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 | |
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Municipality | |
Municipality of Lake Sebu | |
The eponymous Lake Sebu | |
![]() Flag ![]() Seal | |
Nicknames:
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![]() Map of South Cotabato with Lake Sebu highlighted | |
OpenStreetMap ![]() | |
![]() ![]() Lake Sebu Location within the Philippines | |
Coordinates: 6°13′N 124°42′E | |
Country | Philippines |
Region | Soccsksargen |
Province | South Cotabato |
District | 2nd district |
Barangays | 19 (see Barangays) |
Government | |
• Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
• Mayor | Floro S. Gandam |
• Vice Mayor | Remie M. Unggol |
• Representative | Peter B. Miguel |
• Municipal Council | Members
|
• Electorate | 40,126 voters (2019) |
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 | |
• Total | 81,221 |
• Density | 120/km2 (300/sq mi) |
• Households | 18,513 |
Economy | |
• Income class | 1st municipal income class |
• Poverty incidence | 49.30% (2018)[4] |
• Revenue | ₱376,714,076.09 (2020) |
• Assets | ₱528,533,454.81 (2020) |
• Expenditure | ₱354,731,299.67 (2020) |
• Liabilities | ₱138,038,782.15 (2020) |
Service provider | |
• Electricity | South Cotabato 1 Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO 1) |
Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
ZIP code | 9506 |
PSGC | |
IDD : area code | +63 (0)83 |
Native languages | Tboli Hiligaynon Cebuano Blaan Tagalog |
Website | lakesebuscot |
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]
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).
Lake Sebu is politically subdivided into 19 barangays.
Climate data for Lake Sebu, South Cotabato | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average high °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) |
Average low °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] |
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 T'bolis, Tirurays, Ubos and Manobos. One of the major tribes, the T'bolis are known for their weaving skills and brassware production as well as fishing skills. The rest of the population are made of Ilonggos, Bicolanos and Ilocanos.
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.
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.
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.
Places adjacent to Lake Sebu, South Cotabato | ||||||||||||||||
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Koronadal (capital) | |
Municipalities | |
Component City | |
Highly Urbanized City |
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