Lamitan
Encyclopedia
Lamitan is a 5th Class city
in the province of Basilan, Mindanao
, Philippines
. According to the 2008 census, it has a population of 82,074.
The City is bounded on the east by the municipality of Tuburan
, on the south by Tipo-Tipo
, on the west by Isabela City
and on the north by Basilan Strait.
According to Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay, 26,636 voted "yes" while only 177 voted against the ratification of RA 9393. Lamitan has 34,909 registered voters.
In 2008 Lamitan lost its cityhood, along with 15 other cities, after the Supreme Court of the Philippines granted a petition filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines
, and declared the cityhood law (RA 9393) which allowed the town to acquire its city status, unconstitutional. The said cities, the court ruled, did not meet the requirements for cityhood.
On December 10, 2008, under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
's time, Lamitan and the other 15 cities affected filed a motion for reconsideration with the Supreme Court. More than a year later, on December 22, 2009, acting on said appeal, the Court reversed its earlier ruling as it ruled that "at the end of the day, the passage of the amendatory law (regarding the criteria for cityhood as set by Congress) is no different from the enactment of a law, i.e., the cityhood laws specifically exempting a particular political subdivision from the criteria earlier mentioned. Congress, in enacting the exempting law/s, effectively decreased the already codified indicators." As such, the cityhood status of Lamitan is effectively restored, but not for long.
The Supreme Court, for the second time under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III
, has reversed its decision on the elevation of municipalities as cities. In a 16-page resolution dated Aug. 24, the full high court declared as “unconstitutional” the 16 so-called cityhood laws, which converted municipalities to cities during the 14th Congress, including one for Lamitan, Basilan. Since its second and last reversion on August 24, 2010, Lamitan reverted into a municipality, leaving neighboring Isabela City
the only remaining city in Basilan.
However, voting 7-6, with two justices not taking part, the SC reinstated its Nov. 18, 2008 decision declaring as unconstitutional the Republic Acts (RAs) converting 16 municipalities into cities again.
On February 17, 2011, the supreme court upheld for the 3rd time the cityhood of Lamitan and 15 other towns in the Philippines.
s.
, 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. An I.T.-based College of Nursing located in Flores Street corner Rizal Avenue, it envisions to be recognized as a leading center for nursing and allied health education in Basilan.
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.
Cities of the Philippines
A city is a tier of local government in the Philippines. All Philippine cities are chartered cities, whose existence as corporate and administrative entities is governed by their own specific charters in addition to the Local Government Code of 1991, which specifies the administrative structure...
in the province of Basilan, Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. According to the 2008 census, it has a population of 82,074.
The City is bounded on the east by the municipality of Tuburan
Tuburan, Basilan
Tuburan is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 26,498 people....
, on the south by Tipo-Tipo
Tipo-Tipo, Basilan
Tipo-tipo is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 26,548 people....
, on the west by Isabela City
Isabela City
Isabela City is a 5th class city and the capital of the province of Basilan, Philippines. The city is located on the northern shore of Basilan. Across the Basilan Strait to the north is Zamboanga City...
and on the north by Basilan Strait.
Topography
The terrain is relatively plain along the coastal areas and hilly in some areas. The urban area is 2.5 meters above sea level and gently sloping to 300 meters toward the hinterlands.Climate
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.Cityhood
On June 18, 2007 voters in Lamitan ratified 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.According to Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay, 26,636 voted "yes" while only 177 voted against the ratification of RA 9393. Lamitan has 34,909 registered voters.
In 2008 Lamitan lost its cityhood, along with 15 other cities, after the Supreme Court of the Philippines granted a petition filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines
League of Cities of the Philippines
The League of Cities of the Philippines - or more simply the League of Cities or LCP - is a formal organization of all the cities in the Philippines...
, and declared the cityhood law (RA 9393) which allowed the town to acquire its city status, unconstitutional. The said cities, the court ruled, did not meet the requirements for cityhood.
On December 10, 2008, under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
's time, Lamitan and the other 15 cities affected filed a motion for reconsideration with the Supreme Court. More than a year later, on December 22, 2009, acting on said appeal, the Court reversed its earlier ruling as it ruled that "at the end of the day, the passage of the amendatory law (regarding the criteria for cityhood as set by Congress) is no different from the enactment of a law, i.e., the cityhood laws specifically exempting a particular political subdivision from the criteria earlier mentioned. Congress, in enacting the exempting law/s, effectively decreased the already codified indicators." As such, the cityhood status of Lamitan is effectively restored, but not for long.
The Supreme Court, for the second time under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III , also known as Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th and current President of the Philippines since June 2010....
, has reversed its decision on the elevation of municipalities as cities. In a 16-page resolution dated Aug. 24, the full high court declared as “unconstitutional” the 16 so-called cityhood laws, which converted municipalities to cities during the 14th Congress, including one for Lamitan, Basilan. Since its second and last reversion on August 24, 2010, Lamitan reverted into a municipality, leaving neighboring Isabela City
Isabela City
Isabela City is a 5th class city and the capital of the province of Basilan, Philippines. The city is located on the northern shore of Basilan. Across the Basilan Strait to the north is Zamboanga City...
the only remaining city in Basilan.
However, voting 7-6, with two justices not taking part, the SC reinstated its Nov. 18, 2008 decision declaring as unconstitutional the Republic Acts (RAs) converting 16 municipalities into cities again.
On February 17, 2011, the supreme court upheld for the 3rd time the cityhood of Lamitan and 15 other towns in the Philippines.
Barangays
Lamitan is politically subdivided into 45 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
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Education
Lamitan is home to one (1) state college and three (3) private colleges. The Basilan State College is an extension college of the main SUC in Isabela City. The three HEIs are the Mindanao Autonomous CollegeMindanao Autonomous College
The Mindanao Autonomous College is the first private college institution in Basilan and the first to have an accreditation both by CHED and TESDA in Basilan...
, 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. An I.T.-based College of Nursing located in Flores Street corner Rizal Avenue, it envisions to be recognized as a leading center for nursing and allied health education in Basilan.
Historical Sites
Kalun's Shrine – Built as a tribute to a famous Yakan leader.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.