Sablayan

Sablayan
Municipality
Municipality of Sablayan
Barangay Ligaya
Barangay Ligaya
Flag of Sablayan
Flag
Official seal of Sablayan
Seal
Nickname: 
Heart of Mindoro
Map of Occidental Mindoro with Sablayan highlighted
Map of Occidental Mindoro with Sablayan highlighted
Interactive map of Sablayan
Sablayan is located in Philippines
Sablayan
Sablayan
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 12°50′34″N 120°46′30″E / 12.8428°N 120.775°E / 12.8428; 120.775
CountryPhilippines
RegionMimaropa
ProvinceOccidental Mindoro
District Lone district
Founded1906
Barangays22 (see Barangays)
Government
 
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorWalter B. Marquez
 • Vice MayorEdwin N. Mintu
 • RepresentativeLeody F. Tarriela
 • Municipal Council
Members
  • Clarinda A. Lorenzo
  • Alfredo C. Ventura Jr.
  • Marffin B. Dulay
  • Manuel P. Tadeo
  • Conchita H. Dimaculangan
  • Mark Anthony O. Legaspi
  • Nancy M. Laudencia-Landicho
  • Roberto C. Lim
 • Electorate55,181 voters (2025)
Area
 • Total
2,188.80 km2 (845.10 sq mi)
 • Rank1st
Elevation
150 m (490 ft)
Highest elevation
2,518 m (8,261 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)
 • Total
91,406
 • Density41.761/km2 (108.16/sq mi)
 • Households
21,709
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
25.54
% (2023)
 • Revenue₱ 932.8 million (2024)
 • Assets₱ 1,771 million (2024)
 • Expenditure₱ 820.3 million (2024)
 • Liabilities₱ 213.4 million (2024)
Service provider
 • ElectricityOccidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
5104
PSGC
1705109000
IDD : area code +63 (0)43
Native languagesAlangan
Tawbuid
Tagalog
Websitewww.sablayan.gov.ph

Sablayan (Tagalog pronunciation: [sɐ'blajan]), officially the Municipality of Sablayan (Tagalog: Bayan ng Sablayan), is a municipality in the province of Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 91,406 people.

History

San Sebastian Parish Church, Sablayan

The town used to be called Dongon, a coastal village located currently at Barangay San Nicolas. The first accounts of the baptism of the locals under the Recollects were recorded in 1670. By 1749, Dongon became the biggest pueblo in the whole island of Mindoro in terms of population.

In 1754, the Moro pirates started attacking the town, and almost every year thereafter, until in 1791 when the Moros effectively wiped out the whole population from more than 600 inhabitants to less than 98 people.

In 1814, the inhabitants of Dongon gradually transferred to the village of Sablayan, until Dongon ceased to become a village in 1829. In 1832, the missionary friar Simeon Mendoza de la V. de Ibernalo requested the Spanish government for the exemption of the town's inhabitants from paying taxes so that they could build a stone church, convent and fort at a hilly part of the village. The church that stands today at the town may have been built from 1832 to 1835, and its advocacy was placed under San Sebastian.

In 2026, the town was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.

Geography

Sablayan has a total land area of 2,188.80 square kilometers, making it the largest municipality in the Philippines. The Apo Reef, North and South Pandan Islands, and a portion of Mounts Iglit–Baco National Park are part of its jurisdiction. Sablayan Penal Colony, the Philippines' largest penal facility with sprawling lot of 16,190 hectares (40,000 acres) is also located in this municipality.

Sablayan is located in the central part of Occidental Mindoro. It is bounded to the north by the municipality of Santa Cruz and the municipalities of Baco, Naujan, Victoria and Socorro all in Oriental Mindoro province; to the east by the municipalities of Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong and Mansalay also in Oriental Mindoro; to the south by the municipality of Calintaan; and to the west by the Mindoro Strait.

Sablayan is 87 kilometres (54 mi) from Mamburao.

