Sitangkai
Municipality in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines
title: "Sitangkai" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["municipalities-of-tawi-tawi", "island-municipalities-in-the-philippines", "political-divisions-established-by-philippine-executive-order"] description: "Municipality in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines" topic_path: "geography/philippines" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitangkai" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Municipality in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | |
| image_skyline | Sitangkai.jpg |
| image_caption | Core district of Sitangkai |
| image_flag | Flag_of_Sitangkai,_Tawi-Tawi.png |
| flag_size | 120x80px |
| seal_size | 100x80px |
| image_map | |
| map_caption | |
| mapframe | yes |
| pushpin_map | Philippines |
| pushpin_label_position | top |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location within the |
| coordinates | |
| settlement_type | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | Philippines |
| subdivision_type1 | Region |
| subdivision_name1 | |
| subdivision_type2 | Province |
| subdivision_name2 | |
| etymology | |
| named_for | |
| native_name | سيتڠكاي |
| nicknames | Venice of the South |
| Southernmost Settlement of the Philippines | |
| subdivision_type3 | District |
| subdivision_name3 | |
| established_title | Founded |
| established_date | August 26, 1959 |
| parts_type | Barangays |
| parts_style | para |
| p1 | (see Barangays) |
| leader_title | Mayor |
| leader_name | Tiblan C. Ahaja |
| leader_title1 | Vice Mayor |
| leader_name1 | Serbin C. Ahaja |
| leader_title2 | Representative |
| leader_name2 | Dimszar M. Sali |
| leader_title3 | Municipal Council |
| leader_name3 | {{PH Town Council |
| 1 | |
| 2 | Allan K. Ahaja |
| 3 | Myca Shara B. Nawang |
| 4 | Joeben C. Attang |
| 5 | Abdel Yamani K. Ahaja |
| 6 | Bryan S. Hapas |
| 7 | Jadzlee B. Pianah |
| 8 | Merilyn A. Joe |
| 9 | Aldimar A. Awadi |
| leader_title4 | Electorate |
| leader_name4 | voters ([electorate_point_in_time}} |
| government_type | |
| government_footnotes | |
| elevation_m | |
| elevation_max_m | 200 |
| elevation_min_m | 0 |
| elevation_footnotes | |
| area_footnotes | |
| area_total_km2 | |
| population_footnotes | |
| population_total | |
| population_as_of | |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| population_blank1_title | Households |
| population_blank1 | |
| timezone | PST |
| utc_offset | +8 |
| postal_code_type | ZIP code |
| postal_code | |
| postal2_code_type | |
| postal2_code | |
| area_code_type | |
| area_code | |
| website | |
| demographics_type1 | Economy |
| demographics1_title1 | |
| demographics1_info1 | |
| demographics1_title2 | Poverty incidence |
| demographics1_info2 | % () |
| demographics1_title3 | Revenue |
| demographics1_info3 | |
| demographics1_title4 | Revenue rank |
| demographics1_title5 | Assets |
| demographics1_info5 | |
| demographics1_title6 | Assets rank |
| demographics1_title7 | IRA |
| demographics1_title8 | IRA rank |
| demographics1_title9 | Expenditure |
| demographics1_info9 | |
| demographics1_title10 | Liabilities |
| demographics1_info10 | |
| demographics_type2 | Service provider |
| demographics2_title1 | Electricity |
| demographics2_info1 | |
| demographics2_title2 | Water |
| demographics2_title3 | Telecommunications |
| demographics2_title4 | Cable TV |
| blank_name_sec1 | |
| blank_info_sec1 | |
| blank1_name_sec1 | Native languages |
| blank1_info_sec1 | |
| blank2_name_sec1 | Crime index |
| blank1_name_sec2 | Major religions |
| blank2_name_sec2 | Feast date |
| blank3_name_sec2 | Catholic diocese |
| blank4_name_sec2 | Patron saint |
| :: |
| name =
| image_skyline = Sitangkai.jpg
| image_caption = Core district of Sitangkai
| image_flag = Flag_of_Sitangkai,_Tawi-Tawi.png
| flag_size = 120x80px
| image_seal =
| seal_size = 100x80px
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| mapframe = yes
| pushpin_map = Philippines
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the
| coordinates =
| settlement_type =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Philippines
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 =
| subdivision_type2 = Province
| subdivision_name2 =
| etymology =
| named_for =
| native_name = سيتڠكاي
| other_name =
| nicknames = Venice of the South
Southernmost Settlement of the Philippines
| motto =
| anthem =
| subdivision_type3 = District
| subdivision_name3 =
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = August 26, 1959
| parts_type = Barangays
| parts_style = para
| p1 = (see Barangays)
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Tiblan C. Ahaja
| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1 = Serbin C. Ahaja
| leader_title2 = Representative
| leader_name2 = Dimszar M. Sali
| leader_title3 = Municipal Council
| leader_name3 = {{PH Town Council
| 1 =
| 2=Allan K. Ahaja
| 3=Myca Shara B. Nawang
| 4=Joeben C. Attang
| 5=Abdel Yamani K. Ahaja
| 6=Bryan S. Hapas
| 7=Jadzlee B. Pianah
| 8=Merilyn A. Joe
| 9=Aldimar A. Awadi
| leader_title4 = Electorate
| leader_name4 = voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|)
| government_type =
| government_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_max_m = 200
| elevation_min_m = 0
| elevation_max_rank =
| elevation_min_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_max_footnotes=
| elevation_min_footnotes=
| area_rank =
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| population_footnotes =
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_blank1_title= Households
| population_blank1 =
| population_demonym =
| population_rank =
| population_note =
| timezone = PST
| utc_offset = +8
| postal_code_type = ZIP code
| postal_code =
| postal2_code_type =
| postal2_code =
| area_code_type =
| area_code =
| website =
| demographics_type1 = Economy
| demographics1_title1 =
| demographics1_info1 =
| demographics1_title2 = Poverty incidence
| demographics1_info2 = % ()
| demographics1_title3 = Revenue
| demographics1_info3 =
| 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 =
Sitangkai, officially the Municipality of Sitangkai (), is a municipality in the province of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 37,319 people.
