Bongao

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Capital of Tawi-Tawi province, Philippines

title: "Bongao" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["municipalities-of-tawi-tawi", "provincial-capitals-of-the-philippines"] description: "Capital of Tawi-Tawi province, Philippines" topic_path: "geography/philippines" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bongao" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Capital of Tawi-Tawi province, Philippines ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
name
image_skylineCoast of Bongao, Tawi Tawi.jpg
image_captionAerial view of the Bongao Coast
image_flagFlag_of_Bongao,_Tawi-Tawi.png
flag_size120x80px
image_sealSeal_of_Bongao.png
seal_size100x80px
mapframeyes
pushpin_mapPhilippines
pushpin_label_positionleft
pushpin_map_captionLocation within the
coordinates
settlement_type
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_namePhilippines
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1
subdivision_type2Province
subdivision_name2
official_name
etymology
named_for
native_nameبوڠااو
subdivision_type3District
subdivision_name3
established_titleFounded
established_dateJuly 1, 1958
parts_typeBarangays
parts_stylepara
p1(see Barangays)
leader_titleMayor
leader_nameJimuel S. Que
leader_title1Vice Mayor
leader_name1Jasper S. Que
leader_title2Representative
leader_name2Dimszar M. Sali
leader_title3City Council
leader_name3{{PH Town Council
1
2Talib Q. Ibbo Jr.
3Mon Harris T. Samsuya
4Rufaida S. Akip
5Midzfar H. Pajiji
6Acmed H. Kalbit
7Hussin Lhong S. Karanain
8Nagder A. Sangkula
9Khaizal A. Jumdail
leader_title4Electorate
leader_name4voters ([electorate_point_in_time}}
government_type
government_footnotes
elevation_m
elevation_max_m408
elevation_min_m0
elevation_footnotes
area_footnotes
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population_footnotes
population_total
population_as_of
population_density_km2auto
population_blank1_titleHouseholds
population_blank1
timezonePST
utc_offset+8
postal_code_typeZIP code
postal_code
postal2_code_type
postal2_code
area_code_type
area_code
website
demographics_type1Economy
demographics1_title1
demographics1_info1
demographics1_title2Poverty incidence
demographics1_info2% ()
demographics1_title3Revenue
demographics1_info3
demographics1_title4Revenue rank
demographics1_title5Assets
demographics1_info5
demographics1_title6Assets rank
demographics1_title7IRA
demographics1_title8IRA rank
demographics1_title9Expenditure
demographics1_info9
demographics1_title10Liabilities
demographics1_info10
demographics_type2Service provider
demographics2_title1Electricity
demographics2_info1
demographics2_title2Water
demographics2_title3Telecommunications
demographics2_title4Cable TV
blank_name_sec1
blank_info_sec1
blank1_name_sec1Native languages
blank1_info_sec1
blank2_name_sec1Crime index
blank1_name_sec2Major religions
blank2_name_sec2Feast date
blank3_name_sec2Catholic diocese
blank4_name_sec2Patron saint
::

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| named_for =
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| demographics1_title4 = Revenue rank | demographics1_info4 = | demographics1_title5 = Assets | demographics1_info5 =
| demographics1_title6 = Assets rank | demographics1_info6 = | demographics1_title7 = IRA | demographics1_info7 = | demographics1_title8 = IRA rank | demographics1_info8 = | demographics1_title9 = Expenditure | demographics1_info9 =
| demographics1_title10 = Liabilities | demographics1_info10 =
| demographics_type2 = Service provider | demographics2_title1 = Electricity | demographics2_info1 = | demographics2_title2 = Water | demographics2_info2 = | demographics2_title3 = Telecommunications | demographics2_info3 = | demographics2_title4 = Cable TV | demographics2_info4 = | blank_name_sec1 = | blank_info_sec1 = | blank1_name_sec1 = Native languages | blank1_info_sec1 = | blank2_name_sec1 = Crime index | blank2_info_sec1 = | blank3_name_sec1 = | blank3_info_sec1 = | blank4_name_sec1 = | blank4_info_sec1 = | blank5_name_sec1 = | blank5_info_sec1 = | blank6_name_sec1 = | blank6_info_sec1 = | blank7_name_sec1 = | blank7_info_sec1 = | blank1_name_sec2 = Major religions | blank1_info_sec2 = | blank2_name_sec2 = Feast date | blank2_info_sec2 = | blank3_name_sec2 = Catholic diocese | blank3_info_sec2 = | blank4_name_sec2 = Patron saint | blank4_info_sec2 = | blank5_name_sec2 = | blank5_info_sec2 = | blank6_name_sec2 = | blank6_info_sec2 = | blank7_name_sec2 = | blank7_info_sec2 = | short_description = | footnotes =