Barangays

Poblacion

Sablayan is politically subdivided into 22 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

In 1957 the following barrios were renamed: Batasan to Claudio Salgado, Hinaya to Buhay na Bato (Batong Buhay) and Iriron to San Isidro.

  • Batong Buhay
  • Buenavista (town proper)
  • Burgos
  • Claudio Salgado
  • General Emilio Aguinaldo
  • Ibud
  • Ilvita
  • Lagnas
  • Ligaya
  • Malisbong
  • Paetan
  • Pag-Asa
  • Poblacion (Lumangbayan)
  • San Agustin
  • San Francisco
  • San Nicolas
  • San Vicente
  • Sta. Lucia
  • Sto. Niño
  • Tagumpay
  • Tuban
  • Victoria

Climate

Climate data for Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 25
(77)		 26
(79)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 42
(1.7)		 31
(1.2)		 49
(1.9)		 71
(2.8)		 249
(9.8)		 368
(14.5)		 426
(16.8)		 350
(13.8)		 381
(15.0)		 292
(11.5)		 144
(5.7)		 80
(3.1)		 2,483
(97.8)
Average rainy days 10.2 8.3 11.7 15.9 25.2 27.5 28.9 27.0 27.5 26.0 18.2 13.0 239.4
Source: Meteoblue

Demographics

Population census of Sablayan
YearPop.±% p.a.
1918 3,078—    
1939 2,861−0.35%
1948 3,332+1.71%
1960 12,685+11.78%
1970 18,256+3.70%
1975 31,117+11.29%
1980 36,699+3.35%
1990 46,546+2.41%
1995 55,573+3.38%
2000 63,685+2.96%
2007 70,506+1.41%
2010 76,153+2.84%
2015 83,169+1.69%
2020 92,598+2.29%
2024 91,406−0.31%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Economy

Poverty incidence of Sablayan (%)

10
20
30
40
50
60
2000
59.51
2003
49.93
2006
46.30
2009
34.82
2012
28.03
2015
28.61
2018
12.84
2021
28.28
2023
25.54

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Tourism

Pinagpalang Lagusan sa Bakawanan

On April 15, 2024, second placer, Sablayan's Mayor Walter B. Marquez received the P20 million award from the Department of Tourism's Tourism Champions Challenge, for the development of "Pinagpalang Lagusan sa Bakawanan" (Mangrove Forest park). The tourist attraction is a 12-hectare biodiversity with 925-meter mangrove nature conservation boardwalk.

Government

List of former chief executives

  • Juan Daño (1907—1910)
  • Santiago Dangeros (1913–1918)
  • Policarpio Urieta (1919–1921)
  • Benigno Lontoc (1922–1924)
  • Maximo Papa (1925–1927, 1938–1940)
  • Hermogenes Daño (1928–1930)
  • Lucas Fernandez (1931–1933)
  • Primitovo Zamora (1934–1937)
  • Pedro Gonzales (1941–1947, 1972–1986)
  • Paulino Legaspi Sr. (1948–1951)
  • Loreto Urieta (1952–1959, 1964–1971)
  • Floresto Cariaga Sr. (1959–1960)
  • Leoncio Ordenes Sr. (1960–1963)
  • Godofredo B. Mintu (1986–1998, 2001–2010)
  • Andres D. Dangeros (1998–2001, 2019–present)
  • Eduardo B. Gadiano (2010–2019)

Culture

Held once a year the Dugoy Festival is a celebration of the Mangyan culture.

