Limasawa, officially the Municipality of Limasawa (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Limasawa; Filipino: Bayan ng Limasawa), is an island municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 6,191 people, making it the least populated town in the province.[3]

Limasawa
Mazaua
Municipality of Limasawa
Flag of Limasawa
Official seal of Limasawa
Nickname: 
"The First Mass Site in the Philippines"
Motto: 
Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa hayop at malansang isda.
Map of Southern Leyte with Limasawa highlighted
Map of Southern Leyte with Limasawa highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Limasawa is located in Philippines
Limasawa
Limasawa
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°54′28″N 125°04′30″E / 9.9078°N 125.075°E / 9.9078; 125.075
CountryPhilippines
RegionEastern Visayas
ProvinceSouthern Leyte
District 1st district
FoundedJune 11, 1978
(Completely became official on August 27, 1989)
Barangays6 (see Barangays)
Government
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorMelchor P. Petracorta (Lakas)
 • Vice MayorRitche L. Salomon (Lakas)
 • RepresentativeLuz V. Mercado
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate4,407 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total
6.98 km2 (2.69 sq mi)
Elevation
13 m (43 ft)
Highest elevation
848 m (2,782 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total
7,118
 • Density1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
 • Households
1,491
DemonymLimasawan
Economy
 • Income class6th municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
27.02
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 57.98 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 214.1 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 59.73 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 58.3 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricitySouthern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6605
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)53
Native languagesBoholano dialect
Cebuano
Tagalog

History

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Limasawa was the second island (after Suluan) of the Philippines that the Magellan Expedition landed on. Antonio Pigafetta documented the island as "Mazaua". He described it as being inhabited with cultivated fields. In March 28, 1521 the Magellan Expedition met with two rulers, Rajah Colambu and Rahah Siaui, of the Rajahnate of Butuan and "Calagan" (Caraga), which Pigafetta misidentified as islands. The rulers were on a hunting expedition on Limasawa (which were under their domain) with two balangay ships. The rulers entertained Magellan's crew with feasting for a few days. Afterwards, Father Pedro de Valderrama performed the first mass in the Philippines on Easter Sunday (March 31, 1521). Magellan also climbed the highest elevation in Limasawa and erected a cross before leaving for "Zubu" (Cebu).[5]: 136–145 

At the request of the residents of the island of Limasawa, the six barangays that comprise that island were detached and separated from the municipality of Padre Burgos through Presidential Decree No. 1549, signed by then President Ferdinand Marcos on June 11, 1978, and constituted as the Municipality of Limasawa.[6] Limasawa completely became a municipality on August 27, 1989, after then President Corazon Aquino ordered the plebiscite which its residents voted in favor of the creation. The island, also known as Sarangani Island, is located south of Leyte, in the Mindanao or Bohol Sea. It is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long from north to south and is the smallest municipality in the province, in both area and population.

Geography

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Barangays

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Limasawa is politically subdivided into 6 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Cabulihan
  • Lugsongan
  • Magallanes (Poblacion)
  • San Agustin (Tawid)
  • San Bernardo (Tigib)
  • Trianas

Climate

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Climate data for Limasawa, Southern Leyte
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(81)
28
(82)
29
(84)
30
(86)
31
(88)
30
(86)
29
(84)
30
(86)
30
(86)
29
(84)
28
(82)
28
(82)
29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
23
(73)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 98
(3.9)
82
(3.2)
96
(3.8)
71
(2.8)
104
(4.1)
129
(5.1)
101
(4.0)
94
(3.7)
99
(3.9)
135
(5.3)
174
(6.9)
143
(5.6)
1,326
(52.3)
Average rainy days 18.0 14.1 17.1 16.8 23.7 25.7 25.8 23.3 24.4 25.9 24.0 20.6 259.4
Source: Meteoblue[7]

Demographics

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Population census of Limasawa
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 4,519—    
1995 4,927+1.63%
2000 5,157+0.98%
2007 5,831+1.71%
2010 5,835+0.02%
2015 6,061+0.73%
2020 6,191+0.42%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [8][9][10][11]

Economy

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Poverty incidence of Limasawa

10
20
30
40
50
2006
25.10
2009
37.32
2012
48.54
2015
38.29
2018
22.48
2021
27.02

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Municipality of Limasawa | (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 VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ Nowell, C. E. (1962). "Antonio Pigafetta's account". Magellan's Voyage Around the World. Evanston: Northwestern University Press. hdl:2027/mdp.39015008001532. OCLC 347382.
  6. ^ "Presidential Decree No. 1549, s. 1978". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Philippine Government. June 11, 1978.
  7. ^ "Limasawa, Southern Leyte : Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  8. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  9. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  10. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  11. ^ "Province of Southern Leyte". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  14. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  15. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  16. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  18. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  19. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
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