Location

The Province of Sulu is situated at the southern portion of the Philippines.  It lies approximately midway between Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.  It is surrounded by the Sulu and Mindanao Seas on the West and North, and the Celebes Sea on the East.

Over 157 islands and islets, some of them still unnamed, compose the province.  These are divided into four groups - Jolo group, Pangutaran group, Tongkil-Banguingui (Samales) group and Siasi-Tapul group.  The islands have varied terrain.

Jurisdically, the province is divided into two congressional districts, eighteen municipalities and 410 barangays.  Ten (10) municipalities are on mainland Jolo while eight (8) others are island municipalities.

Various government agencies report varying land areas for Sulu.  According to the National Mapping and Resources Information Authority, Sulu has a total land area of 160,040 hectares.  On the other hand, based on the National Statistics Office (NSO) 1995 Demographic and Socio-Economic profile, the province has a land area of 167,930 hectares.

Jolo is high and mountainous, being volcanic in origin.  Mountains are scattered throughout the island but do not form a mountain range.  Thus, small pockets of valleys and wide stretches of undulating to rolling lands are formed and utilized as farming areas.  Siasi Island is also volcanic in origin and of hilly interior.  The other islands such as Pangutaran are swampy, forested, flat and low islands of coral formation.  Less than twenty percent of the provincial land area (mostly in mainland) has more than 18 degrees slope.

Rivers in the major islands are too small and insignificant to permit navigation.  There are few protected harbors all located in Jolo and Siasi.  A number of crater lakes can be found on Jolo mainland, most prominent of which are the Seit  and Panamao lakes.

Population Data

Sulu has a total population of 619,668 based on the NSO 2000 Population Census.  In 1995, it recorded a total population of 536, 201.  Sulu experienced a 5.6% annual decline in population from 1970 to 1975 owing to upheaval during the said period.  The province registered an annual growth rate of 8.5% 1975 to 1980 as Suluanons returned to their native province when peace and order normalized.  From 1980 to 1990, population growth stabilized at the rate of 2.7% per annum.  From 1990 to 1995 it was at 2.5%, and from 1995 to 2000, it remains at 3.15%, a slight increase from the 2% growth rate from 1970 to 2000.

As of 2000, household population stood at 619,550, only 118 less than the total population.  Jolo, the smallest in terms of land area is the most densely populated municipalities while other highly populated municipalities are Siasi, Parang, Indanan, Patikul, Luuk and Panamao (44.6%).  The other Ten Municipalities had only 43.61% of the population.

The number of households in Sulu reached 98, 151 in 2000.  Jolo had the biggest number of households at 12,814, which is equivalent to 13%.  Talipao (11,938), Indanan (9,132), Parang (8,176) and Siasi (8,094) followed this.  Average household size is 5.5, from a range of 5.0 in Kalingalan Caluang to 7.0 in Tapul.

The population density in Sulu is 377.93 persons per square kilometer in 2000 compared to 327 persons per square kilometer in 1995.  Jolo, which has a land area of 22.2 square kilometers and a population of 87,998, has a very high density of 3,960 .7 per square kilometer while the island municipalities of Pangutaran and Panglima Tahil had only one hundred one (101) and 107 persons per square kilometers, respectively.

Based on the 2000 survey of population by the National Statistics Office, Sulu has a combined population of 377,396 or 61% of the total population that comprised the economically active population (16 – 64 years old).  Individuals aged 0 to 14 years constituted 230,910 or 37% and those aged 65 years and above, 11,362 or 2% two percent.

In 2000, dependency ratio was 64.  this means that for every 100 persons in the working age group of 15 to 64 years, there were 64 dependents, that is, 51 young dependents (0 to 14 years old) and three old dependents (65 years and over).  The 2000 ratio was lower than the ratio reported in 1995 or 70%.

The population of Sulu in 2000 was female dominated with a sex ratio of 96.  This means that there were 96 males for every 100 females.  Five years back (1995), the sex ratio of the province was recorded at 106.

There were more males than females in the age bracket 10-14 years, 40 to 44 years, and 50 to 79 years while females dominated their male counterparts in the age groups 9 years and below, 15 to 39 years, 45 to 49 years, and 90 years and above.

More than half of the household population or 52%, 10 years old and over were single while more than 40% were married.  Those with other marital arrangements recorded more than one percent in 2000.

Among single and married persons, the proportion of males (49.8 % and 49.7% respectively) and females (50.2% and 50.3% respectively) was almost equal.  On the other hand, there was a higher proportion of females among widowed (71%) and separated/divorced (58%) compared to their male counterparts.  However, among those with other marital arrangements, the proportion of males (52%) was higher compared to females (48%).

Of the total household population of 619,550 in the province, majority or 85.27 % classified themselves as Tausug, followed by Sama/Samal with 8%, and Badjao with more than two percent.  The remaining 2.63 percent belonged to other ethnic groups.

In 2000, more than 97% of the household population in Sulu was Islam believers.  Roman Catholics ranked second with about one percent while members of Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints ranked third with 0.11 percent.  The remaining 0.46 percent was with other religion.

Economy

Sulu's employable population (15 years and above) was 282,978 (60.2 percent) of its total population (469.971) in 1990.  Of the employable population, 102,558 are in the labor force while 179,420 are not.  This translated to a low labor participation rate of 36.6%.  Of those in the labor force, 81,940 (79.12 percent) are employed while 21,618 (20.87 percent) are unemployed.  In effect, Sulu's unemployment rate in 1990 is 20.9 percent.  Further, since agriculture was the main source of employment, it appears that the bigger problem in Sulu is under employment.  Agriculture utilizes only 10 to 40% of labor capacity depending on the crops being raised.

Of those in the labor force in 1990, 92,633 or 44.5 percent were into agriculture, fishery and forestry.  Industry (e.g. mining and quarrying, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, construction, transportation, etc.) employed 21,550 or 10.2 percent in the same period.  Those engaged in services (e.g. government officials, managers, professionals and associated professionals, craft and related workers) numbered 5,551 or 2.7 percent.

Among the top agricultural productions are copra and cassava.  The island province also produced commercial quantities of exotic fruits, coffee and abaca.  There were relatively low production of rice and vegetables.

Key informants would affirm the growing employment imbalance among agricultural, industrial, and services sectors.  Ideally, the three sectors could be made supportive of each other - - and, therefore, generate more income and employment opportunities - - had it not been for the peace and order situation in the province.  Investors are reluctant to invest in Sulu.  Farmers had second thoughts to continue farming outside the 2-kilometers safe radius from Jolo, the provincial capital.  Many in various services are setting out to other places for gainful and satisfying employment.  The peace and order situation makes it partly difficult to account for activities not adequately defined (39,411 or 18 percent) and not stated (48,965 or 23.5 percent).

Sulu's total income from 99,416 households amounted to P7.7 billion in 2000.  Total household expenditures in the same period reached P6.8 billion.  Each household had P77, 598 average annual income and P68, 481 average annual expenditure.

But judging from these figures across income classes, Sulu's income and expenditure pattern remains appalling.  For instance, of the 99,416 households in 2000, 3,559 (3.58 percent) belonged to the P30, 000 and below income class, earning an average of P35, 147 per annum or P2, 929 per month.  However, their expenditure went beyond their income, averaging P39, 964 annually or P3, 330 monthly per household.  In effect, 3.58 percent of the total households in the province were into deficit spending.

In the same period, 29,716 (45 percent) of Sulu's total households are within the P20, 000 - P59, 999 income bracket, earning an average of P33, 039 annually or P2,753 monthly.  Their average expenditures amounted to P28, 874 annually or P2, 406 monthly, for a measly saving of P4,165 per annum or P346 per month.  This amount of savings was negligible if the inflation rate outside Metro Manila was a high 23.8 percent (NSO in 1985).

Only 1,591 or 2.4 percent of Sulu's household are within the P60, 000-and-above income class in 1985.  They earned an average of P79, 337 annually or P6, 611 monthly.  With an average expenditure of P35, 319 annually or P2,943 monthly, only 2.4 percent of Sulu's total households would in effect have saved enough.  Saving would amount to P44, 018 annually or P3, 668 monthly per household.

Physical Environment and Infrastructure

In Census 2000, there were 95,662 occupied housing units in the province. This figure was higher by 17,335 houses (22 percent) over the 1990 figure (78,327 housing units).

A total of 98,151 households or a total household population of 619,550 resided in 95,662 housing units. This gave a ratio of 1.03 households per housing unit, almost the same as the figure reported a decade ago (1.05). The figure also gave a ratio of 6.48 household population per occupied housing unit, higher than the 1990 ratio of 5.99 persons.

More than 92 percent of occupied housing units in Sulu were single houses. This was lower by 6.46 percentage points from the 1990 figure. Duplex, multi-unit residential and commercial/industrial/agricultural type of building recorded less than one percent each.

In 2000, about 57 percent of the total occupied housing units had roofs made of either cogon, nipa, or anahaw. This figure registered about 27 percentage point decrease over 1990 figure. On the other hand, the proportion of houses that had roofs made of galvanized iron or aluminum increased by about 18 percentage points. From nine percent in 1990, it grew to 27 percent in 2000.

