Sabtang, officially the Municipality of Sabtang, is a municipality in the province of Batanes, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.

The municipality is the southernmost island municipality in the Batanes Group of Islands. It consists primarily of Sabtang Island and two smaller and uninhabited islands nearby, namely, Ivuhos and Dequey. The municipality is known for its lighthouse and the old stone houses of the Ivatan villages of Chavayan and Savidug. Like Batan Island to the north, Sabtang also has a few Mission-style churches and white sand beaches.

History

left|thumb|Aerial view of Sabtang, 1935

The Spanish missionary, Father Artiquez, first visited the island of Sabtang in 1786 after receiving an affirmative response from the islanders to learn about the Christian faith. The success of the first visit led to two more evangelical trips resulting in the baptism of 181 children and the study of catechism among the adult natives. The evangelization of Sabtang was cut short due to the failing health of the Spanish missionaries. For this, the inhabitants of Sabtang remained faithful to old traditions, especially in the administration of justice by vendetta and murder.

| date = 5 January 2019

Demographics

In the 2024 census, Sabtang had a population of 1,774. The population density was .

Economy

Government

Local government

Sabtang, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Batanes, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Elected officials

{| class="wikitable" style="line-height:1.20em; font-size:100%;"

|+ Members of the Municipal Council<br>(2025–2028)

|-

! Position

! Name

|-

| Congressman

| style="text-align:center;" | Ciriaco B. Gato Jr.

|-

| Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Tita Neyala

|-

|Vice-Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Clemente Memen Ladreza

|-

|rowspan=8| Councilors

| style="text-align:center;" | Jerold Figura

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Angel Candel

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Hedrick Cervillon

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Wally Gecha

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Jessie Abas

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Harold Clavez

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Marcial Armando Alavado

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Jerwin Louie Enego

|-

|}

Education

The Schools Division of Batanes governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region. The Sabtang Schools District Office governs the public and private elementary and high schools throughout the municipality.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Chavayan Elementary School
  • Nakanmuan Elementary School
  • Sabtang Central School
  • Savidug Elementary School
  • Sumnanga Elementary School

Secondary school

  • Sabtang National School of Fisheries

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

File:Chavayan, Sabtang Island in Batanes, Philippines.jpg|Chavayan in Sabtang Island

File:San Vicente Ferrer Church (Sabtang Batanes).jpg|San Vicente Ferrer Church

File:Savidug Stone Houses.jpg|An Ivatan woman wearing a vakul inside a stone house

File:Nakabuang Arch in Morong Beach in Sabtang Island Batanes.jpg|Nakabuang Arch in Morong Beach

</gallery>

Notes

References

  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]