The province is currently represented in the lower house of the Congress of the Philippines through its lone congressional district.
Prior to gaining separate representation, areas now under the jurisdiction of Basilan were represented under Zamboanga Province (1898–1899; 1935–1953), the Department of Mindanao and Sulu (1917–1935), Zamboanga del Sur (1953–1972) and Region IX (1978–1984).
288)[1] and of the Province of Zamboanga del Sur (pursuant to Section 7 of Republic Act No.
[4] The new province was represented in the Interim Batasang Pambansa as part of Region IX from 1978 to 1984.
Basilan was granted separate representation for the first time in 1984, when it returned one representative, elected at large, to the Regular Batasang Pambansa.