SPDA head meets Zamboanga Yakan group from Basilan

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

**YAZ Officers and SPDA Admin & CEO.** Newly elected officers of the Yakan Association of Zamboanga (YAZ) are presented to Gerry Salapuddin (3rd from left), SPDA administrator and Chief Executive Officer by Ustadz Idris B. Iljam (4th from left), and who is the newly elected President of YAZ. (Contributed Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY

Abdulghani “Gerry” Ajul Salapuddin, administrator and concurrently the chief executive officer (CEO) of Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) met the newly elected officers of the Yakan Association of Zamboanga City (YAZ) on Wednesday morning here at Marcian Garden Hotel here in this city dubbed as the “City of Flowers.”

Among the issues discussed were the registration of YAZ with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the induction of their officers slated on Monday, March 08, 2021.

Ustadz Idris B. Ijam, who is a resident of Sacol Island in Zamboanga City and who was elected President of the Yakan Association of Zamboanga said the induction of officers of the association will be at any available venue particularly in one of the hotels in the city.

According to Ustadz Iljam, the City Mayor Beng Climaco and other officials of Zamboanga City as well as heads of national agencies will be cordially invited to grace the occasion.

Salapuddin, former Basilan provincial governor, former Congressman of the Lone District of Basilan and former House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao, congratulated all officers and members of YAZ.

He urged them to maintain the good name and prestige of a Yakan individual and much more they are now bonafide members of this association.

Meanwhile, also in attendance of the YAZ Executive Meeting was City Councilor Tungkû B. Hanapi, the mandatory under the law as Indigenous People (IP) Representative to the Zamboanga City Council. JIJ