Sibutu

Due to an administrative error in the Treaty of Paris, while the remainder of the Philippines was ceded to the United States, Sibutu and Cagayán de Sulu were retained under Spanish sovereignty until they were formally ceded to the United States upon the ratification of the Treaty of Washington on March 23, 1901.

The municipality was created out of Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi, by virtue of Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 197, which was subsequently ratified in a plebiscite held on October 21, 2006. Through Presidential Proclamation 691, October 21, 2024 was declared a special non-working day for the commemoration of the municipality's creation.

It lies about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of the coast of Sabah, Malaysia. The municipality covers the main island of Sibutu as well as four small uninhabited islands 3.5 to 6 kilometres (2.2 to 3.7 mi) south of the main island, which are, from north to south: Sicolan Calch Island, Sicolan Island, Sicolan Islet, and Saluag Island, the latter being the southernmost island of the Philippines. Sibutu Island is 50 kilometres (31 mi) away from Sabah state. People living in Sibutu Island are mostly boat builders. The people also sell seaweeds, firewood and stones.

Sibutu Island has an area is 109 square kilometres (42 sq mi). It is an important site for nature conservation.

Barangays

Sibutu is politically subdivided into 16 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

• Ambutong Sapal
• Datu Amilhamja Jaafar
• Hadji Imam Bidin
• Hadji Mokhtar Sulayman
• Hadji Taha
• Imam Hadji Mohammad
• Nunukan
• Sheik Makdum
• Sibutu (Poblacion)
• Talisay
• Tandu Banak
• Tandu Owak
• Taungoh
• Tongehat
• Tongsibalo
• Ungus-ungus

Climate

Poverty Incidence of Sibutu