Education

There are Sablayan schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. These are the Sablayan North Schools District, and Sablayan South Schools District.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Alag Elementary School
  • Aplaya Elementary School
  • Arellano Elementary School
  • Balani Minority School
  • Buenavista Elementary School
  • Burgos Elementary School
  • Cebu Elementary School
  • Claudio Salgado Elementary School
  • Culasisi Minority School
  • El Dorado Elementary School
  • D-Shep Foundation Academy
  • Foursquare Christian School
  • Gen. E. Aguinaldo Elementary School
  • Gen. E. Aguinaldo Elementary School (Annex)
  • Guitong Elementary School
  • Hosea Christian Mission School
  • Inawa Panaynep Elementary School
  • Lagutay Minority School
  • Libagon Minority School
  • Ligaya Adventist Elementary School
  • Ligaya Elementary School
  • Liwayway Elementary School
  • Malisbong Elementary School
  • Maranatha Christian Academy
  • Paetan Elementary School
  • Paradise Adventist Elementary School
  • Payompon Elementary School
  • Poblacion Elementary School
  • Rang-ayan Elementary School
  • Sablayan Central School
  • Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm Elementary School
  • Sablayan Seventh-Day Adventist Elementary School
  • Sahing Elementary School
  • Salvacion Elementary School
  • San Agustin Adventist Elementary School
  • San Agustin Elementary School
  • San Francisco Elementary School
  • San Miguel Elementary School
  • San Nicolas Elementary School
  • San Vicente Elementary School
  • San Vicente Elementary School (Calumpit Annex)
  • Selina Elementary School
  • Sotero Baluyot Elementary School
  • Sta. Lucia I Elementary School
  • Sta. Lucia II Elementary School
  • Sta. Rosa Elementary School
  • Sto. Nino Elementary School
  • Tagumpay Elementary School
  • Tuban Elementary School
  • Victoria Elementary School
  • Yapang Elementary School

Secondary schools

  • Burgos National High School
  • Colegio de San Sebastian
  • Ligaya National High School
  • Malisbong National High School
  • Paulino Legaspi, Sr. Memorial National High School
  • Prudencio L. Gadiano National High School
  • Sablayan National Comprehensive High School
  • Sablayan National Comprehensive High School (Sta. Lucia Annex)
  • Sablayan National Comprehensive High School (Claudio Salgado Annex)
  • San Francisco National High School
  • San Vicente National High School
  • San Vicente National High School (Yapang Annex)
  • Tagumpay National High School
  • Victoria National High School
  • Victoria National High School (Ilvita Annex)

References

  1. ↑  Municipality of Sablayan | (DILG)
  2. ↑ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "881 Cities and Municipalities Recorded Poverty Incidence of 20 Percent or Lower in 2023". Philippine Statistics Authority. 6 February 2026. Archived from the original on 3 June 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  5. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  6. ↑ Candelario, Rudy. "History of the Town of Sablayan". sites.google.com/site/occidentalmindorohistory.
  7. ↑ Provincia de San Nicolas de Tolentino de Agustinos Descalzos de la Congregacion de España e Indias (in Spanish). Manila: Imprenta del Colegio de Santo Tomas. 1879. pp. 118–119 – via bne.es.
  8. ↑ Atienza Maliwanag, Dennis (June 6, 2026). "PH town among 14 new Unesco biosphere reserves worldwide". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  9. ↑ "An Act Changing the Names of Certain Barrios in the Municipality of Sablayan, Province of Occidental Mindoro". Retrieved 2011-04-12 – via LawPH.com.
  10. ↑ "Sablayan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  12. ↑ Census of Population (2015). "Region IV-B (Mimaropa)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  13. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region IV-B (Mimaropa)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  14. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region IV-B (Mimaropa)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  15. ↑ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  16. ↑ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  18. ↑ "2003 Small Area Estimates of Poverty (Full Report)" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 11 March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  19. ↑ "2006 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012. Archived from the original on 21 May 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  20. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  21. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  22. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  23. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  24. ↑ "881 Cities and Municipalities Recorded Poverty Incidence of 20 Percent or Lower in 2023". Philippine Statistics Authority. 6 February 2026. Archived from the original on 3 June 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  25. ↑ Adel, Rosette (April 17, 2024). "Tourism Champions Challenge' LGU winners to receive P255M grant". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Masterlist of Schools" (PDF). Department of Education. January 15, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2025.