Isabela City: A Brief History

        Isabela is a 3^rd Class component city and is the administrative capital of the Province of Basilan. The city has a total land area of 22, 373 hectares and part of which is distributed to the islands of Malamawi, Lampinigan and Balatanay. Isabela City has 45 barangays, 10 of which are coastal, 18 urban and 27 rural.

        Before the Spanish colonial regime, Isabela was known to the natives (the Yakan, Sama Banguingui, Bajau and Tausug) of Taguima (referring to Basilan) as Pasangan/Pasangen (market) and later, a multi-ethnic settlement Pagpasalan. Isabela de Basilan, as it was then called during the Spanish occupation, was a staging area of the Corregimiento de Basilan, one of the six districts of the military government in Mindanao to protect Spain’s “possessions” in the Sulu Archipelago. In 1844, the Spaniards occupied it and a fortification was erected in 1845 –first made of wood, and then in 1848, of stone. It was named Fuerte de la Reina Isabela Segunda by Don Ramon Hugo, Marine Chief of Zamboanga and Don Cayetano Suarez de Figueroa, Governor of the District in honor of Isabela II, Queen of Spain and the Indies. The fort served as naval headquarters for the Spanish fleet in the 19^th century, and the Spaniards used Malamawi Island to store coal as fuel for ships. To this day, Barangay Carbon in Malamawi Island serves as a reminder of Isabela City’s steam-powered naval past.

       In 1937, the City of Zamboanga came to existence and Basilan then was a part of this city. By virtue of Republic Act 288 sponsored by Representative Juan S. Alano, Basilan Island became a chartered city with three districts: Isabela de Basilan, Lamitan and Maluso. The first appointed mayor was Nicasio Valderrosa and when he retired on December 31, 1953, Leroy S. Brown took his oath as the next appointed mayor of the city who later, became the first and last elective mayor of Basilan City.

         Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued PD 356, creating Basilan Province on December 27, 1970 with three municipalities, Lamitan, Maluso, and Isabela as the capital. This was amended by PD 840 in 1975 and the then Municipality of Isabela absorbed the former City of Basilan and the Municipality of Malamawi. Atty. Ricardo G. Mon was the first appointed mayor of Isabela Municipality, followed by Atty. Alvin G. Dans, Herminio M. Montebon, Dr. Benjamin R. Valencia and Leonardo A. Pioquinto.

       In 2000, during the stint of Mayor Luis R. Biel II, Representative Gerry A. Salapuddin sponsored House Bill No. 7851, converting the Municipality of Isabela into a component city of Basilan Province. On March 5, 2001, the City of Isabela was created under RA 9023 as signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. This was eventually ratified by a plebiscite held on April 25 of the same year. On May 2001, Luis R. Biel II became the first mayor of Isabela City. Vice Mayor Rodolfo Y. Tan succeeded to the post upon the assassination of Mayor Biel II. Cherrylyn S. Akbar became the city’s first female chief executive in 2007, and her successor, Al-Qaid J. Akbar the youngest ever in 2016.

The following served as mayors of Isabela Municipality to the current Isabela City.

Municipal Mayors

Ricardo G. Mon                                1975-1980 (appointed-elected)

Alvin G. Dans                                   1980-1986 (elected)

Herminio Montebon                         1986-1987 (appointed)

Lucresio L. Cabangon                    1987-1988 (appointed)

Benjamin R. Valencia                     1988-1991 (elected)

Leonardo A. Pioquinto                    1991-1998 (elected)

Luis R. Biel II                                    1998-2001 (elected)

City Mayors

Luis R. Biel II                                    2001-2006 (elected)

Rodolfo Y. Tan                                 2006-2007 (succession)

Cherrylyn S. Akbar                          2007-2016 (elected)

Al-Qaid J. Akbar                               2016-2019 (elected)

Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman          2019-Present (elected)

Toward the second decade of Isabela City, the new administration of Mayor Sitti Djalia Hataman has outlined programs, project and policies aligned with her Nine (9) Point

Agenda:

1. Transparent, Participatory, Effective and Efficient Governance
2. Safe, Secured and Resilient Community
3. Clean and Bountiful Environment
4. Health, Education and Well-being
5. Progressive Economy
6. Diverse and Proud Culture
7. Sustainable Tourism
8. Care for Vulnerable Members of the Society
9. Synergy