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 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:

1. 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;
2. 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;
3. Isabela, which is comprised of the remaining barrios and sitios of the former municipality of Isabela, with seat of government at Barangay Begang;
4. 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;
5. 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;
6. 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;
7. 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:
8. Tapiantana, witn territorial area comprised of the islands of Bubuan, Saluping, Timbunga, Lanawan ans Tapiantana, with seat of government at Barangay Tapantiana;
9. Malamawi, with territorial area comprised by the islands of Malanawi, Lampinigan, Manulung and Insabdahon, with seat of government at Barangay Carbon; and
10. 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.”

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.”

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."

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."

SEC. 5. All laws or parts of law or any executive order, rule or regulation inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

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.