Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

Lake Sebu

Sbù
Lake Sebu Sbù
Municipality
	Municipality of Lake Sebu
	The eponymous Lake Sebu
	Flag Seal
	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
	OpenStreetMap
	Lake Sebu Location within the Philippines
	Coordinates: 6°13′N 124°42′E / 6.22°N 124.7°E
Country	Philippines
Region	Soccsksargen
Province	South Cotabato
District	2nd district
Barangays	19 (see Barangays)
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• mayor of Lake Sebu[*]	Remie M. Unggol
• Vice Mayor	Liezel T. Isuga
• Representative	Peter B. Miguel
• Municipal Council	Members
• Electorate	45,933 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)
• Total	81,221
• Density	120/km2 (300/sq mi)
• Households	18,969
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	42.12% (2021)
• Revenue	₱ 376.7 million (2020, 2019)
• Assets	₱ 528.5 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 354.7 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 138 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	South Cotabato 1 Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO 1)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	9506
PSGC	126319000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)83
Native languages	Tboli; Hiligaynon; Cebuano; Blaan; Tagalog ; Maguindanaon
Website	lakesebuscot.gov.ph

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]

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

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

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

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

Population census of Lake Sebu
Year	Pop.	±% 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

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

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

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

^ Municipality of Lake Sebu | (DILG)
^ "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.
^ ^a ^b Census of Population (2020). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
^ "Tboli Dictionary » Search Results » sbu".
^ "9 spectacular places to visit in Mindanao".
^ "Lake Sebu: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
^ Census of Population (2015). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ "Province of South Cotabato". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
^ Tejero, Constantino (October 25, 2015). "The T'boli: A story of massive land-grabbing through the centuries". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.

External links

[1] Municipality of Lake Sebu | (DILG)

[popcen2015_r3-2] "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.

[PSA20–12-3] 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".

[met_norms-7] "Lake Sebu: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 15, 2020.

[PSA15–12-8] Census of Population (2015). "Region XII (Soccsksargen)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.

[NSO10–12-9] 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.

[NSO07-12-10] 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.

[LWUA-PopulationData-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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v t e Province of South Cotabato
Koronadal (capital) General Santos (largest city)
Municipalities	Banga Lake Sebu Norala Polomolok Santo Niño Surallah Tampakan Tantangan T'Boli Tupi
Component City	Koronadal
Highly Urbanized City	General Santos (Administratively independent from the province but grouped under South Cotabato by the Philippine Statistics Authority.)