Isabela is a 3rd 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 Spanish regime, Isabela was known to the natives (the Yakans, Sama Banguinguis, Badjaos and Tausugs) of Taguima (referring to Basilan) as Pasangan/Pasangen (market). In 1844, the Spaniards occupied it and a fortification was erected in 1845 –Ffirst made of wood, and then in 1848, of stone, it was named Fuerte dela Reina Isabela Segunda by Don Ramon Hugo, Marine Chief of Zamboanga and Don Cayetano Suarez de Fugureoa, Governor of the District in honor of Isabela II, Queen of Spain and the Indies.

 

          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, Lamitan and Maluso. The first appointed mayor was Hon. Nicasio Valderrosa and when he retired on December 31, 1953, Hon. Leroy S. Brown took his oath as the next appointed mayor of the city who later became the first and the last elective mayor of Basilan City.

 

          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 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, Hon. Herminio M. Montebon, Dr. Benjamin R. Valencia and Hon. 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 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, Hon. 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. Hon. Cherrylyn S. Akbar became the City’s first female chief executive in 2007, and her successor, Hon. Al-Qaid J. Akbar the youngest ever in 2016.

 

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

 

1. Transparency, Participatory, Effective and Efficient Governance

2. Safe, Secure and Resilient Community

3. Clean and Environment Friendly

4. Health, Education and Well-being

5. Economically Progressive

6. Culturally Diverse and Proud

7. Sustainable Tourism

8. Care for Vulnerable Members of the Society

9. Synergy