Maluso, officially the Municipality of Maluso (Tausūg: Dai'rah Lupah Maluso; Chavacano: Municipalidad de Maluso; Tagalog:Bayan ng Maluso), is a municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 45,730 people.

It is geographically located in the Province of Basilan, on the southwestern part of the island, near the Sulu group and Banguingui Isles. In terms of residents living in semi-urban areas, it ranks as the third most populous town after Isabela City and Lamitan City. Maluso is characterized by its beaches, rivers, and extensive mangrove areas. It is also home to diverse ethnolinguistic groups, including the Yakan, Iranun, Banguigui, and Tausug, who coexist with kolono communities from various parts of Luzon and the Visayas, many of whom migrated during the Commonwealth era and later settled permanently. Maluso is one of the core member of Western Basilan Alliance, a group of five municipalities consisted of Maluso, Hji. Muhtamad, Lantawan, Sumisip and Tabuan-Lasa LGUs, sponsored and capacitated by the Spanish government aid agency AECID-funded "MILAB 2" Project, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Basilan.

On July 1, 2022, it launched its flagship program, “Marayaw Maluso: Peace and Eco-Tourism Hub of Southern Philippines", primarily focused on three major key areas: peace, environment and tourism. Maluso is home to Maluso River, locally known as “Subah Maluso”, historically tied with its humble beginnings centuries ago, and a known source of freshwater from European sailors and adventurers of the past.

Geography

Barangays

Maluso is politically subdivided into 20 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

PSGCBarangayPopulation±% p.a.
20242010
150704001Abong-Abong1.4%9658460.93%
150704002Batungal1.8%1,2079241.90%
150704003Calang Canas4.3%2,8621,1016.97%
150704016Fuente Maluso1.8%1,1851,261−0.44%
150704004Gaunan North (Zone I)1.6%1,0791,089−0.07%
150704005Gaunan South (Zone II)2.0%1,3361,2020.75%
150704006Limbubong1.5%9761,220−1.56%
150704007Mahayahay Lower (Zone I)0.9%595671−0.84%
150704019Mahayahay Upper (Zone II)1.9%1,2521,1120.84%
150704008Muslim Area0.8%5094401.03%
150704009Port Holland Zone I Poblacion (Upper)5.7%3,7843,1711.25%
150704010Port Holland Zone II Poblacion (Shipyard Main)4.0%2,6492,4360.59%
150704011Port Holland Zone III Poblacion (Samal Village)6.8%4,5323,4172.01%
150704012Port Holland Zone IV (Lower)8.7%5,8343,3553.98%
150704020Port Holland Zone V (Shipyard Tabuk)3.1%2,0541,4442.51%
150704015Taberlongan2.8%1,8552,046−0.69%
150704017Tamuk1.5%9761,008−0.23%
150704013Townsite (Poblacion)7.5%4,9934,8200.25%
150704018Tubigan2.1%1,4241,649−1.03%
150704021Upper Garlayan0.9%579591−0.14%
Total66,81733,8034.92%

Climate

Climate data for Maluso, Basilan
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
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)28 (82)28 (82)28 (82)27 (81)27 (81)27 (81)
Average precipitation mm (inches)104 (4.1)71 (2.8)87 (3.4)96 (3.8)206 (8.1)262 (10.3)272 (10.7)264 (10.4)181 (7.1)240 (9.4)192 (7.6)109 (4.3)2,084 (82)
Average rainy days14.312.814.314.221.823.324.124.019.721.819.415.4225.1
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)

Demographics

Population census of Maluso
YearPop.±% p.a.
196016,869
197015,519−0.83%
197512,665−3.99%
198017,287+6.42%
199018,666+0.77%
199526,844+7.05%
200031,054+3.17%
200748,178+6.24%
201033,803−12.10%
201540,646+3.57%
202045,730+2.51%
202466,817+9.53%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

In the 2020 census, Maluso had a population of 45,730. The population density was 270 inhabitants per square kilometre (700/sqmi).

Economy

Poverty Incidence of Maluso

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 2003 39.90 2006 48.00 2009 39.16 2012 37.52 2015 48.70 2018 72.75 2021 59.80 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Notable people

External links