The City Government of Isabela de Basilan led by Mayor Sitti Djalia A. Turabin-Hataman through its City Tourism Office signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the inclusion of the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) of Isabela de Basilan in its Cultural Mapping Project in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. The realization of the inclusive approach of the cultural mapping was facilitated by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) through the leadership of Provincial Officer Engr. George T. Jocutan and NCIP Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Gibran Abubakar.

Leaders of ICCs who attended the meeting include IP SP Council Representative, Hon. Abdulkuddus A. Salihin (Yakan), Ms. Mary May Julhari (Badjao-Tampalan) and Mr. Abdurasid Omar (Sama Bangingi). Isabela City Tourism Officer Claudio M. Ramos II joined Mayor Turabin-Hataman in the MOA Signing which was held on October 13, 2021 at Sunrise, this City.

The said document focused on the importance of the Cultural Mapping Project, and how effectively it will involve the City’s IP communities by observing culturally sensitive and appropriate procedures.

An IP Assembly Validation was done on September 21, 2021, which became the benchmark in the creation of the MOA. In the said assembly, the City Government presented the salient features of the project and sought the necessary approval from the City’s cultural communities.