Basilan is an island province of the Philippines and it is located southwest of Zamboanga Sibugay and northeast of Sulu Province. The province can be reached via the airport or seaport of Zamboanga City and then take a boat or fastcraft to Isabela City or Lamitan. Terrain is hilly and mountainous with some coastal plains. Climate is characterized by no pronounced seasons, relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year.

Basilan Provincial Capitol

Basilan is home to the Yakan and Tausug tribes of Muslims but many Christian migrants have settled in many parts of the province especially in Isabela City which is now administratively a part of Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula).

Economy is mainly agricultural. Farm and fishery production of the province in 2007 are as follows (figure in thousand metric tons, rank among 79 provinces)

Animal inventory of Basilan in 2007 are as follows (figure in thousand, rank among 79 provinces)

As of 2007, there were 6 banks operating in the province with total deposits of more than one billion pesos. Poverty incidence stood at 43.7 % in 2006, very high compared to the national average of 32.9%.

The province of Basilan is composed of 12 municipalities namely:

Note: The City of Isabela is not administratively a part of Basilan Province

The province of Basilan can be developed as the center of fish and seaweeds processing. Other businesses to put up are halal foods processing, production of consumer products and construction materials, trading of muslim artifacts, and the establishment of tourist facilities.

1. Menzi Rubber Plantations
2. Lamitan Market
3. Mamalawi Island - has fine beaches

Capitol photo credit to scudinreallife.wordpress.com

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