stakeholders such as fisherfolk, boat operators, and coastal residents. Vice Mayor Salliman and Administrator Eisma emphasized the campaign’s synergy with the Sakayan Festival’s themes of cultural pride and unity.

The meeting concluded with a pledge to strengthen collaboration among government agencies, private stakeholders, and local communities to ensure the campaign’s success. This partnership underscores Isabela City’s commitment to fostering a safer, more vibrant maritime sector while celebrating its cultural heritage.

View photos here