Bongao, officially the Municipality of Bongao (), is a municipality and capital of the province of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 116,118 people.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Philippine_Island_-Tawieawi_Group-NARA-_68156122.jpg" caption="Aerial view of Bongao Island, circa pre-1942"] ::

Evidence of human presence in Bongao was carbon-dated to be 8,810 to 5,190 years old, signifying one of the earliest known evidence of human presence in Southeast Asia. The bones, jars, shells, and other artifacts and fossils were found in the Bolobok Rock Shelter Cave Archaeological Site, which has been declared as an Important Cultural Treasure by the government in 2017.

Much of the Bongao area was the center of Bajau culture and arts for hundreds of years. By the 14th century, Muslim missionaries from Arabia arrived and established the first ever mosque in the Philippines. The area was heavily converted to Islam, especially when the Sultanate of Sulu in nearby Sulu province was founded.

The province of Tawi-Tawi was never officially controlled directly by the Spanish as the Sultanate of Sulu was in a perpetual war with Spain, resulting in the preservation of its Muslim and Bajau cultures. However, the sultanate waned and was captured by Spain, only to be handed to American forces after a few years. Sibutu remained under Spanish rule until 1900.

Bongao was formally incorporated as a municipality on July 1, 1958 under Executive Order No. 355 signed by President Carlos P. Garcia.

Before the armed rebellion of the MNLF in the early 1970s, Bongao was merely a backwater village. The capital of the province was Batu-Batu (in Panglima Sugala) in the mainland situated in a cove with deep waters suited for anchors of the Philippine Navy. At the height of the armed rebellion and fearing that the provincial capitol might be overrun, the government transferred it to Bongao. The white-washed, Taj Mahal-inspired provincial capitol building is located on a hill overlooking the bay and the whole town to the north of the Island against the backdrop of Mount Kabugan and the famous Bud Bongao (Bongao Peak).

The transfer of the seat of government ushered the rapid development of the island as the southernmost center of commerce and trade. Suddenly, the population swelled as individuals (and their families) who are in government service moved to the town.

Geography

The City's territory includes Bongao Island (where the poblacion is located), Sanga-Sanga Island, Pababag Island, as well as the western end of Tawi-Tawi Island.

Barangays

Bongao is politically subdivided into 35 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

These barangays are split into two geographical regions: Mainland and Islands.

  • Ipil - M
  • Kamagong - M
  • Karungdong- I
  • Lakit Lakit- I
  • Lamion- I
  • Lapid Lapid - M
  • Lato Lato- I
  • Luuk Pandan - I
  • Luuk Tulay - M
  • Malassa- I
  • Mandulan- I
  • Masantong - M
  • Montay Montay - M
  • Pababag - I
  • Pagasinan - I
  • Pahut- I
  • Pakias- I
  • Paniongan- I
  • Pasiagan - I
  • Bongao Poblacion- I
  • Sanga-Sanga- I
  • Silubog - M
  • Simandagit- I
  • Sumangat - M
  • Tarawakan - M
  • Tongsinah- I
  • Tubig Basag- I
  • Ungus-ungus - M
  • Lagasan- I
  • Nalil- I
  • Pagatpat - M
  • Pag-asa - I
  • Tubig Tanah- I
  • Tubig-Boh- I
  • Tubig-Mampallam- I

Climate

Bongao has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy rainfall year-round.

| width = auto | location = Bongao | metric first = Yes | single line = Yes | Jan high C = 29.6 | Feb high C = 29.6 | Mar high C = 30.2 | Apr high C = 30.9 | May high C = 31.5 | Jun high C = 31.1 | Jul high C = 31.1 | Aug high C = 31.3 | Sep high C = 31.3 | Oct high C = 31.0 | Nov high C = 30.5 | Dec high C = 30.0

