Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi

Turtle Islands, officially the Municipality of Turtle Islands, is a 5th class municipality in the province of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 4,727 people.[3]

Turtle Islands Taganak
Municipality
Municipality of Turtle Islands
Map of Tawi-Tawi with Turtle Islands highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Turtle Islands Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°05′00″N 118°19′00″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)
Province	Tawi-Tawi
District	Lone District
Barangays	2 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Mohammad Faizal H. Jamalul
• Vice Mayor	Al-Hasan B. Sahibil
• Congressman	Rashidin H. Matba
• Electorate	5,876 voters (2019)
Area  [2]
• Total	62.50 km^2 (24.13 sq mi)
Population  (2015 census)[3]
• Total	4,727
• Density	76/km^2 (200/sq mi)
• Households	782
Economy
• Income class	5th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	35.07% (2015)[4]
• Revenue (₱)	37,263,678.67 (2016)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	7507
PSGC	157008000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)68
Climate type	tropical climate
Native languages	Sama language Tagalog Sabah Malay

It is also known as Philippine Turtle Islands[5][6] to distinguish it from its Malaysian counterpart; while locals call it Taganak.

Access to the Turtle Islands is difficult, as there are no regular means of transportation to the area. This has kept the islands protected from turtle egg poachers. A station for park rangers is also present on the islands.

Barangays

Turtle Islands are politically subdivided into 2 barangays.

• Taganak Poblacion (2010 population: 2,430)
• Likud Bakkao (2010 population: 1,342)

Climate

Climate data for Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	28 (82)	28 (82)	29 (84)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (85)
Average low °C (°F)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	128 (5.0)	87 (3.4)	87 (3.4)	58 (2.3)	88 (3.5)	89 (3.5)	82 (3.2)	80 (3.1)	81 (3.2)	110 (4.3)	110 (4.3)	140 (5.5)	1,140 (44.7)
Average rainy days	18.9	15.8	17.9	17.7	25.9	26.5	27.5	27.1	26.4	27.8	24.6	22.5	278.6
Source: Meteoblue [7]

Demographics

Population census of Turtle Islands

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1948	449	—
1960	536	+1.49%
1970	389	−3.15%
1975	799	+15.53%
1980	2,197	+22.41%
1990	2,296	+0.44%
1995	2,359	+0.51%
2000	3,600	+9.48%
2007	6,194	+7.77%
2010	3,772	−16.51%
2015	4,727	+4.39%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][8][9][10]

Taganak, Boaan, Great Bakkungaan, Lihiman and Langaan are inhabited. Baguan, an island protected for turtle nesting and the smallest island, Sibaung, are uninhabited.[11] According to the 2010 census, the population of the five permanently inhabited islands is 4,727 people. With a land area of only 3.08 square kilometres (1.19 square miles), the islands have a population density of 1,534.7/km². On the five inhabited islands the land cover in large areas is dominated by houses.[12] Typical of other rural areas in the Philippines, human settlements are mixed with agriculture.[12] The relative dominance of the settlements is mainly due to the limited land area and the resulting high population density level, which is more than four times the national average.[12]

Geography

Features of the Turtle Islands.

The islands are located within the Sulu Sea[13] at the south-western tip of the country, at the edge of the international treaty limits separating the Philippines and Malaysia.[14] The seven islands from largest to smallest are:[15][16]

• Taganak is of volcanic origin and the largest island of the group with an area of about 116 hectares (290 acres) with the highest point at 148 metres (486 ft).
• Boaan, also known as Boan, is the second largest island of the group with an area of 76 hectares (190 acres) with the highest elevation at 59 metres (194 ft).
• Great Bakkungaan also known as Great Bakkungan is the third largest at 51 hectares (130 acres) with the highest elevation at 58 metres (190 ft).
• Baguan is the easternmost of the islands and is also volcanic in origin. The bell-shaped island has an area of 29.1 hectares (72 acres) with the maximum elevation of 40 metres (130 ft).
• Lihiman is a mud and coralline island of about 29 hectares (72 acres). The island is noted for its explosive mud volcanoes extrusions (see below).
• Langaan is a flat coral island of about 7 hectares (17 acres) and a perimeter of 458 metres (1,503 ft).
• Sibaung is the westernmost island and is a small coral reef lying 4.5 miles (7.2 km) westward of the north part of Boaan Island. The island has an area of 0.1 hectares (0.25 acres) only. There are a few bushes 35 feet (11 metres) high on this reef.

