Wikipedia

Lamitan

(Redirected from Lamitan City)

Lamitan, officially the City of Lamitan (Chavacano: Ciudad de Lamitan; Yakan: Siyudad Lamitanin; Tausūg: Dāira sin Lamitan; Filipino: Lungsod ng Lamitan), is a 6th class component city and de jure capital of the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 100,150 people.[3]

Lamitan
لميتن
City of Lamitan
Lamitan City Hall
Lamitan City Hall
Flag of Lamitan
Flag
Official seal of Lamitan
Seal
Motto(s): 
Lamitan Kong Mahal (Lamitan, My Love)
Map of Basilan with Lamitan highlighted
Map of Basilan with Lamitan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Lamitan is located in Philippines
Lamitan
Lamitan
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°39′N 122°08′E / 6.65°N 122.13°E / 6.65; 122.13
Country Philippines
Region Bangsamoro
ProvinceBasilan
District Lone district
Founded1886
CityhoodJune 8, 2007 (Lost cityhood in 2008 and 2010)
Affirmed CityhoodFebruary 15, 2011
Named forLami-Lamihan
Barangays45 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Panlungsod
 • MayorRoderick H. Furigay
 • Vice MayorHegem C. Furigay
 • RepresentativeMujiv S. Hataman
 • City Council
Members
 • Electorate50,134 voters (2022)
Area
[2]
 • Total
354.45 km2 (136.85 sq mi)
Elevation
118 m (387 ft)
Highest elevation
996 m (3,268 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total
100,150
 • Density280/km2 (730/sq mi)
 • Households
19,353
Economy
 • Income class6th city income class
 • Poverty incidence
35.99
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 664.1 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 16,895 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 588.5 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 839 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricityBasilan Electric Cooperative (BASELCO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
7302
PSGC
150702000
IDD : area code +63 (0)62
Native languagesChavacano
Yakan
Tagalog
Websitehttps://lamitancity.gov.ph/

The city is bounded on the east by the municipality of Tuburan, on the south by Tipo-Tipo, on the west by Isabela and on the north by Basilan Strait.

Etymology

edit

Lamitan is derived from the word Lami-Lamihan, which signifies a combination of Merrymaking and Conference. The town was named after the first Spaniards from Isabela who blew up the area. When the Spaniards arrived, the Yakans were celebrating their national holiday. The explorers asked for the name of the place; the Yakans assumed they were asking about the merrymaking and explained that it was the Lami-Lamihan celebration; the Spaniards misunderstood their response and later referred to the location as Lamitan.[5]

History

edit

Early history

edit

According to the city's earliest recorded historical source, the Tagihamas, also known as the Land Dyaks of Sarawak, were the first known settlers to Basilan, later evolving into the Yakan group. Yakan's home base was in the area that would become known as Lamitan.[6]

Colonization era

edit

During the Spanish, American, and Japanese occupations, the town was designated as one of Basilan's municipal districts, which were then part of Zamboanga.

Pedro "Datu Kalun" Javier Cuevas is regarded as the founding father of Lamitan. His parents, Sebastian Cuevas and Gregoria Javier, gave birth to him on May 6, 1845, in Bacoor, Cavite. Pedro was a passionate young man who cherished his hometown and was pious. He was sentenced to death at the age of 27 for his anti-Spanish efforts during the Cavite Uprising of 1872, along with two other comrades. They were accused of causing the death of a Spanish Guardia Civil officer. His sentence was reduced to life in prison due to his indirect involvement in the killing.

In June 1886, a man named Pedro Javier Cuevas, also known as Datu Kalun in Basilan history, took over leadership from the native chieftains and founded the settlement of Lamitan. The settlement grew into a town with political boundaries that included the Guiong River in the southeast and the Balagtasan River in the northwest. With the passage of time, an influx of Christian settlers arrived, who, along with their Muslim neighbors, paved the path for agricultural development in the region.[7]

In 1937, Lamitan became part of Zamboanga City. Basilan became a chartered city on July 1, 1948, as a result of Republic Act No. 288, which was sponsored by Congressman Juan S. Alano.

Establishment

edit

On December 27, 1973, His Excellency President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Presidential Decree No. 356, which established Basilan Province out of Basilan City and included three municipalities: Lamitan, Isabela and Maluso. The decree reduced Basilan City's territory to less than a square kilometer. On December 2, 1974, Presidential No. 593 revised 356 to increase the territory of Basilan City to nearly three square kilometers and divide the province into ten municipalities: Lamitan, Isabela, Maluso, Sumisip, Lantawan, Tuburan, Tipo-Tipo, Tapiantana, Malamawi, and Pilas.

