Lake Sebu, officially the Municipality of Lake Sebu (Tboli: Benwu Sbù, ; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Sëbu ; Tagalog: Bayan ng Sëbu), is a municipality in the province of South Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 84,252 people.

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.

Geography

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 , with an elevation of approximately .

Barangays

thumbnail|Former flag of Lake Sebu

thumbnail|Alternate flag of Lake Sebu

Lake Sebu is politically subdivided into 19 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

  • Bacdulong
  • Denlag
  • Halilan
  • Hanoon
  • Klubi
  • Lake Lahit
  • Lake Seloton
  • Lamcade
  • Lamdalag
  • Lamfugon
  • Lamlahak
  • Lower Maculan
  • Luhib
  • Ned
  • Poblacion
  • Takunel
  • Talisay
  • Tasiman
  • Upper Maculan

Climate

Demographics

The lake's shores and the surrounding rainforest are home to the Indigenous Tbolis, Tirurays, Ubos, and Manobos. One of the major tribes, the Tbolis are known for their weaving skills and brassware production as well as fishing skills. The rest of the population are made of Maguindanaons, Ilonggos, Cebuanos, Bicolanos, and Ilocanos.

Economy

The local economy is largely driven by aquaculture, particularly the cultivation of Tilapia in large floating fish cages on the lake. More than half of the surrounding land is used for agriculture. The Philippine government has also been promoting ecotourism in the area. The completion of a concrete road significantly reduced travel time from four hours to less than 30 minutes, thereby improving trade and commerce.

Wildlife

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.

Environmental conservation

The Philippine government proclaimed a area as a protected landscape. On the south-eastern watershed of the lake, a bamboo plantation was established.

References

  • Lake Sebu Profile at PhilAtlas.com
  • Lake Sebu Profile at the DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index
  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
  • Philippine Census Information