AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 356 DATED DECEMBER 27, 1973, CREATING THE PROVINCE OF BASILAN.

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 593
• Sections: 7

Preamble

WHEREAS, pursuant to the policy of the state to create every

possible opportunity in every part of the country, with particular

stress on those areas whose economic development, for one reason or

another lagged behind the rest of the nation, Presidential Decree No.

356 dated December 27, 1973, was promulgated creating the province of

Basilan; Whereas, under said decree, the particular needs of the city of

Basilan from the point of view of making the same financially viable at

least for the purpose of rendering essential public service, appear not

to have been considered ; and

WHEREAS, as a result thereof, the envisioned speedy

development was hampered by some factors which unless remedied would

render futile all attempts of said local government units to respond to

the problems of and provide adequate service to the residents of the

area.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by Constitution, do

hereby decree and order the amendment of Presidential Decree No. 356

dated December 27, 1973, as follows:

Section 1

SECTION 1. Section 1 thereof is hereby amended, so as to

read as follows:

"SECTION 1. Except that portion of the territory

consisting the former municipality of Isabela, beginning at a point

marked "l" being S41°-00'E, 4,000 meters to point 2; thence N48°-30'E,

4,550 meters to point 3; thence from kilometers 4.60 in a crooked line

along Tabiawan river to point 4; thence along the shoreline of Isabela

Channel to the point of the beginning, with an area of 300 hectares more

or less, comprising the barangays of Campong Baro, Binuangan, Tabiawan,

Busay, Lanote, San Rafael, Menzi, Kumalarang, and Kabong Bata

(reference used in the preparation of the technical description — the

map of Basilan City showing road system prepared by the Department of

Public Highways, bearing a scale of 1:120, 000), which shall be known as

the City of Basilan, the territory embracing the whole island of

Basilan and adjacent islands, which is hereby divided into the

municipalities of:

Maluso, with territorial area beginning at the

point marked "1" being N11°-00'E (mouth of Cabcaban River), 14.000

meters to point 2; thence N88°- 00'W, 3,000 meters to point

3; thence N88°-00’W, 7,000 meters to point 4; thence along the

coastline to point of the beginning, including Cancuman, Sicagot,

Langan, Tamuk, Takela, Goreno, Tensolan, Pandak and Dalauan islands,

with seat of government at Barangay Maluso;

Lamitan, with territorial area beginning from point marked

"1" being the mouth of Balagtasan river along the course of the river

to Balagtasan bridge to point 2; thence S15°-00'E, 13,600 meters to

point 3; thence S88°-00'E, 8,7700 meters to point 4; thence N31°-00.'E,

2,5000 meters to point 5; thence S69°-00'E, 7,000 meters to point 6;

thence N23°-00'W 11, 600 meters to point 7, thence N25°-00'E,, 900

meters to point 8; thence along the coastline to point of the beginning,

with seat of government at Barangay Lamitan;

Isabela, which is comprised of the remaining barrios and

sitios of the former municipality of Isabela, with seat of

government at Barangay Begang;

Lantawan, with territornal area beginning at a point

marked "1" being S5°-30'E 3,6000 meters, fronting Balatanay island to

point 2; thence S21°-00’E, 2,900 meters to point 3; thence due south,

4,8000 meters to point 4; thence N88°-00'W; 7,000 meters to point 5;

thence along the coastline to point of the beginning, including Kaluitan

and Pangasa-an islands, with seat of government at Barangay Tairan;

Sumipsip, with territorial area beginning at a point

marked "1" being N11°-00'E, 14,000 meters to point 2; thence S88°-00'E,

11,200 meters to point 3; thence S25°-00'E, 8,000 meters to point 4;

thence along the coastline of Camalig river to point 5; thence along the

coastline to the point of the beginning, with seat of government at

Barangay Mangal;

Tipo-Tipo with territorial area beginning at a point marked

"1" being the mouth of Camalig river to point 2; thence N25°-00’W, 8,000

meters to point 3; thence S88°-00’E, 8,700 meters to point 4; thence

N31°-00’E 2,500 meters to point 5; thence S69°-00’E, 2,500 meters to

point 6; thence along the coastline to point of the beginning, including

Kaulungan island, with seat of government at Barangay Tipo-Tipo;

Tuburan, with territorial area beginning from the point

marked "1" being N23°-00’W, 11,600 meters to point 2; thence N25°-00’E,

900 meters to point 3; thence along the coastline to point of the

beginning, including Coco, Langil and Sibago islands, with seat of

government at Barangay Tuburan:

Tapiantana, witn territorial area comprised of the islands

of Bubuan, Saluping, Timbunga, Lanawan ans Tapiantana, with seat of

government at Barangay Tapantiana;

Malamawi, with territorial area comprised by the islands of

Malanawi, Lampinigan, Manulung and Insabdahon, with seat of government

at Barangay Carbon; and

Pilas, with territorial area comprised of the islands of

Balukbaluk, Mataja, Tagutu, Pilas, Mananggal, Pasig, Pasilan, Mamanak,

Orell, Palanigan, Siringo, Saloro and Sangbay, with seat of government

at Barangay Pilas

(Reference used in the preparation of the technical description —

map of Basilan Province bearing the scale of 1:100,000), as they are

hereby created, is constituted into a new province to be known as the

Province of Basilan.”

Section 2

SEC. 2. The capital of the Province of Basilan shall be the

Municipality of Isabela and its seat of government shall be at Barangay

Begang.”

Section 3

SEC. 3. Section 3 thereof is hereby amended so as to

read as follows:

"SEC. 3. Except as hereinafter provided, all provisions

of law now or hereafter applicable to regular provinces and

municipalities shall be applicable to the Province of Basilan and to the

municipalities herein created, respectively."

Section 4

SEC. 4. Section 4 thereof is hereby amended so as to read as

follows:

"SEC. 4. The present elective officials of the Province

of Zamboanga del Sur shall perform their duties as such officials in the

newly created Province of Basilan until the officials of the latter

shall have been duly appointed by the President. The officials of the

newly created municipalities shall likewise be appointed by the

President. Such officials thus appointed shall hold office until their

successors shall have been elected in the election for provincial and

municipal officials following the issuance of this Decree and shall have

qualified unless sooner removed at the pleasure of the President. Other

appointive officials and employees as may be necessary to organize or

to complete the government personnel of the province and municipalities

herein created shall be appointed as provided for by law."

Section 5

SEC. 5. All laws or parts of law or any executive order,

rule or regulation inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or

modified accordingly.

Section 6

SEC. 6. This Decree shall take effect upon approval.

Done in the City of Manila, this 2nd day of December, in the

year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

(Sgd.)

FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.)

ALEJANDRO MELCHOR

Executive Secretary