Fresh water is reported available from shallow groundwater on all the islands except the smallest, Sibaung.[17] Perhaps owing to its tiny size and the fact it does not have a fresh water source, Sibaung is sometimes omitted from the list of Philippine Turtle Islands. For example, Presidential Proclamation 171 establishing the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary refers to 6 islands rather than 7 islands despite covering all of the municipality.[18]

Mud volcanoes

In the Philippines, mud volcanoes are known to exist only on the Turtle Islands. Presence of these formations are evident on three of the islands - Lihiman, Great Bakkungaan and Boaan Islands. The hills on these islands are mostly mud volcanoes. On Great Bakkungan Island, grey mud quietly flows from the vent in a pulsating manner accompanied by gas bubbling. On Boan Island, mud extrusion had ceased by August 2000.[19]

Compared to the other two islands, in Lihiman Island, a more violent extrusions of mud, mixed with large pieces of rocks occur that it has created a 20-m (66-ft) wide crater on the hilly part of the island.[14] Such extrusions are reported to be accompanied by mild earthquakes and evidence of extruded materials can be found high up the surrounding trees because of its explosive character. Huge amount of materials are discharged from this volcano that drainage was cut on the northern slope of the hill to direct the flow to the sea. Submarine mud extrusions off the island have also been observed by local residents.[20]

Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary

Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary
Location	Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi
Area	242,967 ha (938.10 sq mi)[21]
Designation	Protected Area
Administrator	Turtle Islands Protected Area Management Board

See also: Turtle Islands National Park (Malaysia)

Together with three islands of neighbour country Malaysia and the surrounding coral waters, Turtle Islands are one of the world's few remaining major nesting grounds for the Green Sea Turtles. In 1996, the islands were declared as Turtle Islands Heritage Protected area by the governments of the Philippines and Malaysia as the only way to guarantee the continued existence of the green sea turtles and their nesting sites.[22][23]

For the five islands, the Philippine government decided to create special protection zones, and within this zones, only scientific and conservation activities are allowed. In other zones, certain rules are adapted to prevent too much impact by people on the environment and the turtles. Visiting these zones is only possible with strict guidance and under supervision of the staff of the officials of the government.

For a successful conservation and protection program, the support of the locals was very important. Fishing, for most of them, is the most important activity and source of income. Hunting sea turtles and collecting the turtle eggs for food, had always been a possible source for additional income. From the end of August to December, turtles come by the hundreds from the surrounding coastal waters, to lay and dig their eggs into the sand. The staff of the conservation project were able to succeed in convincing the locals the need to minimise their collecting activities. Local men, women and children, are now involved, helping with the protection activities.[24]

A possibility of 2nd otter species in the Philippines had been raised with the recording of two romps (two adults and one pup) of otters in the Turtle islands. Otters found in the island is most likely Smooth-coated otter according to otter specialists. The other species that can be found in the Philippines is the Asian small-clawed otter or locally known as dungon in Palawan.[25]

Agriculture and aquaculture

Natural land cover types in the islands are classified as wooded, mangrove, brush, grass and bare.[12] Most of the areas on the five inhabited islands used for agriculture are planted with coconut.[12] There is a seaweed and seagrass industry on the islands. Almost all species have some known economic value.[12] Only those food species, when developed, are likely to be of immediate economic benefit to the local populations.[12]

History

Under the Treaty of Paris of 1898 Spain ceded to the United States "the archipelago known as the Philippine Islands".[26] The terms of that treaty were supplemented by the Treaty of Washington of 1900. On the basis of this cession, the United States claimed sovereignty over the Philippine Turtle Islands and the Mangsee Islands, all of which were administered by the British North Borneo Company.[27] Responding to the claim, the United Kingdom government said there was "no intention...to question the title of the United States" to the islands. However, the UK asked "whether the United States Government would be willing to forgo their right to these islands, out of consideration for the fact that the North Borneo Company had during many years carried on the administration of [the islands] under the apparent belief the islands formed part of the company's territory, and as the company attached importance to being permitted to retain control over them".[28][27] Under a treaty concluded by exchange of notes dated 3 and 10 July 1907,[29] the two countries agreed that the administration of the islands would continue to be carried on by the British North Borneo Company, with that arrangement to end should an international boundary treaty end it or should either government give the other government one year's notice.[29]

