Itbayat, Batanes

Itbayat, officially the Municipality of Itbayat, (Ivatan: Kavahayan nu Itbayat; Tagalog: Bayan ng Itbayat), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Batanes, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 2,867 people.[4]

Itbayat
Municipality
Municipality of Itbayat
Seal
Nickname(s): 
Northernmost Settlement of the Philippines
Map of Batanes with Itbayat highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Itbayat
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 20°47′16″N 121°50′29″E
Country Philippines
RegionCagayan Valley (Region II)
ProvinceBatanes
DistrictLone District
Founded1935
Barangays5 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorRaul M. De Sagon
 • Vice MayorRonald V. Gutierrez
 • CongressmanCiriaco B. Gato Jr.
 • Electorate1,922 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total83.13 km2 (32.10 sq mi)
Elevation98.8 m (324.1 ft)
Highest elevation
(Mount Riposed)
229 m (751 ft)
Population
 (2015 census)[4]
 • Total2,867
 • Density34/km2 (89/sq mi)
 • Households
828
Economy
 • Income class5th municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence26.38% (2015)[5]
 • Revenue (₱)31,529,749.16 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
3905
PSGC
020902000
IDD : area code +63 (0)78
Climate typetropical monsoon climate
Native languagesItbayat language
Ivatan
Yami
Tagalog
Ilocano

Itbayat is the country's northernmost municipality, located 156 kilometers (97 mi) from the southernmost tip of Taiwan.

In addition to the main island of Itbayat which is the largest in Batanes, the municipality includes the rest of the province's northern islands, all small and mostly uninhabited. These islands are, from south to north: Di'nem Island, Siayan, Misanga, Ah'li, and Mavulis Island, the northernmost island of the Philippine archipelago.

History

While the church and civil government were already established in Batan Island in 1783, it was only in 1855 that civil authority was officially established and the mission canonically founded in Itbayat. A mere settlement during the Spanish colonial period, it became a municipal district when the Americans organized the province in 1909. However, in 1935, it became a municipality.

On September 14, 2016, Typhoon Meranti (Ferdie) made landfall on Itbayat while at peak intensity, as a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon, with the center of the eye passing directly over the island.[6][7] During landfall, the storm's powerful winds caused extensive damage and knocked out the island's communications systems.[8]

Geography

Itbayat is located at 20°47′16″N 121°50′29″E.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 83.13 square kilometres (32.10 sq mi) [2] constituting 37.96% of the 219.01-square-kilometre- (84.56 sq mi) total area of Batanes.

Barangays

Itbayat is politically subdivided into 5 barangays.[9]

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2015[4] 2010[10]
020902006 Raele 16.2% 465 442 ▴ 0.97%
020902007 San Rafael (Idiang) 26.0% 745 789 ▾ −1.09%
020902008 Santa Lucia (Kawxawxasan) 14.7% 422 478 ▾ −2.34%
020902009 Santa Maria (Marapuy) 16.1% 463 438 ▴ 1.06%
020902010 Santa Rosa (Hiñatu) 26.9% 772 841 ▾ −1.62%
Total 2,867 2,988 ▾ −0.78%

Climate
Climate data for Itbayat, Batanes (1981–2010, extremes 1971–2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 30.6
(87.1)		 31.8
(89.2)		 31.9
(89.4)		 34.8
(94.6)		 36.5
(97.7)		 35.6
(96.1)		 37.0
(98.6)		 34.6
(94.3)		 34.5
(94.1)		 32.9
(91.2)		 31.8
(89.2)		 30.2
(86.4)		 37.0
(98.6)
Average high °C (°F) 24.2
(75.6)		 25.0
(77.0)		 26.4
(79.5)		 28.4
(83.1)		 29.8
(85.6)		 30.5
(86.9)		 30.9
(87.6)		 30.3
(86.5)		 29.8
(85.6)		 28.6
(83.5)		 26.9
(80.4)		 24.9
(76.8)		 28.0
(82.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 21.4
(70.5)		 22.1
(71.8)		 23.5
(74.3)		 25.4
(77.7)		 26.9
(80.4)		 27.7
(81.9)		 28.0
(82.4)		 27.6
(81.7)		 27.1
(80.8)		 25.9
(78.6)		 24.1
(75.4)		 22.0
(71.6)		 25.2
(77.4)
Average low °C (°F) 18.6
(65.5)		 19.2
(66.6)		 20.6
(69.1)		 22.5
(72.5)		 24.0
(75.2)		 24.9
(76.8)		 25.1
(77.2)		 24.9
(76.8)		 24.4
(75.9)		 23.1
(73.6)		 21.4
(70.5)		 19.2
(66.6)		 22.3
(72.1)
Record low °C (°F) 12.2
(54.0)		 10.7
(51.3)		 13.8
(56.8)		 14.0
(57.2)		 18.8
(65.8)		 20.0
(68.0)		 18.7
(65.7)		 20.0
(68.0)		 19.8
(67.6)		 15.0
(59.0)		 14.8
(58.6)		 12.5
(54.5)		 10.7
(51.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 156.0
(6.14)		 84.6
(3.33)		 69.8
(2.75)		 57.2
(2.25)		 243.7
(9.59)		 253.8
(9.99)		 269.1
(10.59)		 450.0
(17.72)		 344.1
(13.55)		 299.0
(11.77)		 239.1
(9.41)		 141.6
(5.57)		 2,607.9
(102.67)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) 17 12 10 7 11 12 14 19 17 17 18 16 170
Average relative humidity (%) 84 84 85 85 86 87 87 88 88 87 86 84 86
Source: PAGASA[11][12]

