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Balabac Island

Coordinates: 7°57′N 117°01′E / 7.95°N 117.02°E / 7.95; 117.02
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Balabac
Map
Geography
LocationPalawan, Philippines
Coordinates7°57′N 117°01′E / 7.95°N 117.02°E / 7.95; 117.02
ArchipelagoPalawan
Administration
Philippines

Balabac Island is the western-most island of the Palawan province in the Philippines, only about 50 kilometres (31 mi) north from Sabah, Malaysia, across the Balabac Strait.

Administratively, the island forms the main part of Balabac Municipality and is divided into 14 barangays (the other 6 barangays of the municipality are on other nearby islands):

  • Agutayan
  • Catagupan
  • Indalawan
  • Malaking Ilog
  • Melville
  • Pasig
  • Rabor
  • Salang
  • Poblacion I
  • Poblacion II
  • Poblacion III
  • Poblacion IV
  • Poblacion V
  • Poblacion VI

Balabac Island is home to various endemic species. It is the home of birds like Grey Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pickeringii), Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), Blue-headed Racket-tail (Prioniturus platenae), and the Palawan Hornbill (Anthracoceros marchei). The Philippine Mouse-deer, a subspecies of the Greater Mouse-deer (Tragulus napu) can only be found in this island.

The Molbogs, a Muslim ethnolinguistic group, is concentrated in this island. Their livelihood includes farming, fishing and barter trading with the nearby Sulu, Bangsamoro, and Sabah market centers.


Cape Melville Lighthouse on the southern point of Balabac Island, circa 1892.

References