Sibutu

Sibutu, officially the Municipality of Sibutu (Tagalog: Bayan ng Sibutu), is a municipality in the province of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 34,243 people.^[3]

Sibutu سيبوتو
Municipality
Municipality of Sibutu
Sibutu Island
Flag
Map of Tawi-Tawi with Sibutu highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Sibutu Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 4°50′28″N 119°27′32″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
Province	Tawi-Tawi
District	Lone district
Founded	October 21, 2006
Barangays	16 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Nur-Fitra P. Ahaja
• Vice Mayor	Alshefa J. Pajiji
• Representative	Dimszar M. Sali
• Municipal Council	Members Shaira S. Shalim Edwardin B. Ibno Shaydie J. Buanding Haidir P. Anda Al-Hasil B. Nahul Wahab N. Abu Husna J. Juhaili Al-Randy N. Sulaiman
• Electorate	19,100 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	285.32 km2 (110.16 sq mi)
Elevation	1.0 m (3.3 ft)
Highest elevation	328 m (1,076 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	34,243
• Density	120/km2 (310/sq mi)
• Households	5,692
Economy
• Income class	no value
• Poverty incidence	30.10 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 157.9 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 237.1 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 158.4 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 11.08 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Tawi Tawi Electric Cooperative (TAWELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	7510
PSGC	1907011000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)68
Native languages	Sama Tagalog Sabah Malay

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,^[5] which was subsequently ratified in a plebiscite held on October 21, 2006.^[6] Through Presidential Proclamation 691, October 21, 2024 was declared a special non-working day for the commemoration of the municipality's creation.^[7]

Geography

It lies about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) 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 3.7 mi) 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 (31 mi) 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 (42 sq mi). It is an important site for nature conservation.^[8]

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 Mohtar 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
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
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 days	20.4	17.5	20.4	21.1	26.7	25.7	26.0	24.5	24.0	27.7	26.3	24.7	285
Source: Meteoblue[9]

Demographics

Population census of Sibutu

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2007	35,377	—
2010	28,532	−7.53%
2015	30,387	+1.21%
2020	34,243	+2.38%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13]

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[14][15][16][17][18][19]