ABOUT US

HISTORICAL PROFILE TABUAN-LASA is a newest created municipality in Basilan. It is carved out from the municipality of Sumisip by virtue of Muslim Autonomy Act (MMAA) no. 187 of the fifth (5th) Legislative Assembly on July 10, 2007. It is an Island Municipality and has twelve (12) Barangays. The name is an acronym of the four Islands that comprises the Municipality, namely; Tapiantanah, the largest among the four, Bubuan, Lanawan and Saluping. TABUAN-LASA was supposed to be one among the ten (10) Municipalities components of Basilan when it was created into province by Presidential Decree by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1973. It was later amended to only seven Municipalities components and TABUAN-LASA merged into Sumisip due to inappropriate population requirement. In 1988, then Congressman Gerry A. Salapuddin, filed a bill in congress proposing the creation of TABUAN-LASA into municipality, but failed for the same reason, its population status. In the last NSO census enumeration of 2007, there was a dramatic increased of population in the whole province, and TABUAN-LASA successfully obtained a total population of 25, 975, which qualify him to separate from Sumisip as a Municipality. Late Congressman Wahab M. Akbar strongly indorsed its creation even during his term as Governor of the province but it was only materialized when he assumed the seat of representative for Basilan until his death in December 207. The unaccomplished task was delegated to Mayor Haber Asarul of Sumisip with the support of Sangguniang Bayan, and plebiscite was held last March 29, 2008. The first appointed mayor and currently the Chief Executive of the municipality is Hon. Muctar Junaid, Al Haj. and Hon. Abadia M. Abdulgani, his vice-mayor. Their first Municipal Councilors are the Following; 1.Ashier M. Abdulla, 2. Jihad M Amilhamja, 3.Najer P. Jakaria, 4.Nuhi O. Hussain, 5.Sajid A. Harun, 6.Hadji Khalid Abbas, 7. Sara U. Haris and 8. Angkibo Abdurasan. During the height Moro revolt in the 70’s, the whole Island of TABUAN-LASA became MNLF Base Command and always the center of skirmishes between the Bangsa Moro and the Government forces during the Marcos Martial Law regime. However, after the war, this Island became the center of economic activity in the southern part of the province and commerce was in its peak between the Basilan and the neighboring Malaysia in the 1980’s. But due to continuing conflict among the prominent clan and negligent of administration from the mainland, prosperity was diminished and to the extent that development almost non existence for the last 20 years.

Geographical location 

The Municipality of Tabuan-Lasa is an Island municipality which is surrounded by waters. It is composed of four (4) major islands of Tapiantanah, Bubuan, Lanawan and Saluping. It is located at Latitude 122 01’ 15’ West to 122 13’ 22 East and Longitude 6 00” South to 6 32’ 00” North.

It is at the southern part of the mainland Basilan Province. It is about 15 kilometers to Sumisip Municipality and about 25 km to Maluso Municipality.

Bounded on the North by Municipality of Sumisip (Basilan Mainland) South by Municipality of Banguingui (Tongkil,Sulu) in the East by Celebes Sea and West by Sulu Sea

Land Area 

The municipality of Tabuan-Lasa has a total land area of 55.56 square kilometer and a 750 square kilometer rich fishing ground stretching deep to the Celebes Sea.

Political Subdivision 

The island Municipality is composed of twelve (12) barangays scattered all the four major islands. Classification of the urban and rural Barangay is based on the total population of each Barangay and the presence of government facilities.

COMMUNICATION & TRANSPORTATION TABUAN-LASA is an Island Municipality, the only means of transportations presently available are motorized boat. Travel time varies from two (2) to 3 hours either from the Isabela City or from Maluso town. Local road network that connect its Barangays is still non-existence, residents use only sea transport when they traveling inter-Barangay. Although there is no cell site of telecommunication present in the area, Globe and Smart communication signal can be traced in selected site in the municipality. Local residents often use the two-way radio (i-com) for communication.

COMMERCE AND TRADE
The municipality still do not have town center, their products are usually marketed to Maluso town and the cities of Isabela and Zamboanga. Oftentimes, during market day (Tabuh), they trade with the nearby coastal town of mainland municipalities.



Efforts by the present administration to improve economic activity have always been the top priority for the municipality to move forward.

Major Products
The Municipality of TABUAN-LASA has a vast area of fishing ground, extending up to 20.0 kilometer deep into Celebes Sea, including its undisturbed shoreline and pristine coral reefs, has made him abundance in marine life and resources.

Varieties of Tuna, Mackerel, Sardines, Lapu-Lapu and other high value species of fish can be found in municipal water. Seaweeds is at present the source of income of the local resident aside from fishing.