Col. Tomas G. Naquil, commander of the 2/1 Brigade stationed in Basilan at the time, was named the first Military Governor. After nearly two years, Rear Admiral Romulo Espaldon, commander of the South West Command (SOWESCOM), took over as Military Governor, but the affairs of government were managed by a military caretaker, Col. Florencio E. Magsino, who was succeeded by Col. Alfeo Rillera, all Brigade Commanders. This was the situation before His Excellency President Marcos appointed Hon. Asan Camlian, the then-vice governor, was appointed Governor of Basilan Province.

Basilan City was disbanded on December 11, 1975, by virtue of the Presidential Decree No. 840 reduced the number of municipalities of Basilan Province from ten to seven, removing Tapiantana, Pilas, and Malamawi. Pedro C. Pamaran, a member of the provincial board was appointed in 1975, as Municipal Mayor of Lamitan. Furigay succeeded Pamaran in 1980. Wilfredo C. Furigay was considered the first elected mayor of the municipality of Lamitan.

In 1986, during the EDSA Revolution, Ramon F. Garcia Jr. was appointed as Mayor during the interim government. By 1988, Wilfredo C. Furigay had taken the position of mayor by way of election and was succeeded by Inocente J. Ramos in 1995 for three consecutive terms.

Cityhood

edit
Main article: Cities of the Philippines
For further information, see League of Cities of the Philippines v. COMELEC.
 
Bulingan Falls

In 2004, Roderick H. Furigay, a youthful visionary and dynamic entrepreneur, is the nephew of former mayor Wilfredo C. Furigay. Roderick H. Furigay was elected as the Local Chief Executive and served for two terms. He revived the Lamiteños' desire of converting the municipality into a component city.

On June 18, 2007, electorates in Lamitan ratified Republic Act No. 9393 which seeks to convert the town into a component city. There were a total of 26,636 votes voted yes while only 177 voted against the move.

The Supreme Court declared the cityhood law of Lamitan and 15 other cities unconstitutional after a petition filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines in its ruling on November 18, 2008. On December 22, 2009, the cityhood law of Lamitan and 15 other municipalities regain its status as cities again after the court reversed its ruling on November 18, 2008. On August 23, 2010, the court reinstated its ruling on November 18, 2008, causing Lamitan and 15 cities to become regular municipalities. Finally, on February 15, 2011, Lamitan becomes a city again including the 15 municipalities declaring that the conversion to cityhood met all legal requirements.

After six years of legal battle, in its board resolution, the League of Cities of the Philippines acknowledged and recognized the cityhood of Lamitan and 15 other cities.

Contemporary

edit

In July 2016, the Basilan provincial government broke ground for the construction of the new provincial capitol inside the defunct 4,000-hectare (9,900-acre) University of the Philippines (UP) Land Grant in Barangay Santa Clara.[8]

In July 2022, Lamitan gained national attention when former mayor Rose Furigay, who had served as the city's mayor from 2013 to June 2022, was assassinated in a mass shooting at the Ateneo de Manila University where two others were killed.[9]

On June 18, 2024, during the celebration of the city's 17th anniversary, mayor Roderick Furigay highlighted and declared the city free from the dreaded Abu Sayyaf in his State of the City Report (SOCR).[10] However, several hours after the declaration, a bomb explosion occurred at a gas station located in Barangay Matibay.[11]

Geography

edit

The terrain is relatively plain along the coastal areas and hilly in some areas. The urban area is 2.5 meters (8 ft 2 in) above sea level and gently sloping to 300 meters (980 ft) toward the hinterlands.

Barangays

edit

Lamitan is politically subdivided into 45 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

  • Arco
  • Ba-as
  • Baimbing
  • Balagtasan
  • Balas
  • Balobo
  • Bato
  • Baungos
  • Bohebessey
  • Boheibu
  • Bohenange
  • Bohesapa
  • Boheyakan
  • Boheyawas
  • Buahan
  • Bulanting
  • Bulingan
  • Cabobo
  • Calugusan
  • Campo Uno
  • Colonia
  • Danit-Puntocan
  • Kulay Bato
  • Lebbuh
  • Limo-ok
  • Lo-ok
  • Luksumbang
  • Lumuton
  • Maganda (Poblacion)
  • Malakas (Poblacion)
  • Maligaya (Poblacion)
  • Malinis (Poblacion)
  • Malo-ong Canal
  • Malo-ong San Jose
  • Matatag (Poblacion)
  • Matibay (Poblacion)
  • Parangbasak
  • Sabong
  • Santa Clara
  • Sengal
  • Tandong Ahas
  • Tumakid
  • Ubit
  • Ulame

