Daanbantayan, officially the Municipality of Daanbantayan (; ), is a municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 95,080 people.

Daanbantayan celebrates its annual fiesta along with the Haladaya Festival which starts 21 August and ends with street-dancing on 30 August, in honor of Datu Daya, the legendary founder of the town.

History

The name Daanbantayan was derived from two words: the word "daan", which means "old" in Cebuano, and the word "bantayan", which refers to a place that served as a look out for Moro raiders during the Pre-Hispanic Philippines. The original site of the town might have been at an elevated vantage point near Punta, in Tapilon.

On 8 November 2013, 9 people were killed and 50 injured when Super Typhoon Haiyan (known as Yolanda within the Philippine area of responsibility) passed over Daanbantayan.

Geography

Located at the northern tip of Cebu, Daanbantayan is bordered on the north by the Visayan Sea, to the west by Bantayan Island, on the east by the Camotes Sea, and on the south by the town of Medellin. It is from Cebu City.

Islands and thalassic attractions

There are several small islands/islets and diving spots, with the list below arranged by latitude from nearest to farthest from Cebu island:

  • Chocolate ()
  • Monad Shoal ()
  • Malapascua ()
  • Gato cave & islet ()
  • Maria ()
  • Carnaza ()

Barangays

Daanbantayan is politically subdivided into 20 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

Economy

Transportation

Ceres Liner (And Sugbo Transit), White Stallion Express (Subsidiary Of Rough Riders) and Cebu Autobus are among the bus companies with regular service to and from Cebu city (North Bus Terminal). Jeepneys, tricycles, and trisikads are the main modes of transportation within the town.

Tourism

Daanbantayan is now known for its pristine, white powder-like sandy beaches – one of which is Malapascua Island. With its vast and rich marine resources, it hosts a long string of dive sites offering unique marine life and beauty.

As a tourist destination, Daanbantayan stages the Haladaya Festival every year as an added attraction to local vacationers, holiday-makers, Filipino expatriates, and foreign tourists from as far away as North America, South America, and Europe.

Attractions

The church of St. Rose of Lima was damaged in the 2025 Cebu earthquake.

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St. Rose of Lima Parish Church in Daanbantayan, Cebu.jpg|Santa Rosa de Lima Church

Approaching Gato Islet.jpg|Approaching Gato Islet

Malapascua1-AirView.jpg|Malapascua island from the air

Malapascua (island), Bounty Beach, Bungalow, Philippines.jpg|Malapascua Island

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  • Municipal hall – built in 1916.
  • Santa Rosa de Lima Church – inaugurated on 10 April 1858 and finished in 1886.
  • Town plaza – site of a battle between the so-called Daanbantayan Volunteers and 19 well-armed bandits led by Capitan Berinoin 1898.