Historical Background
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 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 19th 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.
Local Chief Executive
In 1937, the City of Zamboanga came to existence and made Basilan then was part of the newly created city. By virtue of Republic Act 288, which was sponsored by then Congressman Juan S. Alano, Basilan Island became a chartered city with three districts – Isabela, Lamitan and Maluso. The first appointed Mayor of Basilan City was Hon Nicasio Valderrosa and upon his retirement on December 31, 1953, Hon. Leroy S. Brown took his oath as the next appointed Mayor and later became the first and the last elective Mayor of Basilan City.
On December 27, 1973, President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 356 creating Basilan Province, and on December 2, 1974, P.D. 356 was amended by P.D. 593 increasing the area of Basilan Province to three square kilometers creating ten additional municipalities.
On December 11, 1975, P.D. 840 was issued decreasing the number of municipalities to seven and on December 12, 1975, Atty. Ricardo G. Mon, a councilor of the defunct City of Basilan was appointed as the first Municipal Mayor. On March 5, 2001, Republic Act No. 9023 “An Act Converting the Municipality of Isabela, Province of Basilan into a component City to be known as the City of Isabela” was signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo through the efforts of then Congressman Gerry Salapuddin and Mayor Luis R. Biel. Then on April 25, 2001 the Isabeleños ratified through a plebiscite with ushered to the birth of the City of Isabela de Basilan.
The following persons served as Mayors :
hon. SITTI DJALIA A. TURABIN-HATAMAN
2019-PRESENT (ELECTED)
hon. AL-QAID J. AKBAR
2016-2019 (ELECTED)
hon. CHERRYLYN S. AKBAR
2007-2016 (ELECTED)
hon. RODOLFO Y. TAN
2006-2007 (SUCCESSION)
hon. LUIS R. BIEL II
1998-2006 (ELECTED)
hon. ASAN G. CAMLIAN
1996-1997 (ELECTED)
hon. LEONARDO A. PIOQUINTO
1991-1998 (ELECTED)
hon. BENJAMIN R. VALENCIA
1988-1991 (ELECTED)
HON. LUCRESIO L. CABANGON
1987-1988 (APPOINTED)
hon. HERMINIO MONTEBON
1986-1987 (APPOINTED)
hon. alvin g. dans
1980-1986 (ELECTED)
Hon. Ricardo G. Mon
1975-1980 (appointed-elected)
ISABELA CITY MAP INFORMATION
OFFICE OF THE CITY MAYOR
hon. SITTI DJALIA A. TURABIN-HATAMAN
City Mayor
Sangguniang Panlungsod
The City Council, the legislative body of Isabela City, presided over by the City Vice Mayor.
Hon. Ar-Jhemar K. Ajibon
City Vice Mayor
City Councilors
Hon. Jeromy L. Casas
City Councilor
Hon. Alexes I. Ututalum
City Councilor
Hon. Yusop I. Abubakar
City Councilor
Hon. Al-Ameen Camlian
City Councilor
Hon. Abner S. Rodriguez
City Councilor
Hon. Jasmin Tiplani
City Councilor
Hon. Sara Isamael
City Councilor
Hon. Khaleedsher M. Asarul
City Councilor
Hon. Haizer Salain
City Councilor
Hon. Karel Anjaiza R. Sakkalahul
City Councilor
Ex-Officio Members
Hon. Naila S. Belleng
SK Federation President
Hon. Abral G. Abdurahman
ABC Federation President
Office of the City Mayor
personSitti Djalia A. Turabin-Hataman
Sangguniang Panlungsod
personMa. Christina V. Tindig
City Administrator
personPedrito A. Eisma
City Human Resource Management Office
personRosella T. Luna
City Planning and Development Office
personEngr. Gay G. Palagtiosa
City Civil Registry Office
personDayang Mirhama A. Jaljalis
call0995-820-6214
location_on1/F Main
Building, Isabela City Hall
City General Services Office
personEugene B. Strong
City Budget Office
personHaiat Aira A. Taguranao
location_on2/F Main
Building, Isabela City Hall
City Accounting Office
personJaber I. Tiplani, CPA
City Treasury Office
personMary Jane F. Abenojar
call0935-559-2722
location_on1/F Main
Building, Isabela City Hall
City Assessor's Office
personVido F. Yu
City Information Office
personMendry-Ann A. Lim
Public Employment Services Office
personAradelria T. Belleng
City Health Office
personDr. Mohrein H. Ismael VI
call0917-206-7543
location_onRHU-East
bldg., Kaumpurnah Zone I
City Social Welfare and Development Office
personNor-Aina B. Asmara
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
personUso Dan I. Salasim
City Population Management and Development
personJesielyn O. Puno
call0995 811 1636
location_on2/F Annex
Building, Isabela City Hall
City Agriculture Office
personMa. Gina M. Alberto
location_on1/F Annex
Building, Isabela City Hall
City Veterinary Office
personDr. Erwin Roy L. Jalao
location_on1/F ICCC
bldg., Brgy. Binuangan
City Engineering Office
personEngr. Reynaldo Dagohoy
City Cooperatives Development Office
personAhmad A. Tiplani
call0965-925-8404
location_on1/F Main
Building, Isabela City Hall
City Tourism Office
personClaudio M. Ramos II
call0917-525-2582
location_onCity Tourism
Office bldg., Brgy. Sunrise
Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion
personJaime Juanito A. Rivera
location_on1/F ICCC
bldg., Brgy. Binuangan
Local Youth Development Division
personLevinia P. Jarejolne
City Persons with Disabilities Affairs Division
personGemma C. Paculio
Business Permits and Licensing Division
personAlberto V. Porticos
location_on1/F Main
Building, Isabela City Hall
Security Division
personJaapal O. Laudin
location_on1/F Annex
Building, Isabela City Hall
Records Division
personMaria Luisa G. Malcampo
location_on2/F Main
Building, Isabela City Hall
Information Communications Technology
personZulfikar S. Sabdulla
location_on1/F Annex
Building, Isabela City Hall
Barangay Affairs Governance Division
personPedrito A. Eisma
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