Climate

edit
Climate data for Lamitan, Basilan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(81) 		27
(81) 		27
(81) 		28
(82) 		28
(82) 		28
(82) 		28
(82) 		28
(82) 		28
(82) 		28
(82) 		28
(82) 		28
(82) 		28
(82)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 27
(81) 		26
(79) 		27
(81) 		27
(81) 		28
(82) 		28
(82) 		27
(81) 		27
(81) 		27
(81) 		27
(81) 		27
(81) 		27
(81) 		27
(81)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 106
(4.2) 		77
(3.0) 		91
(3.6) 		104
(4.1) 		236
(9.3) 		321
(12.6) 		325
(12.8) 		306
(12.0) 		227
(8.9) 		271
(10.7) 		204
(8.0) 		115
(4.5) 		2,383
(93.7)
Average rainy days 15.3 13.8 17.7 15.5 23.1 24.5 24.3 24.6 21.1 22.9 20.1 16.6 239.5
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[12]

The climatic condition is the same with other areas in the entire Basilan Island. It has a "D" type of climate and rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.

Demographics

edit
 
Lami-Lamihan Festival
Population census of Lamitan
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 35,160—    
1970 37,423+0.62%
1975 39,703+1.19%
1980 45,223+2.64%
1990 47,859+0.57%
1995 54,433+2.44%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2000 58,709+1.63%
2007 82,074+4.73%
2010 68,996−6.12%
2015 74,782+1.55%
2020 100,150+5.91%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16]

Economy

edit
 
Lamitan poblacion

Poverty Incidence of Lamitan

10
20
30
40
50
60
2000
44.75
2003
24.87
2006
33.80
2009
17.48
2012
31.94
2015
37.55
2018
52.71
2021
35.99

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]

Historical sites

edit
 
Datu Kalun Shrine
  • Datu Kalun Shrine – Built as a tribute to a famous Yakan leader and founder of Lamitan. His descendants are the Antonio-Cuevas-Pamaran-Flores clan.
  • Museum of Lamitan – Showcases the color and highlights of the Lami-lamihan festival. It also serves as the information center for the development of this town.

Education

edit

Tertiary

edit

Lamitan is home to one state college and three private colleges. The Basilan State College is an extension college of the main SUC in Isabela. The three HEIs are the Mindanao Autonomous College, the Mariam School of Nursing and Furigay Colleges, Inc. (FCI).

The Mariam School of Nursing was established in 2004 as part of its Chairwoman's educational outreach program and was named Mariam or Mother Mary - a unifying and guiding figure among the Christians and Muslims. Also offers 11 Tesda Qualifications for National Certificates.

Secondary

edit

Lamitan has Seven Secondary Schools: one Private Secondary School; The Claret School of Lamitan, one Laboratory School of Basilan State College and five National High Schools i.e. Lamitan National High School, Look National High School,Colony National High School,Ubit National High School and Parangbasak National High School.

Elementary

edit

There are five districts that composed of thirty nine elementary schools namely; Lamitan East District, South District, Central District, West I District and West II District. There are four private elementary schools.

References

edit
  1. ^  City of Lamitan | (DILG)
  2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Census of Population (2020). "Bangsamoro (BARMM)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "EXECUTIVE SUMMARY" (PDF). Commission on Audit. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "HISTORICAL BACKGROUND". Lamitan City Website: Official Website of Lamitan City. Retrieved June 20, 2024.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ Unson, John (June 26, 2022). "Lamitan honors Caviteño who resisted Spain, became datu, founded city". philstar.com. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "ARMM to put up new Basilan capitol". The Philippine STAR.
  9. ^ "Former Lamitan mayor, two others killed in Ateneo shooting". GMA News. July 24, 2022. Archived from the original on July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "Lamitan City in Basilan declared free of Abu Sayyaf". GMA Integrated News. June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  11. ^ Garcia, Teofilo Jr. (June 19, 2024). "Bomb goes off in Lamitan hours after mayor declares city Abu Sayyaf-free". Rappler.com. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  12. ^ "Lamitan, Basilan : Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  13. ^ Census of Population (2015). "ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  14. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  15. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  16. ^ "Province of Basilan". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  17. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI)". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  18. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  19. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
  20. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
  21. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
  22. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
  23. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  24. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
edit
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lamitan.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lamitan&oldid=1259282464"