Demographics
Population census of Itbayat
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 1,198—    
1918 1,363+0.86%
1939 1,625+0.84%
1948 1,954+2.07%
1960 2,365+1.60%
1970 2,760+1.55%
1975 2,978+1.54%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1980 2,859−0.81%
1990 3,448+1.89%
1995 3,129−1.80%
2000 3,616+3.15%
2007 3,069−2.24%
2010 2,988−0.97%
2015 2,867−0.78%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[4][10][13][14]

In the 2015 census, Itbayat had a population of 2,867.[4] The population density was 34 inhabitants per square kilometre (88/sq mi).

Attractions
  • Siayan Island: the nearest island to the north of Itbayat. It has beaches accessible by a one-hour ride by motorboat from Itbayat (depending on sea condition).
  • Di'nem Island: this volcanic island located east of Itbayat. It features boulder beaches with towering cliffs used for mountain climbing.
  • Rapang Cliff: A natural park with a ringing mushroom-like rock. It is believed to have been used by the ancient settlers to call a meeting.
  • Mount Riposed: One of the two major elevations (aside from Karaboboan) that have been the foundation of Itbayat Island. Situated in the south-eastern part of Itbayat has an elevation of 900 feet (270 m) that offers views of the island.[15]
  • Mount Karaboboan (Mount Santa Rosa): The other extinct volcano of Itbayat Island is in the island's northern half.[15] Near the 800-foot (240 m) mountain is a settlement of the early settlers of Itbayat near Barangay Santa Rosa.
  • Torongan Cave: The most ancient dwelling place has a burial ground on top. It is believed to be the first landing place of the Austronesians from Taiwan around 2000 BC.
  • Nahili Votox: With its own Ijang and boat-shaped burial grounds, it is also an ancient settlement where many broken clay pots have been found. Its Ijang has views of Dinem and Itbayat Island's eastern coast.
  • Underground Stream in Kumayasakas: The stream flows down the sea, north-west of Itbayat.
  • Itbayat Caves: These caves feature stalagmites and stalactites, and have been given the names Northern Sarokan, Eastern Sarokan, Do'tboran Cave, and Pevangan Cave.
  • Agosan Rock: rock formation north of Itbayat which is a breeding site for endangered birds.
  • Vernacular houses: A typical vernacular house is composed of three structures:
    • (the kitchen where they use kugon to cook
    • the actual house where people stay
    • the bathroom).
  • Port Mauyen: An alternative port south of Itbayat with a 14-turn zigzag road. It is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south of the town.
  • Groto: 155 steps up

Transportation

Reaching Itbayat by a direct route from Manila is by plane via Jorge Abad Airport. There is a commercial carrier that provides flights to Itbayat from Basco, the capital of Batanes:

  • SkyPasada
  • NorthSky Air

Sea transport companies that service Itbayat are:

  • M/B Ocean Spirit
  • M/B Itranza
  • M/B Veronica

References
  1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. "Province: Batanes". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. "Itbayat, Batanes Profile". PhilAtlas.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  4. Census of Population (2015). "Region II (Cagayan Valley)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  5. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  6. Clark, Steven (14 September 2016). "Eye of typhoon Meranti passes over Philippines' Itbayat". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  7. Smith, Nicola (14 September 2016). "Typhoon Meranti: fears for tiny Philippine island in eye of a megastorm". The Guardian. Taipei. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  8. Tupaz, Voltaire (September 18, 2016). "Zero casualty: Government reaches isolated Batanes island". Rappler. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  9. "Municipal: Itbayat, Batanes". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  10. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region II (Cagayan Valley)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  11. "Itbayat, Batanes Climatological Normal Values". Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  12. "Itbayat, Batanes Climatological Extremes". Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  13. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region II (Cagayan Valley)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  14. "Province of Batanes". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  15. United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (1919). "United States Coast Pilot - Philippine Islands", pg. 38. Government Printing Office, Washington.
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