Fuga Island Explained

Fuga Island
Map:Philippines
Map Relief:yes
Coordinates:18.8725°N 121.3789°W
Archipelago:Babuyan Islands
Waterbody:Babuyan Channel
Area Km2:70
Area Footnotes:[1]
Elevation M:191
Highest Mount:Mount Nanguringan
Country:Philippines
Country Admin Divisions Title:Region
Country Admin Divisions:Cagayan Valley
Country Admin Divisions Title 1:Province
Country Admin Divisions 1:Cagayan
Country Admin Divisions Title 2:Municipality
Country Admin Divisions 2:Aparri
Population:1,939
Population As Of:2020

Fuga Island is an island and barangay located north of Luzon and is part of the Babuyan Islands, which is the second-northernmost island group of the Philippines. Barangay Fuga Island is one of the 42 barangays under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Aparri in the province of Cagayan.

Geography

Fuga has an area of [1] and a population of 2,015 people. The principal settlement is Naguilian (Musa) village on the southern coast. The highest peak is Mount Nanguringan in the northeast, with an elevation of .[2]

Along with the neighbouring islets of Barit and Mabaag, it constitutes one of 42 barangays of the municipality of Aparri, Cagayan. It is the only one of the Babuyan Islands under the jurisdiction of a mainland municipality, whereas all other islands form the municipality of Calayan.

History

Presently, Fuga Island is owned by Fuga Island Holdings. It was formerly owned by the Dominican Order under the encomienda system during the Spanish Period eventually returned to the Filipinos after the signing of 1898 Treaty of Paris. The first land title was issued in 1908 under Original Certificate Title number two, and the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands designated the island and surrounding ports an economic zone as part of the Cagayan Special Economic Zone (CEZA) and Freeport under Republic Act No. 7922.[3]

Archaeology

From January 31, 1978 to February 22, 1978, Bryan E. Snow and Richard Shutler, Jr. conducted an archaeological excavation on Fuga Moro Island. Earthenware, pottery, porcelains, and stoneware were found during the excavation.[4]

Military presence

On August 7, 2020, the Northern Luzon Command established a Marine detachment on the island. It also plans to build a defense facilities on the island, which will include a sheltered pier, a naval station, and a littoral monitoring on 20-hectare detachment.[5]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Genevieve Broad . Carl Oliveros . Biodiversity and conservation priority setting in the Babuyan Islands, Philippines . The Technical Journal of Philippine Ecosystems and Natural Resources . 15 . 1–2 . 1–30 . 18 April 2018.
  2. Web site: NE 51-5 Laoag . Series S501, U.S. Army Map Service, 1954- . The University of Texas at Austin . 18 April 2018.
  3. Web site: Republic Act No. 7922: An act establishing a special economic zone and free port in the municipality of Santa Ana and the neighboring islands in the municipality of Aparri, province of Cagayan, providing funds therefor, and for other purposes . ceza.gov.ph . Congress of the Philippines . 18 April 2018 . February 24, 1995.
  4. Book: The Archaeology of Fuga Moro Island:New Approaches for the Isolation and Explanation of Diagnostic Ceramic Assemblages in Northern Luzon. Bryan E. Snow . Richard Shutler Jr . University of San Carlos. 1985. 9789711000479.
  5. News: Navy safeguards northern islands. 28 May 2021. