Camiguin Island (Balatubat)

 island, interesting place

Camiguin Island (different from the island-province of Camiguin in Mindanao) is one of the five major islands of the Babuyan Group of Islands. It is located in the Luzon strait and north of Luzon mainland, about 100 miles in the northern most part of the Philippines. It is separated from Luzon by the Babuyan Channel and from the Batanes Islands up north of Balintang Channel. It is about 300 statute miles from Manila City and 120 nautical miles from the town of Claveria on the northern coast of the Province of Cagayan. It is under the municipality of Calayan, the 29th town of Cagayan. It has a population of 4,580. It is divided into three barangays, Minabel - with 1,640 population and about 322 households, Naguilian - with 1,500 population and about 315 households and Balatubat with - 1,440 population and about 306 households.

The choice of livelihood is taken into consideration by the people in the island based on the environment and the presence of domestic natural resources. Those near the seashore are engaged in fishing. On the other hand, those located in the lowland are engaged in farming such as rice and vegetable production. Others are engaged in livestock raising such as swine breeding and fattening and poultry raising. A number also are engaged in buy and sell of agricultural products. Those in the upland and mountainous areas venture in fruit tree growing.

Camiguin Island has five schools at present. There are three elementary schools, namely Minabel Elementary School, Naguilian Elementary School, Balatubat Elementary School, and two high schools, namely Calayan High School-Camiguin Annex and Lyceum of Camiguin. The Students have to go to mainland Aparri for their college education.

Basic infrastructures are lacking in the island. The major roads that connect the three barangays are not fully constructed and people rely only on motor boats as means of transportation. There are no public markets where people can sell their agricultural produce and buy their basic needs. Buying and selling activities are limited to sari-sari store vending.

Basic health facilities are also lacking in the island. There are health centers but are lacking in medical supplies and equipment. The people have to rely on the resident midwife in as much as there are no and resident doctors in the island.

Generators are the only source of electricity and are limited only to the families who can afford. The generators only run for five hours, from 5:00 in the afternoon to 10:00 in the evening.