As valiant as the candidates with their own political parties, the first-time independent mayoral aspirant Ismail Bahjin could be said the same. With much vigor, the Sulu native did not falter in showing up to make a stand for his candidacy. Bahjin braved the 3-hour VALIENTE: Mayoral Candidates’ Forum forum to expedite and publicize his plans and contingencies when seated in the highest position of the city. And to have the hindsight of what’s to come in his administration should he be elected, keep on reading to uncover the propositions straight from the horse’s mouth.
Ismail Karim Bahjin is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Sulu State College, where he became a member of the Muslim Student Association of the province. He also took vocational courses abroad at the Malaysian Workshop Institute, which gave him the autonomy and competency to work as a welder, messenger, fabricator, and driver. He also proceeded to indulge himself in learning the Sharia Laws in Madrasah, Saudi Arabia Institute Center at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Not to mention, he too was once an escort safety health and environment officer overseas bringing with him his different experiences from various working fields in and out of the country.
Though being the only candidate in the forum with seemingly no connection nor deep-rooted relation with Zamboanga City’s history book of politicians, he still managed to take pride in the mundanity of his background and will to serve. As manifested in his attendance in the said forum, Bahjin in the first segment, which focused on the candidates’ introductory statements, said, “Ako po ay nagrerepresenta ng mga kabataan. Tumatakbo akong mayor para makipagtulungan kung hindi man ako makabigay ng tulong at least hindi tayo makapagbigay sa kanila ng mga problema… At maraming salamat sa mga kapatiran natin, na (In shaa Allah) makapagpatuloy tayo sa mga gawain at susuporta tayo sa kanila.”
To peek through the Bahjin regime, the second segment consisted of questions with different themes and issues that were hurled through Bahjin’s way to sift through his transparency in plans for the city. It consisted of two rounds revolving around the theme of Administrative and Sectoral Issues, respectively.
In the first round of the question and answer portion, a question was raised on how Bahjin would address the issue of the non-revenue water of Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD). Bahjin’s reply was to outsource ways how to combat scarcity in water resources in which he proposed the utilization of nearby seas and lakes and better its operational refinery. With this, two follow-up questions were given by the panel, one on the assumption whether it was a problem of the monopoly of water resource management, and two on the concern whether desalination – the process of turning saltwater into consumable water resource, would be financially feasible in Zamboanga City.
For the first follow-up, Bahjin agreed that the handling of the water resources in the city is nowhere near good, hence he proposed its reevaluation as mitigation. For the second follow-up, Bahjin simply emphasized that Zamboanga City is surrounded by bodies of water, therefore water resources should be obtained from them.
Then, in the 2nd round of the question and answer portion, Bahjin was asked of his plans to solve the city’s rising cases of suicide and prevalence of mental health problems. In which, he responded that issues like depression could be dealt with through the help of counseling and as well as through the different religious groups regardless of faith practiced. He also added that in this time of the pandemic, everyone should uplift one another, because it is only in the camaraderie of the Zamboangueños that will we be able to conquer obstacles.“Magiging mabuti tayong mamamayan, kung susunod tayo sa batas.”, he remarked. One follow-up question was raised in regards to Zamboanga City having enough personnel with expertise on mental health and whether there are actions to be taken if personnel are scarce. Bahjin replied that the city has scant resources of personnel and that there are numerous religious groups ready to aid but are paid little to no attention. Hence as a mayor, he instigated that he would find ways to resolve it.
Before the forum drew close to its end, in the second to the last segment, a Yes or No portion was conducted to see where the candidates stood on various issues specifically on the price increase in basic water commodities, conversion of barangays into municipalities, and transition of Zamboanga City into a sustainably developed metropolis, conduction of face-to-face classes, and reinstitution of nightlife and night markets in the city. In all of the issues mentioned, Bahjin agreed. He defended his choice specifically on the matter of the conversion of barangays into municipalities, to which he stated that it was the best way to prevent abuse imposed by the extensive land area of the city and that opportunities should be dispersed across the land so that congestion in the city proper will be lessened. And he also echoed his approval of the resumption of nightlife and night markets in the city, for he believed that they should already be opened. However, he highlighted that since the city is still currently in the crisis of the pandemic, some establishments should remain closed or limited based on the premise of their purpose and situation.
Bahjin was not able to participate until the tail end of the program as his condition slightly faltered during the latter part of the yes or no portion. He was sent to the waiting room as the other candidates finished the course of the forum. Although Bahjin did not have the opportunity to resonate with his final statement, his contributions in expressing his plans would for sure not go unnoticed.
Despite Bahjin’s grasp and awareness of the vast work fields that comprise most of the Zamboangueños’ quotient of work sectors, how he would translate these as the chief of the city will be another tale to dissect. Still, whatever happens on May 9, the fate of Bahjin, the other candidates, and Zamboanga City will rest at the mercy of our hands. Thus, choices must be made not out of who can give enough, but who can give more.
This Forum Review is part of The BEACON’s series on local elections. The VALIENTE: Mayoral Candidates’ Forum was held last April 9, 2022 at the Faustino W Saavedra Multi-Purpose Hall in the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Salvador Campus.
