Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

Lake Sebu, officially the Municipality of Lake Sebu (Tboli: Benwu Sbù,[5] /sbuʔ/; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Sëbu /səˈbuʔ/; Tagalog: Bayan ng Sëbu), is a 1st class municipality in the province of South Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 81,221 people.[3]

Lake Sebu
Sbù
Municipality of Lake Sebu
The eponymous Lake Sebu
The eponymous Lake Sebu
Flag of Lake Sebu
Official seal of Lake Sebu
Nicknames: 
  • Home of the T'nalak Weavers(ing)
  • Philippines' Natural Wonder
  • Summer Capital of Southern Mindanao
  • Bowl of Forest and Mountains
Map of South Cotabato with Lake Sebu highlighted
Map of South Cotabato with Lake Sebu highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Lake Sebu is located in Philippines
Lake Sebu
Lake Sebu
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°13′N 124°42′E / 6.22°N 124.7°E / 6.22; 124.7
CountryPhilippines
RegionSoccsksargen
ProvinceSouth Cotabato
District 2nd district
Barangays19 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorRemie M. Unggol
 • Vice MayorLiezel T. Isuga
 • RepresentativePeter B. Miguel
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate45,933 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total
702.00 km2 (271.04 sq mi)
Elevation
781 m (2,562 ft)
Highest elevation
1,570 m (5,150 ft)
Lowest elevation
364 m (1,194 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total
81,221
 • Density120/km2 (300/sq mi)
 • Households
18,969
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
42.12
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 376.7 million (2020, 2019)
 • Assets₱ 528.5 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 354.7 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 138 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricitySouth Cotabato 1 Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO 1)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
9506
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)83
Native languagesTboli
Hiligaynon
Cebuano
Blaan
Tagalog
Maguindanaon
Websitelakesebuscot.gov.ph

The bestselling Lonely Planet described Lake Sebu as a place located in a "bowl of forests and mountains". The 42,450-hectare landscape consisting the domains of the Allah Valley is recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a cultural landscape in Mindanao.[6]

Geography

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Lake Sebu

The placid lake of Lake Sebu can be found in Allah Valley near the municipality of Surallah, South Cotabato. Surrounded by rolling hills and mountains covered with thick rain forest, the lake has an area of 354 hectares (870 acres), with an elevation of approximately 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).

Barangays

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Former flag of Lake Sebu
 
Alternate flag of Lake Sebu

Lake Sebu is politically subdivided into 19 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

  • Bacdulong
  • Denlag
  • Halilan
  • Hanoon
  • Klubi
  • Lake Lahit
  • Lamcade
  • Lamdalag
  • Lamfugon
  • Lamlahak
  • Lower Maculan
  • Luhib
  • Ned
  • Poblacion
  • Siloton
  • Lake Seloton
  • Talisay
  • Takunel
  • Upper Maculan
  • Tasiman

Climate

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Climate data for Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(81)
27
(81)
27
(81)
27
(81)
26
(79)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
26
(79)
26
(79)
26
(79)
26
(79)
26
(79)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 19
(66)
19
(66)
20
(68)
20
(68)
21
(70)
21
(70)
20
(68)
20
(68)
20
(68)
21
(70)
20
(68)
20
(68)
20
(68)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 146
(5.7)
121
(4.8)
164
(6.5)
212
(8.3)
347
(13.7)
397
(15.6)
364
(14.3)
366
(14.4)
302
(11.9)
308
(12.1)
280
(11.0)
192
(7.6)
3,199
(125.9)
Average rainy days 16.7 15.5 19.4 22.7 29.0 28.9 27.9 27.5 26.5 28.1 27.2 22.6 292
Source: Meteoblue[7]

Demographics

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Population census of Lake Sebu
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 34,350—    
1995 47,617+6.31%
2000 54,142+2.79%
2007 60,401+1.52%
2010 76,170+8.81%
2015 87,442+2.66%
2020 81,221−1.44%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11]

The lake's shores and the surrounding rainforest are home to the Indigenous Tbolis, Tirurays,[12] Ubos, and Manobos. One of the major tribes, the Tbolis are known for their weaving skills and brassware production as well as fishing skills. The rest of the population are made of Maguindanaons, Ilonggos, Cebuanos, Bicolanos, and Ilocanos.

Economy

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Poverty incidence of Lake Sebu

10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2006
55.10
2009
52.83
2012
63.47
2015
64.00
2018
49.30
2021
42.12

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

The economy is based on aquaculture of Tilapia grown in large fish cages floating in the lake. More than one half of the land around the lake is cultivated for agriculture. The Philippine government is also trying to promote ecotourism in the area. The finishing of a concrete road cut the travel time from 4 hours to less than 30 minutes greatly improving trade and commerce.

Wildlife

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Wild boars and Philippine Deer which are considered endangered live around the lake. The lake and the surrounding rainforest are natural habitat to egrets, kingfishers, swallows, herons, Philippine cockatoos and kites.

Environmental conservation

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The Philippine government proclaimed a 924.5 square kilometres (357.0 sq mi) area as a protected landscape. On the south-eastern watershed of the lake, a bamboo plantation was established.

References

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  1. ^ Municipality of Lake Sebu | (DILG)
  2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Census of Population (2020). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "Tboli Dictionary » Search Results » sbu".
  6. ^ "9 spectacular places to visit in Mindanao".
  7. ^ "Lake Sebu: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  8. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  9. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  10. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  11. ^ "Province of South Cotabato". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  12. ^ Tejero, Constantino (October 25, 2015). "The T'boli: A story of massive land-grabbing through the centuries". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  13. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  14. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  15. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
  16. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
  17. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
  18. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
  19. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  20. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
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