WHEREAS, it
is the policy of the state to create every possible opportunity and
enlarge every means to quicken the pace of progress, in every part of
the country, with particular stress on those areas whose economic
development had for one reason or another lagged behind the rest of the
nation; chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, the island of Basilan has suffered from virtual geographic
isolation and, like the islands of the Tawi-Tawi group, has long needed
closer attention for the purpose of speedier growth;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, the policy of speedy development for this part of the country
can best be carried out by the creation of a local government which
could, through faster administrative response to problems and better
appreciation of its peculiar needs, provide more adequate service to
the people of the area; chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines,
by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and pursuant
to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General Order
No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, do hereby order and decree:cralaw:red
Section 1. Except the territory consisting of the
town proper or poblacion of the former municipality of Isabela, which
shall be known as the City of Basilan, the territory embracing the
whole island of Basilan and adjacent islands, in which are comprised
the remaining barrios and sitios of the former municipality of Isabela
and the municipal districts of Lamitan and Maluso, which are hereby
created into regular municipalities, is constituted into a new province
to be known as the Province of Basilan.
Section 2. The capital of the province of Basilan
shall be the municipality of Isabela. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Section 3. Except as hereinafter provided, all
provisions of law now or hereafter applicable to regular provinces
shall be applicable to the province of Basilan.
Section 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. 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 herein created
shall be appointed as provided by law.
Section 5. The province herein created shall remain
part of the present representative district of Zamboanga del Sur until
a law shall have been passed reapportioning the representative
districts pursuant to Section 2, Article VIII of the
Constitution. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Section 6. Upon the effectivity of this Decree, the
proportionate share of the province of Basilan in the obligations,
funds, deposits and other properties of the City of Basilan shall be
transferred by the President to the province herein created upon the
recommendation of the Chairman of the Commission on Audit.
Section 7. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila,
this 27th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred
and seventy-three.
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