Sibutu, officially the Municipality of Sibutu, is a municipality in the province of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 34,243 people.

History

Due to an administrative error in the Treaty of Paris, while the remainder of the Philippines was ceded to the United States, Sibutu and Cagayán de Sulu were retained under Spanish Sovereignty until they were formally ceded to the United States upon the ratification of the Treaty of Washington on March 23, 1901. The municipality was created out of Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi, by virtue of Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 197, which was subsequently ratified in a plebiscite held on October 21, 2006. Through Presidential Proclamation 691, October 21, 2024 was declared a special non-working day for the commemoration of the municipality's creation.

Geography

It lies about 14 km east of the coast of Sabah, Malaysia. The municipality covers the main island of Sibutu as well as four small uninhabited islands 3.5 to 6 km south of the main island, which are, from north to south: Sicolan Calch Island, Sicolan Island, Sicolan Islet, and Saluag Island, the latter being the southernmost island of the Philippines. Sibutu Island is 50 km.or 31 miles away from Sabah state. People living in Sibutu Island are mostly boat builders. The people also sell seaweeds, firewood and stones. Sibutu Island has an area is 109 km2. It is an important site for nature conservation.

Barangays

Sibutu is politically subdivided into 16 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

Economy

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