Lake Sebu Sbù
Municipality
Municipality of Lake Sebu
The eponymous Lake Sebu
Flag Seal
Nicknames:  Home of the T'nalak Weavers(ing) Philippines' Natural Wonder Summer Capital of Southern Mindanao Bowl of Forest and Mountains
Map of South Cotabato with Lake Sebu highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Lake Sebu Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°13′N 124°42′E / 6.22°N 124.7°E / 6.22; 124.7
Country	Philippines
Region	Soccsksargen
Province	South Cotabato
District	2nd district
Barangays	19 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Remie M. Unggol
• Vice Mayor	Liezel T. Isuga
• Representative	Peter B. Miguel
• Municipal Council	Members Charles Jerry E. Larido Ornalfo S. Estares Vicente F. Somido Stephen T. Ofong Jimmy G. Baay Judy L. Artacho Basilio L. Salif Jr. Vacant
• Electorate	45,933 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	702.00 km2 (271.04 sq mi)
Elevation	781 m (2,562 ft)
Highest elevation	1,570 m (5,150 ft)
Lowest elevation	364 m (1,194 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	81,221
• Density	120/km2 (300/sq mi)
• Households	18,969
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	49.30 % (2018)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 376.7 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 528.5 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 354.7 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 138 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	South Cotabato 1 Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO 1)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	9506
PSGC	126319000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)83
Native languages	Tboli Hiligaynon Cebuano Blaan Tagalog
Website	lakesebuscot.gov.ph

Lake Sebu, officially the Municipality of Lake Sebu (Tboli: Benwu Sbù,^[5] /sbuʔ/; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Sëbu /səˈbuʔ/; Tagalog: Bayan ng Sëbu), is a 1st class municipality in the province of South Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 81,221 people.^[3]

The bestselling Lonely Planet described Lake Sebu as a place located in a “bowl of forests and mountains.” The 42,450-hectare landscape consisting the domains of the Allah Valley is recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a cultural landscape in Mindanao.^[6]

Geography

The placid lake of Lake Sebu can be found in Allah Valley near the municipality of Surallah, South Cotabato. Surrounded by rolling hills and mountains covered with thick rain forest, the lake has an area of 354 hectares (870 acres), with an elevation of approximately 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).

Barangays

Lake Sebu is politically subdivided into 19 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

The lake's shores and the surrounding rainforest are home to the indigenous Tbolis, Tirurays, Ubos and Manobos. One of the major tribes, the Tbolis are known for their weaving skills and brassware production as well as fishing skills. The rest of the population are made of Maguindanaons, Ilonggos, Cebuanos, Bicolanos and Ilocanos.

Economy

The economy is based on aquaculture of Tilapia grown in large fish cages floating in the lake. More than one half of the land around the lake is cultivated for agriculture. The Philippine government is also trying to promote ecotourism in the area. The finishing of a concrete road cut the travel time from 4 hours to less than 30 minutes greatly improving trade and commerce.

Wildlife

Wild boars and Philippine Deer which are considered endangered live around the lake. The lake and the surrounding rainforest are natural habitat to egrets, kingfishers, swallows, herons, Philippine cockatoos and kites.

Environmental conservation

The Philippine government proclaimed a 924.5 square kilometres (357.0 sq mi) area as a protected landscape. On the south-eastern watershed of the lake, a bamboo plantation was established.