BANGUI-NGUI, Sulu – Representative Nur Anna Sahidulla (2nd District, Sulu) vowed Sunday to provide more political stability and socio-economic development to her district aimed at uplifting the economic condition of her constituents.

Sahidulla said more socio-economic and livelihood programs will be implemented in her district to bail out the constituents from poverty.

According to Sahidulla, the dismissal of the electoral protest filed against her at the Electoral Tribunal of House of Representatives inspired her to double her effort in bringing more socio-economic and livelihood programs to the 2nd District of Sulu.

Her district comprises the island towns of Banguin-gui, Kalingalan Caluang, Lugus, Luuk, Old Panamao, Omar, Pandami, Panglima Estino, Pata, Siasi, and Tapul.

 The Electoral Tribunal has dismissed on June 23 the election protest filed against Sahidulla by losing candidate Asani Tammang, affirming her election as representative of Sulu’s 2nd congressional district.

In a two-page decision, lawyer Marie Grace Javier-Ibay, acting secretary of the Electoral Tribunal, said “the Tribunal grants protestant’s motion to withdraw the election protest filed on June 21, 2011 and dismissed the instant election protest and consequently, protestee’s counter-protest. The case is considered closed and terminated.”

The decision also ordered the Chief of Accounting and Cash Management Services of Congress to process the documents for the immediate release of the checks corresponding to the remaining unused cash deposits for the parties and their authorized representatives.

Sahidulla said that with the recent ruling, she can now work hard for the betterment of her constituents.

She said she will concentrate more on agricultural programs like farming and fishing.

In another development, Zamboanga City is supporting the call of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to continue voting for the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) via text and the Internet as the country's promising entry in the worldwide search for the “New 7 Wonders of Nature.”

In a memorandum to all local government units (LGUs), DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo asked to maximize dissemination and appeal for the country’s entry in the search. The voting period will last until November 11 this year.

In response, Mayor Celso Lobregat urged local residents to support the call, stressing that it would be for the benefit and advantage of the Filipino nation.

Lobregat said should the PPUR make it, it would be the country’s pride and further boost the tourism industry as well.

As of press time, the Philippine entry is ranked 11th among the 28 finalists to include the popular Grand Canyon of America, Dead Sea of Israel, Jeju Island of Korea, and the Great Barrier Reef of Australia to the Search.

The international popularity poll is led by Canadian-Swiss Bernard Weber and organized by the Swiss-based, government-controlled New7Wonders Foundation.

The organization is keeping an up-to-date countdown of days before the final polling through their Web site at www.new7wonders.com. 

For text voting, just type PPUR (for one vote) or PPUR7 (for seven votes), or PPUR15 (for 15 votes) then send to 2861, for all subscribers.

For Internet voting, just log on to www.new7wonders.com then follow the easy steps indicated in the said website. (With a report from PNA)