By a further international treaty concluded in 1930 between the United States (in respect of its then overseas territory, the Philippine Archipelago) and the United Kingdom (in respect of its then protectorate, the State of North Borneo) the two powers agreed the international boundaries between those respective territories.[30] In that treaty the United Kingdom unambiguously accepted that Sibuang, Boaan, Lihiman, Langaan, Great Bakkungaan, Tanganak and Banguan together called in that treaty the Turtle Islands as well as the Mangsee Islands were part of the Philippines Archipelago and therefore under U.S. sovereignty.[27] However, by a supplemental international treaty concluded at the same time, the two powers agreed that those islands, although part of the Philippines Archipelago, would remain under the administration of the State of North Borneo's British North Borneo Company.[31] The supplemental treaty provided that the British North Borneo Company would continue to administer those islands unless and until the United States government gave notice to the United Kingdom calling for administration of the islands to be transferred to the U.S. The U.S. never gave such a notice. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines was born. It became the successor to the U.S. under the treaties of 1930. On 15 July 1946 the United Kingdom annexed the State North Borneo and, in the view of the United Kingdom, became the sovereign power with respect to what had been the State of North Borneo.[32]

On 19 September 1946 the Republic of the Philippines notified the United Kingdom that it wished to take over the administration of the Turtle Islands and the Mangesse Islands. The British government responded by asking the Philippine government to reconsider "because these islands are so far from the nearest Philippine administrative base that...it would be in the best interests of both the Philippines and North Borneo for the latter to remain responsible for the administration of the islands."[33] The British agreed to the Philippine request to establish a joint committee to examine the administration of the islands. The joint committee made an inspection of the islands but ultimately on 24 September 1947 the Philippines made known its decision to press ahead with taking over the administration of the islands. Pursuant to a supplemental international agreement, the transfer of administration became effective on 16 October 1947.[34][35]

Taganak Lighthouse Dispute

The largest of the islands, Taganak, is near the entrance to Sandakan Bay. The lighthouse on the island, which was of practical importance to nearby North Borneo, became the subject of an international dispute known as the Taganak Lighthouse Dispute.[36] The 1930 international treaty dealing with the transfer of administration of the Turtle Islands including Taganak contained the following provision:[34]

In the event of (the administration) of the Island of Taganak...being transferred, the United States Government will give favorable consideration to the question of the compensation to be paid to the (British North Borneo Company) in respect of the capital expenditure incurred by the company in connection with the lighthouse situated on the island, and that the United States Government will provide for the future maintenance of the lighthouse.

At the time of the transfer of the island the Philippine government rejected the UK request that the Philippines pay for the cost of the lighthouse and that they provide for its maintenance in the future.[36] The Manila government asserted that the obligations contained in the 1930 treaty "presupposes naturally that the lighthouse be in working condition at the time of the transfer and that its operation is necessary and will provide some public benefit to the United States, or its successor, the Philippines". Manila asserted that the lighthouse had been severely damaged in the war, that it had not been in operation since its destruction, and that the Philippines did not need its service.[36] The government was willing to lease the site for the lighthouse to North Borneo for one peso per annum, as long as the British needed and used the facility.[36] The United Kingdom view was that the Philippines was required under the terms of the 1930 treaty concerning the Turtle Islands to maintain the lighthouse in the future.[27] On 26 May 1948 the British Minister, Linton Foulds, in Manila wrote to the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Joaquín Miguel Elizalde, calling again on the Philippine government to fulfil its obligations under the 1930 treaty as regards paying compensation for the lighthouse and providing for its operation as it remained in a state of ruin.[27] On 23 July 1949 the Philippines responded in the same terms as it had at the time of the transfer.[27] The parties remained in dispute. Prof. Vicente Abad Santos of the University of the Philippines and Lt. Col. Charles D.T. Lennhoff of the U.S. army who reported on the Taganak Lighthouse Dispute in the American Journal of International Law assessed the arguments of the British and Philippine sides. They concluded that "the Philippine Government is justified in refusing to pay...and in refusing to provide for [the lighthouse's] maintenance".[27]

Today, the abandoned lighthouse tower remains at the summit of the island. [37]

Municipality status

The Turtle Islands were constituted as a 'special municipal district' under the jurisdiction of the Province of Sulu under Executive Order 95 signed by President Manuel Roxas on 13 October 1947.[38] The same executive order proclaimed "the assumption of jurisdiction and administration by the Republic of the Philippines over the Turtle and Mangsee Islands which form part of Philippine territory".[38] Under the executive order, a district officer was put in charge of administering the new special municipality.[38]