It is the southernmost place in the Philippines and is very close to Malaysia and Indonesia.
It is called the "Venice of the South" due to the use of boats as primary transportation, although footbridges connect one house to another. The major sources of livelihood are fishing and farming, although there is very sparse agricultural land available.
This town is the southernmost town in the whole archipelago, and this town is the southernmost town in the province of Tawi-Tawi.
The Frances Reef located in the town of Sitangkai is geographically the southernmost point of the Philippines.
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Sitangkai_from_Tumindao_Channel.jpg" caption="date=29 December 2021}}"] ::
The historical Sitangkai group of islands comprises the islands, areas, and barangays of the present Sitangkai and Sibutu municipalities. The islands had been at the crossroads of the sea trade route and were a traditional enclave of the Bajau and Sama people who for centuries had peacefully lived off fishing and trading. The Kadatuan of Sitangkai and Sibutu were descended from the royalties of Sulu, Sabah, and Sarawak. Historical personalities such as the Datu Iskandar of Sibutu and the Datu Halon of Sitangkai was descended from the Datu Baginda Putih, Datu Baginda Hitam, and the feared Datu Kurunding of Lahat Datu from Borneo (now part of the Malaysian and Indonesian states). In the early 1900s, a man named Lailuddin ibn Jalaluddin from the area of Nunukan, Parang, Sulu was noted to be the first Tausūg to settle in Sitangkai, bringing with him his clan, wealth, and slaves. Together with his sons and nephews, they settled, intermarried, and made alliances with the local traditional leaders and inhabitants. During World War II, Sitangkai and Sibutu, being closer to British Borneo, was targeted by patrols and occasional raids by Japanese Imperial soldiers. Sitangkai nowadays is still a jump off port for traditional traders from Sulu, Zamboanga, mainland Tawi-Tawi going to Sabah and Borneo.
Twenty municipal districts of the then-undivided Sulu, including Sitangkai, were converted into municipalities effective "as of July 1, 1958", by virtue of Executive Order No. 355 issued by President Carlos P. Garcia on August 26, 1959. On October 21, 2006, with the ratification of Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 197, 16 of its 25 barangays were transferred to the newly created municipality of Sibutu, all of which were located on Sibutu Island.
Geography
Barangays
Sitangkai is politically subdivided into 9 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
- Datu Baguinda Putih
- Imam Sapie
- North Larap
- Panglima Alari
- Sipangkot
- Sitangkai Poblacion
- South Larap (Larap)
- Tongmageng
- Tongusong
Climate
Sitangkai has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy rainfall year-round. |width = auto | location = Sitangkai | metric first = Yes | single line = Yes | Jan high C = 29.7 | Feb high C = 29.8 | Mar high C = 30.4 | Apr high C = 31.1 | May high C = 31.6 | Jun high C = 31.4 | Jul high C = 31.3 | Aug high C = 31.7 | Sep high C = 31.6 | Oct high C = 31.3 | Nov high C = 30.8 | Dec high C = 30.2
| Jan mean C = 26.2 | Feb mean C = 26.3 | Mar mean C = 26.6 | Apr mean C = 27.0 | May mean C = 27.4 | Jun mean C = 27.2 | Jul mean C = 27.0 | Aug mean C = 27.3 | Sep mean C = 27.2 | Oct mean C = 27.0 | Nov mean C = 26.8 | Dec mean C = 26.6 | year mean C = | Jan low C = 22.8 | Feb low C = 22.9 | Mar low C = 22.9 | Apr low C = 23.0 | May low C = 23.2 | Jun low C = 23.0 | Jul low C = 22.8 | Aug low C = 22.9 | Sep low C = 22.8 | Oct low C = 22.8 | Nov low C = 22.9 | Dec low C = 23.0 |rain colour= |Jan rain mm=199 |Feb rain mm=156 |Mar rain mm=133 |Apr rain mm=139 |May rain mm=190 |Jun rain mm=176 |Jul rain mm=150 |Aug rain mm=131 |Sep rain mm=127 |Oct rain mm=181 |Nov rain mm=197 |Dec rain mm=185 |source 1 = Climate-Data.org{{cite web |url = https://en.climate-data.org/location/21001/ |title = Climate: Sitangkai |publisher=Climate-Data.org |accessdate = 25 October 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
Economy
Sitangkai is often referred to as the "Venice of the South" with boats being the primary mode of transportation within the town. Its location as the southernmost town in the Philippines makes the town as a trading port for transporting goods to and from neighboring Malaysia. **Poverty Incidence of ** ::data[format=table] | {{#invoke:Chart | bar chart | height = 300 | width = 420 | properties|raw|P8843|P585=2006}} : : : : : | 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}} | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ::
Healthcare
As of 2021, there is no hospital in Sitangkai.
References
References
- {{DILG detail
- Santillan, Glen. (19 May 2015). "IN PHOTOS: 5 places to see in breathtaking Tawi-Tawi". Rappler.
- (29 December 2021). "Marines build sovereignty marker in Tawi-Tawi remote island".
- (August 26, 1959). "Executive Order No. 355, s. 1959". [[Government of the Philippines]].
- (2 October 2021). "Bangsamoro lawmaker wants hospital built in southernmost town of PH". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
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