Sibutu, officially the Municipality of Sibutu (Tagalog:Bayan ng Sibutu), is a municipality in the province of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines.According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 38,070 people.

History

Due to an administrative error in the Treaty of Paris, while the remainder of the Philippines was ceded to the United States, Sibutu and Cagayán de Sulu were retained under Spanish sovereignty until they were formally ceded to the United States upon the ratification of the Treaty of Washington on March 23, 1901.

The municipality was created out of Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi, by virtue of Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 197, which was subsequently ratified in a plebiscite held on October 21, 2006. Through Presidential Proclamation 691, October 21, 2024 was declared a special non-working day for the commemoration of the municipality's creation.

Geography

It lies about 14 kilometres (8.7mi) east of the coast of Sabah, Malaysia. The municipality covers the main island of Sibutu as well as four small uninhabited islands 3.5 to 6 kilometres (2.2 to 3.7mi) south of the main island, which are, from north to south: Sicolan Calch Island, Sicolan Island, Sicolan Islet, and Saluag Island, the latter being the southernmost island of the Philippines. Sibutu Island is 50 kilometres (31mi) away from Sabah state. People living in Sibutu Island are mostly boat builders. The people also sell seaweeds, firewood and stones.

Sibutu Island has an area is 109 square kilometres (42sqmi). It is an important site for nature conservation.

Barangays

Sibutu is politically subdivided into 16 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

  • Ambutong Sapal
  • Datu Amilhamja Jaafar
  • Hadji Imam Bidin
  • Hadji Mokhtar Sulayman
  • Hadji Taha
  • Imam Hadji Mohammad
  • Nunukan
  • Sheik Makdum
  • Sibutu (Poblacion)
  • Talisay
  • Tandu Banak
  • Tandu Owak
  • Taungoh
  • Tongehat
  • Tongsibalo
  • Ungus-ungus

Climate

Climate data for Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)29 (84)29 (84)29 (84)30 (86)30 (86)30 (86)29 (84)30 (86)30 (86)30 (86)29 (84)29 (84)30 (85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)24 (75)24 (75)24 (75)25 (77)25 (77)25 (77)25 (77)25 (77)25 (77)25 (77)25 (77)25 (77)25 (77)
Average precipitation mm (inches)157 (6.2)115 (4.5)123 (4.8)96 (3.8)136 (5.4)120 (4.7)104 (4.1)89 (3.5)86 (3.4)131 (5.2)151 (5.9)159 (6.3)1,467 (57.8)
Average rainy days20.417.520.421.126.725.726.024.524.027.726.324.7285
Source: Meteoblue

Demographics

Population census of Sibutu
YearPop.±% p.a.
200735,377
201028,532−7.53%
201530,387+1.21%
202034,243+2.55%
202438,070+2.58%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Economy

Poverty Incidence of Sibutu

10 20 30 40 2006 34.70 2009 38.88 2012 31.50 2015 26.26 2018 20.89 2021 30.10 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

External links

  • Media related toSibutuat Wikimedia Commons
  • Accessed on March 9, 2006.