The following year, Executive Order 130 was signed by President Elpidio Quirino providing for regular and more usual local government structures.[39] The Turtle Islands were constituted as the "municipal district of Turtle Islands" to be governed by article VI, chapter 64, of the Revised Administrative Code. It was provided that the provincial board of Sulu shall act as council for the municipal district of Turtle Islands.[39] The "district officer of Turtle Islands" was given the new title of "municipal district mayor of the Turtle Islands" and the same powers and duties which pertain to such official in other municipal districts organized under the provisions of article VI, chapter 64, of the Revised Administrative Code, in addition to those prescribed under Executive Order No. 95 in 1947.[39]

Malaysian annexation allegation controversy

In 1988, the Manila press announced that Malaysia had annexed the islands. Three days of hype, supported by news maps showing the annexation, died away when it was revealed that the "annexation" was the result of the misreading of an American naval chart by a Philippine naval officer. The officer mistook a deepwater ship route for the boundary of Malaysia's new economic zone.[40]

References

1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
2. "Province: Tawi-tawi". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
3. Census of Population (2015). "ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
5. Ocean Ambassadors 'Track a Turtle' profile for the Philippine Turtle Islands
6. Indian South East Asian Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding
7. "Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi : Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
8. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
9. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
10. "Province of Tawi‑tawi". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
11. Sector Network Rural Development and Natural Resources Asia (SNRD Asia), Vulnerability Assessment in Turtle Islands, Tawitawi
12. Mindanao Examiner; Environment agencies tackle marine wildlife sanctuary issues in 2-day Tawi-Tawi meeting; 28 July 2009
13. C. Michael Hogan. 2011. Sulu Sea. Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. P. Saundry & C.J. Cleveland. Washington DC
14. "Philippine Turtle Islands". Retrieved 1 March 2008.
15. "Convention regarding the boundary between the Philippine Archipelago and the State of North Borneo" (PDF). United Nations Treaty Collection. 2 January 1930, and 6 July 1932. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2015. Check date values in: |date= (help)
16. U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. "United States Coast Pilot, Philippine Islands, Vol.2", pp.309-310. Washington Government Printing Office, 1921.
17. Geo-physical features of the six Philippine Turtle Islands" Ocean Ambassadors. Retrieved on 15 February 2011.
18. Presidential Proclamation 171 of 1999; Republic of the Philippines
19. "Geophysical features of the six Philippine Turtle Islands". oneocean.org. Archived from the original on 18 August 2000. (undated, but first archived on 2000-08-18)
20. "Lihiman Island". Ocean Ambassadors Track a Turtle. Retrieved on 5 October 2010.
21. http://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/basic_17/HB04126.pdf
22. Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area". Ocean Ambassadors Track a Turtle. Retrieved on 15 February 2011.
23. "Turtle Islands Memorandum of Agreement between Governments of Philippines and Malaysia". Ocean Ambassadors Track a Turtle. Retrieved on 15 February 2011.
24. "Turtle Islands in the Philippines". Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2008.
25. "New record: 2nd otter species in PH spotted in Tawi-Tawi". Retrieved 30 May 2020.
26. Article III of the Treaty of Paris
27. American Journal of International Law; Vol. 45, No. 4, Oct., 1951; The Taganak Island Lighthouse Dispute; by Assoc. Prof. Vicente Abad Santos (University of Philippines) and Lt. Col. Charles D.T. Lennhoff (U.S. Army)
28. Letter dated 29 September 1905 from British Ambassador Sir Mortimer Durand to U.S. Secretary of State Elihu Root
29. U.S. Treaty Series 856 of 1907
30. Convention between the United States and the United Kingdom done at Washington on 2 January 1930
31. Exchange of Notes between the United States and the United Kingdom done at Washington on 2 January 1930
32. The North Borneo Cession Order in Council 1946
33. Letter dated 6 June 1947 of British Foreign Service officer, N.E. Dening to the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Elpidio Quirino
34. Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines regarding the transfer of the administration of the Turtle and Mangsee Islands to the Philippine Republic; Cmd 8320
35. Peter C. Richards (6 December 1947). "New Flag Over Pacific Paradise". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
36. by Ressell H. Fifeld The Diplomacy Of Southeast Asia 1945-1958; Publisher Harper & Brothers; 1958
37. Prostar Sailing Directions 2005 Borneo, Jawa, Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara Enroute
38. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines; Executive Order No. 95, s. 1947; 13 October 1947
39. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines; Executive Order No. 130, s. 1948; 21 April 1948
40. Monmonier, Mark (1996). How to Lie with Maps (2nd. ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 44. ISBN 0-226-53421-9.

External links

• Turtle Islands Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• One Ocean, the Philippines' coastal and fisheries management information.
• Ocean Ambassadors is a page about marine species found in the Philippines and the effort to conserve them.