Bongao, Tawi-Tawi

Bongao
Municipality
Municipality of Bongao
Aerial view of the Bongao Coast

Map of Tawi-Tawi with Bongao highlighted
Bongao
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 5°02′N 119°46′E / 5.03°N 119.77°E / 5.03; 119.77Coordinates: 5°02′N 119°46′E / 5.03°N 119.77°E / 5.03; 119.77
Country  Philippines
Region Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
Province Tawi-Tawi
District Lone District
Barangays 35 (see Barangays)
Government [1]
 • Type Sangguniang Bayan
 • Mayor Jimuel Shia Que
 • Electorate 47,661 voters (2016)
Area [2]
 • Total 365.95 km2 (141.29 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
 • Total 100,527
 • Density 270/km2 (710/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code 7500
PSGC 157002000
IDD : area code  +63 (0)68
Climate type Tropical climate
Income class 2nd municipal income class
Revenue (₱) 155,891,147.65 (2016)
Native languages Sama language
Tagalog
Website www.bongao.gov.ph

Bongao, officially the Municipality of Bongao, is a 2nd class municipality and capital of the province of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 100,527 people.[3]

The municipality's territory includes Bongao Island (where the poblacion is located), Sanga-Sanga Island, Pababag Island, as well as the western end of Tawi-Tawi Island.

Barangays

Bongao is politically subdivided into 35 barangays.

  • Ipil
  • Kamagong
  • Karungdong
  • Lakit Lakit
  • Lamion
  • Lapid Lapid
  • Lato Lato
  • Luuk Pandan
  • Luuk Tulay
  • Malassa
  • Mandulan
  • Masantong
  • Montay Montay
  • Pababag
  • Pagasinan
  • Pahut
  • Pakias
  • Paniongan
  • Pasiagan
  • Bongao Poblacion
  • Sanga-Sanga
  • Silubog
  • Simandagit
  • Sumangat
  • Tarawakan
  • Tongsinah
  • Tubig Basag
  • Ungus-ungus
  • Lagasan
  • Nalil
  • Pagatpat
  • Pag-asa
  • Tubig Tanah
  • Tubig-Boh
  • Tubig-Mampallam

History

Bud Bongao, a 250-hectare mountain-forest located inside the municipality

Evidence of human presence in Bongao was carbon-dated to be 8,810 to 5,190 years old, signifying one of the earliest known evidence of human presence in Southeast Asia. The bones, jars, shells, and other artifacts and fossils were found in the Bolobok Rock Shelter Cave Archaeological Site, which has been declared as an Important Cultural Treasure by the government in 2017.[4]

Much of the Bongao area was the center of Bajau culture and arts for hundreds of years. By the 14th century, Muslim missionaries from Arabia arrived and established the first ever mosque in the Philippines. The area was heavily converted to Islam, especially when the Sultanate of Sulu in nearby Sulu province was founded.

The province of Tawi-tawi was never officially controlled directly by the Spanish as the Sultanate of Sulu was in a perpetual war with Spain, resulting to the preservation of its Muslim and Bajau cultures. However, the sultanate waned and was captured by Spain, only to be handed to American forces after a few years. Sibutu remained under Spanish rule until 1900.

Before the armed rebellion of the MNLF in the early 1970s, Bongao was merely a backwater village ruled by the prominent noble Halun family, who used to own about three-quarters of the island. The capital of the province was Batu-Batu (in Panglima Sugala) in the mainland situated in a cove with deep waters suited for anchors of the Philippine Navy. At the height of the armed rebellion and fearing that the provincial capitol might be overrun, the government transferred it to Bongao. The white-washed, Taj Mahal-inspired provincial capitol building is located on a hill overlooking the bay and the whole town to the North of the Island against the backdrop of Mount Kabugan and the famous Bud Bongao (Bongao Peak).

The transfer of the seat of government ushered the rapid development of the island as the southernmost center of commerce and trade. Suddenly, the population swelled as individuals (and their families) who are in government service moved to the town.

Demographics

Population census of Bongao
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 1,854—    
1918 3,486+4.30%
1939 4,510+1.23%
1948 5,626+2.49%
1960 10,822+5.60%
1970 20,983+6.84%
1975 20,560−0.41%
1980 27,884+6.28%
1990 37,932+3.13%
1995 46,672+3.96%
2000 58,174+4.84%
2007 95,055+7.01%
2010 79,362−6.36%
2015 100,527+4.60%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3] [5] [6] [7]
View of Bongao poblacion

Culture

Today, Bongao is a minuscule cosmopolitan site that is becoming a model of multicultural society. In downtown Bongao, there are mosques for the majority Muslim population, a Catholic church, a church for Protestant inhabitants, and a Chinese temple.

The municipality is the home of the Balobok Rock Shelter-Cave Archaeological Site, which carbon dates the existence of humans on Tawi-Tawi for 5,000-8,000 years, making it one of the earliest human settlement site in Southeast Asia. The entire archaeological site has been declared as an Important Cultural Property by the National Government in 2017.[8]

Economy

The main thoroughfare is Datu Halun Street, where the Town Hall is situated. Poblacion is the commercial hub. Most of the businesses here are owned by local people. Due to its relative peace and order situation, recent migrant Chinese from Zamboanga have also open business.

Banks operating in Bongao include Land Bank of the Philippines, Philippine National Bank, and Metrobank. Quedancor, a government owned investment company, has recently opened business.

The Midway Plaza Mall, a new 2-storey retail center, is the first shopping mall in Tawi-tawi (and the whole of ARMM) opened in April 2010.

Education

Bongao is home to the Mindanao State University - Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO), Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College (TRAC), Mahardika Institute of Technology (MIT), Abubakar Learning Center Foundation College (ACLC), Tawi-Tawi School of Midwifery (TTSM). The first two are government owned state colleges, while the last three are privately owned.

There are several secondary high schools in Tawi-Tawi such as the MSU TCTO - Science High School, MSU TCTO Preparatory High School, Tawi-Tawi School of Arts and Trade, Notre Dame of Bongao, and Tawi-Tawi School of Fisheries (TTSF).

References

  1. ↑ "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "Province: Tawi-tawi". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Census of Population (2015). "ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. ↑ http://www.ironwulf.net/2009/03/19/tawi-tawi-balobok-rock-shelter/
  5. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  7. ↑ "Province of Tawi‑tawi". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  8. ↑ http://www.ironwulf.net/2009/03/19/tawi-tawi-balobok-rock-shelter/
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