Itbayat

Itbayat, officially the Municipality of Itbayat, (Kavahayan nu Itbayat; Bayan ng Itbayat), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Batanes, Philippines. In the 2020 census, it had a population of 3,128 people.

Itbayat is the country's northernmost municipality, located 156 km from the southernmost tip of Taiwan.

The main island of Itbayat is the largest in Batanes. The municipality includes the rest of the province's northern islands, all small and mostly uninhabited. These islands are, from south to north: Di'nem Island, Siayan, Misanga, Ah'li, and Mavulis Island, the northernmost island of the Philippine archipelago.

History
A church and civil government were established in Batan Island in 1783. In 1855, civil authority was established and the mission canonically founded in Itbayat. A settlement during the Spanish colonial period, it became a municipal district when the Americans organized the province in 1909. In 1935, it became a municipality.

On September 14, 2016, Typhoon Meranti (Ferdie) made landfall on Itbayat while at peak intensity, as a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon, with the center of the eye passing directly over the island. During landfall, the storm's powerful winds caused extensive damage and knocked out the island's communications systems.

On July 27, 2019, a series of destructive earthquakes, the largest of them of magnitude 6.0, caused severe damage in the town. Nine people died as a result, and sixty were injured.

In 2024, Barangay San Rafael hosted the April 14 to June 6 Balikatan exercise involving the construction of humanitarian, logistics and disaster relief warehouse at Sitio Kagonongan, a supply depot area at the San Rafael National Food Authority warehouse and an American physician’s assistant station and lodging facilities for American soldiers at Itbayat District Hospital. In May 2024, the Philippine Coast Guard opened its first monitoring station in northern Luzon, located in Itbayat island, as part of efforts to monitor the entry of foreign vessels particularly from China. In June, the 51st Engineer Brigade' 513th Engineer Construction Battalion and United States Army, with Batanes LGU, Governor Marilou Cayco and Mayor Sabas C. De Sagon, led the dedication ceremony in Itbayat, of the 10x8-meters concrete logistical structure, Humanitarian assistance and Disaster response relief goods warehouse, part of 'Exercise Salaknib'.

Geography
Itbayat is located at °N, °W.

The municipality has a land area of 83.13 km2. It constitutes 37.96% 219.01 km2 of the total area of Batanes.

Islands, islets, atolls and outcrops
The entire municipality of Itbayat constitutes several islands, islets, atolls and outcrops.


 * Itbayat Island, the largest of the group is where the administrative center is located.
 * Di'nem Island is located southeast of Itbayat island and part of the Ibayat group of islands.
 * Mavulis Island, located between the northernmost Y'Ami and Itbayat island, is the second largest among the group. Nearby is Siayan island and Maysanga islet.
 * Maysanga islet lies next and south of Mavulis island and north of Siayan island and part of the Ibayat group of islands.
 * Siayan Island is located south of Mavulis island and part of the Ibayat group of islands under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Itbayat.
 * North Island lies nearby Y'ami island and is part of the Ibayat group of islands. At least two outcrops can be found nearby.
 * Y'Ami Island, the northernmost of the Itbayat group under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Itbayat. It is the northernmost point of the Philippines and the last territorial island bordering Taiwan.

Barangays
Itbayat is politically subdivided into five barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate
Itbayat has cooler temperatures from December to February due to its northerly location.

Demographics
In the 2020 census, Itbayat had a population of 3,128. The population density was undefined PD/km2.

Fishing
In 2024, Batanes's first municipal tilapia hatchery was inaugurated in Barangay Raele.

Local government
Itbayat belongs to the lone congressional district of the province of Batanes. It is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive, and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election held every three years.

Education
The Schools Division of Batanes governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region. The office governs the public and private elementary and public and private high schools throughout the municipality.

Tourism

 * Siayan Island: the nearest island to the north of Itbayat. It has beaches accessible by a one-hour ride by motorboat from Itbayat (depending on sea condition).
 * Di'nem Island: this volcanic island located east of Itbayat. It features boulder beaches with towering cliffs used for mountain climbing.
 * Rapang Cliff: A natural park with a ringing mushroom-like rock. It is believed to have been used by the ancient settlers to call a meeting.
 * Mount Riposed: One of the two major elevations (aside from Karaboboan) that have been the foundation of Itbayat Island. Situated in the south-eastern part of Itbayat has an elevation of 900 ft that offers views of the island.
 * Mount Karaboboan (Mount Santa Rosa): The other extinct volcano of Itbayat Island is in the island's northern half. Near the 800 ft mountain is a settlement of the early settlers of Itbayat near Barangay Santa Rosa.
 * Torongan Cave: The most ancient dwelling place has a burial ground on top. It is believed to be the first landing place of the Austronesians from Taiwan around 2000 BC.
 * Nahili Votox: With its own Ijang and boat-shaped burial grounds, it is also an ancient settlement where many broken clay pots have been found. Its Ijang has views of Dinem and Itbayat Island's eastern coast.
 * Underground Stream in Kumayasakas: The stream flows down the sea, north-west of Itbayat.
 * Itbayat Caves: These caves feature stalagmites and stalactites, and have been given the names Northern Sarokan, Eastern Sarokan, Do'tboran Cave, and Pevangan Cave.
 * Agosan Rock: rock formation north of Itbayat which is a breeding site for endangered birds.
 * Vernacular houses: A typical vernacular house is composed of three structures: (the kitchen where they use kugon to cook · the actual house where people stay · the bathroom).
 * Port Mauyen: An alternative port south of Itbayat with a 14-turn zigzag road. It is 14 km south of the town.
 * Groto: 155 steps up

Infrastructure
Transportation to the island town is by boat or by plane direct from the provincial capital of Basco.

Jorge Abad Airport serves as the gateway to the island for STOL planes through Basco airport or other airports from mainland Luzon. There are small carriers that provide commercial scheduled and non-scheduled flights to Itbayat from Basco Airport. Jorge Abad Airport is served by the following small airline companies:


 * Sky Pasada
 * NorthSky Air

The town can be reached by sea going vessels that provide transportation for locals and tourists between Itbayat and Basco. The following companies provide daily scheduled voyage between Basco and Itbayat:
 * M/B Ocean Spirit
 * M/B Itranza
 * M/B Veronica

There are no private charter boats or larger vessels in the island. Charter flights, however, can be scheduled to and from the town.