Sun.Star: Lamitan in Basilan now a city

THE nearby island province of Basilan, which is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), has two component cities now. These are: Isabela City, the province's capital; and Lamitan, where 76 percent of the 77 percent voters' turnout voted "yes" in Monday's plebiscite. The plebiscite was held for the ration of Republic Act 9393, an act converting the Municipality of Lamitan in the province of Basilan into a component city to be known as the City of Lamitan. Mayor Roderick Furigay said 26,636 voted "yes" while only 177 voted against the ratification of RA 9393. Lamitan has 34,909 registered voters. Lamitan is one of the 12 towns approved to be converted into city during the 13th Congress. The others are Bayugan, Agusan del Sur; Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Carcar, Cebu; Catbalogan, Samar; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Baybay, Leyte; Bogo, Cebu; Batac, Ilocos Norte; Tabuk, Kalinga; and Tayabas, Quezon. Furigay foresees a rapid development of Lamitan since the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share would be increased from the present amount of P60 million annual IRA. Lamitan has a land area of 35,445 square kilometers with a relatively plain terrain along the coastal areas and hilly in some areas. Lamitan's major agricultural products are copra, rubber, coffee, and fruits such as lanzones, marang and banana. It has a major seaport that could accommodate passenger and cargo and Ro-ro (roll on-roll off) type of vessels. Lamitan was founded in 1886 by the legendary figure Pedro Javier Cuevas, popularly known as Datu Kalun, who was born in the town of Bacoor, Cavite on June 9, 1846. Furigay, who is one of Kalun's descendants, is on his second term as mayor since he was re-elected at the recently concluded mid-term local and national elections. Aside from the two cities, Basilan has nine towns namely Tuburan, Tipo-Tipo, Sumisip, Maluso, Lantawan, and the newly-created municipalities of Akbar, Al-Barka, Mohammad Ajul and Ungkaya Pukan. - Sun.Star