| Jan mean C = 26.1 | Feb mean C = 26.1 | Mar mean C = 26.4 | Apr mean C = 26.7 | May mean C = 27.2 | Jun mean C = 26.8 | Jul mean C = 26.7 | Aug mean C = 26.9 | Sep mean C = 26.8 | Oct mean C = 26.7 | Nov mean C = 26.5 | Dec mean C = 26.3 | year mean C = | Jan low C = 22.6 | Feb low C = 22.6 | Mar low C = 22.6 | Apr low C = 22.6 | May low C = 22.9 | Jun low C = 22.6 | Jul low C = 22.4 | Aug low C = 22.6 | Sep low C = 22.4 | Oct low C = 22.5 | Nov low C = 22.6 | Dec low C = 22.6 |rain colour= |Jan rain mm=177 |Feb rain mm=146 |Mar rain mm=123 |Apr rain mm=126 |May rain mm=179 |Jun rain mm=178 |Jul rain mm=144 |Aug rain mm=118 |Sep rain mm=132 |Oct rain mm=183 |Nov rain mm=196 |Dec rain mm=172 |source 1 = Climate-Data.org{{cite web |url = https://en.climate-data.org/location/21228/ |title = Climate: Bongao |publisher=Climate-Data.org |access-date = October 25, 2020}}

Demographics

| align= none | title= Population census of | 1903 = | 1918 = | 1939 = | 1948 = | 1960 = | 1970 = | 1975 = | 1980 = | 1990 = | 1995 = | 2000 = | 2007 = | 2010 = | 2015 = | 2020 = | 2024 = | 2030 = | footnote= Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/US_Navy_060614-N-6501M-015_The_U.S.Military_Sealift_Command(MSC)Hospital_Ship_USNS_Mercy(T-AH_19)_is_anchored_off_of_the_coast_of_Tawi_Tawi.jpg" caption="Bongao poblacion"] ::

Culture

Today, Bongao is a minuscule cosmopolitan site that is becoming a model of multicultural society. In downtown Bongao, there are mosques for the majority Muslim population, a Catholic church, a church for Protestant inhabitants, and a Chinese temple.

The municipality is the home of the Balobok Rock Shelter-Cave Archaeological Site, which carbon dates the existence of humans on Tawi-Tawi for 5,000-8,000 years, making it one of the earliest human settlement site in Southeast Asia. The entire archaeological site has been declared as an Important Cultural Property by the National Government in 2017.

Economy

**Poverty Incidence of ** ::data[format=table] | {{#invoke:Chart | bar chart | height = 300 | width = 420 | properties|raw|P8843|P585=2000}} : : : : : : : | x legends = | colors = #D4AF37 | label|}} | url = https://psa.gov.ph/content/poverty-incidence-pi | title = Poverty incidence (PI): | publisher = Philippine Statistics Authority | reference|raw|P8843|P585=2000}} | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ::

The main thoroughfare is Datu Halun Street, where the Town Hall is situated. Poblacion is the commercial hub. Most of the businesses here are owned by local people. Due to its relative peace and order situation, recent migrant Chinese from Zamboanga have also open business.

Banks operating in Bongao include Land Bank of the Philippines, Philippine National Bank, and Metrobank. Quedancor, a government owned investment company, has recently opened business.

The Midway Plaza Mall, a new 2-storey retail center, is the first shopping mall in Tawi-tawi opened in April 2010.

Education

Bongao is home to the Mindanao State University - Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO), Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College (TRAC), Mahardika Institute of Technology (MIT), Abubakar Learning Center Foundation College (ALC), Tawi-Tawi School of Midwifery (TTSM). The first two are government owned state colleges, while the last three are privately owned.

There are several secondary high schools in Tawi-Tawi such as the MSU TCTO - Science High School, MSU TCTO Preparatory High School, Tawi-Tawi School of Arts and Trade, Notre Dame of Bongao, and Tawi-Tawi School of Fisheries (TTSF).

References

References

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  2. {{#invoke:wd. reference. raw. P1082
  3. "Tawi-tawi: Glimpse of pre-historic life at Balobok Rock Shelter | Ironwulf en Route".
  4. "CONVERTING INTO MUNICIPALITIES ALL THE MUNICIPAL DISTRICTS IN THE PROVINCE OF SULU, EXCEPT MARUNGAS".
  5. "Tawi-tawi: Glimpse of pre-historic life at Balobok Rock Shelter | Ironwulf en Route".
  6. {{#invoke:wd. reference. raw. P8843
  7. {{#invoke:wd. reference. raw. P8843
  8. {{#invoke:wd. reference. raw. P8843
  9. {{#invoke:wd. reference. raw. P8843
  10. {{#invoke:wd. reference. raw. P8843
  11. {{#invoke:wd. reference. raw. P8843
  12. {{#invoke:wd. reference. raw. P8843

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