The proportion of houses that needed minor repair at all was 66 percent in 2000; needed major repair, 17 percent; and under renovation or being repaired, under construction, and with unfinished construction, two percent each.

In 2000, 29 percent of the households in Sulu drew water from dug well for drinking and/or cooking. This was followed by households that used from water system which comprised 26 percent (14 percent from own faucet and 12 percent from a faucet shared with other households).

Toilet facility is an indicator of health and sanitation status of  the households. Of the total households in Sulu, about 38 percent used open pit as their toilet facility. This was followed by HHs that used water-sealed sewer/septic tank at 17 percent; closed pit, 13 percent; and water-sealed other depository, six percent. HHs that used other kinds of toilet facility comprised more than 12 percent. On the other hand, about 14 percent had no toilet facility at all.

In 2000, over half (55 percent)  of the total households burnt their garbage, 22 percent dumped their garbage in individual pit, six percent had their garbage picked up by a garbage truck, and the rest either decayed, buried, or fed to animals.

Based on 2000 Census of Population about 65 percent of households used wood as fuel for cooking, kerosene by 11 percent, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and charcoal both with six percent each, and electricity by one percent.

In terms of physical infrastructure and support facilities, as of 2000, the Department of Public works and Highways in Sulu reported a total road network of 1,055.47 kilometers translating to a road density of 0.66 kilometers per square kilometer.  The roads consisted principally of gravel pave barangay roads (608.07 kilometers or 57.6% of the total), 294.24 kilometers (27.9%) provincial roads, 125.28 kilometers (11.9% national roads and 27.88 kilometers (2.6%) municipal roads.

Roads were mostly of gravel and earth type.  These types of roads extended to 920.91 kilometers accounted for 8.1% while 49.34 kilometers of concrete roads comprised only 4.7% of the total road network.

In 1992, the total lengths of bridges along the national roads were 193.3 linear meters.  Of these 187.3 linear meters or 96.9% were permanent concrete structures while 6 linear meters consisted of timber-made bridges.

Sulu has only one airport located in the capital town, Jolo.  It is almost half a kilometer northeast of the Poblacion.  Southeast Asian Airlines (Seair) maintains daily flight in the Jolo-Zamboanga City route.

The airport is paved with asphalt and was classified as a secondary runaway.  Its runs a length of 2,000 meters on a width of 20 meters and has a capacity of 13,609/kgm.  It has AUW of 17,009/kgm.

Infrastructure projects undertaken by the air transportation office include the improvement of runway; fencing maintenance of ground and visual air markers, navigational aids communications and traffic control facilities; and construction of fire station building.

In terms of port, harbors and lighthouses, as of the first quarter of 1993, there were a total of 40 ports located in the different island groups in Sulu.  There were 10 in Siasi, 6 in Luuk, 4 in Kalingalan Caluang, 2 in Jolo, and 18 other ports scattered among the other islands.  These ports could only accommodate light crafts or ferries due to limitation of their construction.

There are two major seaports in Sulu.  These are in Jolo and Siasi respectively.  The Jolo port has a reinforced concrete wharf with an available berthing space of 330 meters and a back up area of 1,640 square meters.  The port of Siasi, on the other hand, has a berthing space of 37 meters.

Administrative Structure

Sulu falls under the jurisdiction of the ARMM comprising five provinces. These are the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Lanao and Maguindanao.  The ARMM has a Regional Governor, Regional Vice-Governor, its own Cabinet Members and Legislative Assembly.  The principal officials of the province are the Governor, Vice-Governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member's (12) including 3 sectoral representatives, Municipal Mayors (18), Municipal Vice-Mayors (18), Sangguniang Bayan member's (180) and Barangay Captains (410).  The Provincial Development Council (PDC) is responsible for the formulation of economic and development plans, the coordination of development efforts and the monitoring and evaluation of programs within the territorial jurisdiction.  The PDC is headed by the Governor and is composed of the eighteen Municipal Mayors, the Chairman of Appropriation Committee (SP member), (3) representatives from non-government organizations, and (2) Congressmen representing the two districts.

Local Government Finance

The provincial budget in 2003 was amounted to Two Hundred Ninety Six Million One Hundred Thirty One Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty Five Pesos (P 296,131,955) of which 97.71% or (P 289,355,736) million was derived from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). There was an increased of almost 50% to the total income of the province compared to 2002.  Of this budget, 16.3 million or 5.5% was allotted for Social Development Programs particular on health and education support services.

Moreover, the Provincial Government has provided for salaries and other benefits of locally hired personnel working with the provincial offices of the departments under the ARMM dealing with health, social welfare, education, labor and other services catering particularly to children and women e.g. Day Care Workers, Barangay Health Workers and etc.