Lake Sebu Profile

Municipality of Lake Sebu

Province of South Cotabato

1.         Lake Sebu was declared a municipality on November 11, 1982.  A plebiscite was held on October 15, 1983, one year after the passage of BP 249, an act creating Lake Sebu into a new municipality of South Cotabato.

Lake Sebu Municipal Hall

2.         Location:  It is situation at the southwestern part of the province, approximately 40 kilometers from the regional center, Koronadal City, and capital of the province of South Cotabato.

location map of Lake Sebu

            It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Surallah;  on the southwest by the municipalities of Kiamba and Maitum; on the east by the municipality of T’boli and on the west by the municipality of Palembang, Sultan Kudarat.

3.         Climate:  The climate of Lake Sebu belongs to the fourth type where rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.  The town’s temperature is relatively cool.

4.         Topography:  The terrain of Lake Sebu is predominantly rugged as evidenced by the presence of the Daguma and Talahik mountain ranges along the eastern portion of the municipality;  Mt. Busa on the southeastern portion with an elevation of 2,064 meters;  Pitot Kalabao Peak along the central portion with an elevation of 1,600 meters and Mt. Talili on the eastern portion with an elevation of 1,410 meters.

5.         Land Area:  The total land area of the municipality is 89,138 hectares.  It is composed of 19 barangays with NED considered the biggest barangay with 46.3% of the town’s area.

Lake Sebu road

 Table 1:  Land Capability 

Land Use	Area (hectares)	Percentage (%)
1.  Cultivated Land	22,492	25.3
2.  Pasture Land	9,130	10.2
3.  Forest Land	54,902	61.6
4.  Built-up Area	466	0.5
5.  Lakes/Miscellaneous	2,148	2.4
TOTAL	89,138	100.00

            Of the recorded 22,492 hectares devoted to agriculture, 2,237 hectares are irrigable lands; 14,194 hectares are available for upland agricultural production especially corn production and the remaining areas are for orchards, mixed plantations and other crops.

6.         Agricultural Crops:  Corn is the main crop in the locality.  Rice is also grown both at the lowlands and uplands.  Aside from corn and rice, abaca also abound in the area which serves as raw material for tinalak processing and weaving.  Fruit trees which includes durian, rambotan and lanzones are being grown by the populace.  Bananas and root crops mainly for local consumption while vegetables especially tomatoes are grown in certain areas in the municipality.

7.         Population:  Total population of the municipality is 55,550 (2001 census) in 11,448 households with an annual growth rate of 2.6%.

Table 2:   Land area and population of the barangays of Lake Sebu

Barangay	Area (in has.)	Population (2001 census)
1.    Poblacion	1,060	5,582
2.    Bacdulong	554	1,313
3.    Denlag	1,143	2,050
4.    Hano-on	1,000	1,063
5.    Halilan	1,500	1,683
6.    Klubi	4,500	2,557
7.    Lake Lahit	528	1,601
8.    Lake Seloton	590	1,871
9.    Lamcade	1,548	1,783
10.  Lamdalag	4,990	4,419
11.  Lamfugon	9,500	3,861
12.  Lamlahak	5,960	3,036
13.  Luhib	828	1,800
14.  Lower Maculan	1,240	751
15.  Upper Maculan	1,745	1,952
16.  Ned	41,247	14,452
17.  Takonel	4,636	1,944
18.  Talisay	826	2,357
19.  Tasiman	5,743	1,475
TOTAL	89,138	55,550

  

8.         Population distribution by ethnic origin:  Majority of the population are T’bolis, the original inhabitants of the municipality.

            T’boli                        -           60%

            Ilongo/Hiligaynon       -           31%

            Cebuano                   -             3%

            Ubo                          -             3%

            Maguindanaon           -             .7%

            Bicolano                    -             .8%

 9.         Population distribution by religious affiliation:  Majority of the population are Roman Catholics by religious affiliation.  The remaining 45% are distributed among various religious denominations.

            Roman Catholics         -           55%

            UCCP                         -           10%

            Alliance                       -             5%

            Baptist                         -             8%

            INK                             -           2.5%

            Jehovah                       -           1.5%

            Aglipay                       -           1.5%

            Islam                           -              .8%

            Evangelical                  -           2%

            Methodist                    -             .3%

T'boli Tribe

10.       Fishery and Aquatic Resources:  There are three major lake formations in the municipality namely Lake Sebu, Lake Lahit and Lake Seloton.

            Lake Sebu       -           354 hectares

            Lake Seloton   -             75 hectares

            Lake Lahit       -             24 hectares

           Tilapia production in fish cages is the main preoccupation of fish cage operators in Lake Sebu and Lake Seloton.  In Lake Lahit, fish cages are not allowed to be set up after the local government unit cleaned up the lake from water lilies.

11.       Forestland:  Lake Sebu’s remaining forest area is approximately 54,902 hectares or 61.6% of the total land area of the municipality.  This includes an area of 20,122 hectares of the Tasaday-Manubo, Blit special forest under proclamation no. 995; 2,635 hectares of Datu Mafalen Civil Reservation under proclamation no. 115.

            In March 1995, the T’boli and Ubo indigenous cultural communities of Lake Sebu have sought recognition of their ancestral domain claim (CADC) situated in several barangays of the municipality containing an area of 20,475 hectares and 19,377 hectares more or less respectively and was immediately subjected to ground survey and monumenting.

            The responsibilities of this CADC area are:  implement a management plan consistent with the principles of sustainable development and community based forest management; strategize to protect, conserve and develop the natural resources of wildlife sanctuaries in the domain; restore, preserve and maintain a balance ecology in the ancestral domain by protecting the flora, fauna, watershed areas and other forest and mineral resources; protect and conserve forest trees and other vegetation naturally growing in the land especially along the rivers, streams and channels and preserve the natural features of the domain.

12.       Industry:   Small scale and cottage industries are present in the area namely:  rattan furniture, brass casting, tinalak processing, tinalak weaving, woodworks/furniture.

13.       Tourism:  Considered the summer capital of the south, tourism is a promising industry in Lake Sebu as evidenced by the frequent visit of both local and foreign tourists.  Aside from the cool climate and scenic views, the municipality has a rich variety of native T’boli products to offer.  There are a number of tourism facilities in the area which could accommodate visitors, conferences and seminars.

Falls 1 of Seven Falls

14.       Social Sector:

            Health situation:  There is an existing 10-bed primary hospital in the poblacion which caters to the health needs of the populace.  There are barangay health stations in the barangays although health personnel only includes 2 doctors, 2 nurses, 11 midwives and a dentist. 

            The level of malnutrition (first to third degree) is relatively high. The affordability of nutritious food, poor eating habits and hygiene of poor families largely contributed to the prevalence of varying degrees of malnutrition in many areas of the municipality.

            Education: There are a total of 53 schools for all levels of education of which 31 are public schools:  Of the total number of educational institutions in the municipality, there are 46 elementary schools, 6 secondary schools and a tertiary school which offers Bachelor of Science in Community Development which is managed by the Sta. Cruz Mission School, Inc.

            Potable Water System: The municipality has 3 major lakes and 7 smaller lakes located at barangay Ned.  There are 40 major rivers and 103 springs located in different parts of the municipality. There are 13 of these springs which were developed into levels 1 & 2 water systems.  The rest of the springs remained untapped for potable water systems of majority of the residents.

            Power Supply:  Lake Sebu’s power requirements is being served by the South Cotabato Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO).  Less than 10% of the total population is being served by the cooperative while most of the population still rely on indigenous lighting system.