Kalayaan, Palawan
Kalayaan, officially the Municipality of Kalayaan (Tagalog: Bayan ng Kalayaan), is a 5th class municipality in the South China Sea under the jurisdiction of the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 193 people making it the least populated town in the Philippines.
Kalayaan | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
| Municipality of Kalayaan | |
Seaport under-construction in Thitu (Pag-asa) Island. | |
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Flag Seal | |
Map of Palawan with Kalayaan highlighted | |
OpenStreetMap | |
Kalayaan Location in the South China Sea and the Philippines Kalayaan Kalayaan (South China Sea) Kalayaan Kalayaan (Southeast Asia) | |
| Coordinates: 11°03′08″N 114°17′00″E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Mimaropa |
| Province | Palawan |
| District | 1st district |
| Founded | June 11, 1978 |
| Barangays | 1 (Pag-asa) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Roberto M. del Mundo |
| • Vice Mayor | Beltzasar S. Alindongan |
| • Representative | Edgardo L. Salvame |
| • Municipal Council | Members |
| • Electorate | 521 voters (2022) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 290.00 km2 (111.97 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2020 census) | |
| • Total | 193 |
| • Density | 0.67/km2 (1.7/sq mi) |
| • Households | 35 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 6th class municipality |
| • Poverty incidence | 76.92% (2020) |
| • Revenue | ₱ 91.05 million (2020) |
| • Assets | ₱ 277 million (2020) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 76.9 million (2020) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 103.3 million (2020) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Kalayaan Municipal Electric System (KAMES) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 5322 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)48 |
| Native languages | Palawano Tagalog |
| Website | kalayaanpalawan |
Part of the Spratly Islands, situated within the South China Sea, the Kalayaan municipality, which includes Thitu Island (locally known as Pag-asa, the administrative center of Kalayaan Island Group) is 280 nautical miles (320 mi; 520 km) northwest of Puerto Princesa and 932 kilometres (503 nmi; 579 mi) south-west of Metro Manila. It consists of a single barangay located on Pag-asa Island, which also serves as the seat of the municipal government. Besides Thitu Island, the municipality comprises six other islands: West York Island, Northeast Cay, Nanshan Island, Loaita Island, Flat Island (South China Sea) and Lankiam Cay (respectively locally named Likas, Parola, Lawak, Kota, Patag and Panata), and three shoals or reefs: Irving Reef (Balagtas Reef), Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) and Commodore Reef (Rizal Reef). It is the least populated municipality in the Philippines. Kalayaan's annual budget is 47 million pesos (about $1.1 million).
Kalayaan municipality has an airstrip, a naval port, a five-bed lying-in clinic, a police station, a coast guard station, a marine research station, and a small integrated elementary and high school.
Formerly an exclusively military installation, Pag-asa Island was opened to civilian settlement in 2002.
Kalayaan has the highest poverty incidence and is one of the poorest municipalities in the Philippines.