Panglao, officially the Municipality of Panglao (; ), is a municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 41,760 people.

Panglao has educational institutions, including the San Agustin Academy (Panglao), Lourdes National High School, the Cristal and elementary schools located in every barangay (including the Panglao Central Elementary School). It is also home to Bohol–Panglao International Airport that serves as Bohol's primary airport, replacing Tagbilaran Airport in November 2018.

The town of Panglao, Bohol celebrates its fiesta on August 27–28, to honor the town patron San Agustin.

Etymology

The name Panglao may have come from its former name Panglawod, meaning "to the open sea",

History

Precolonial era

Panglao flourished during the rule of the Kedatuan of Bo-ol, but raids by Moluccans and conquest by Ternate Sultanate resulted in periods of depopulation when its population fled mostly to Panay and Mindanao, including Dapitan at Mindanao.

The Panglao watchtower was built in 1851. The 5-storey octagonal tower is the tallest of its kind in the Philippines but suffers from neglect. Gakang, and Pontod (or Pungtud, also known as Virgin Island). It is from Tagbilaran.

There are no fresh water streams or lakes on the island, so for its drinking water, the municipality is dependent on wells and the Canhilbas Underground Spring.

Climate

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| style="border-style:solid none;" colspan=4 | Climate-data.org

| style="border-style:solid none;" colspan=8 | Köppen-Geiger climate classification Af

| style="border-style:solid none;" colspan=4 | Coronas type <span style="font-family:serif;">III</span>

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Barangays

Panglao is politically subdivided into 10 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

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Demographics

Economy

Tourism

The primary tourist attraction of Panglao are its white sandy beaches, of which Alona Beach is the most famous and most developed. Alona Beach is about long, lined with palm trees. resorts, and shops. However it has drawn criticism for its unrestrained development that ignored municipal development policies, warning against overcrowding and Alona to lose its paradise-like image. Other beaches in Panglao include Bagobo, Bolod, Danao, Doljo, and Momo.

Bohol–Panglao International Airport, also known as New Bohol International Airport, has been operational since November 28, 2018. It replaced Tagbilaran Airport as the main airport in Bohol.

Panglao is renowned for snorkeling and dive sites such as Doljo Beach, Garden Eels, Arco Point, Kalipayan, Napaling, and Puntod. The island's southern portion is ringed with reefs that are relatively narrow and shallow () with submarine cliffs plunging to depths of . Tours can readily be arranged to further dive sites, including Balicasag and Pamilacan, Bohol islands.

<gallery widths="200" heights="150">

File:Panglaoisland (2004).jpg|Panglao Island Nature Resort

File:Alona Beach Palmtree.jpg|Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol

File:Panglao Rizal Monument.jpg|Rizal Monument at Panglao plaza

File:Watchtower in the Municipality of Panglao, Bohol.jpg|Panglao Watchtower

File:Boats docked on Balicasag Island.jpg|Boats docked on Balicasag Island

File:Panglao Island Beach Sunset.jpg|Sunset on a Panglao beach

</gallery>

Notable personalities

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  • Rebecca Lusterio – Actress, born in Balicasag island

References

  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
  • Municipality of Panglao
  • Panglao
  • Alona Beach Guide
  • Balicasag marine sanctuary map (page 92)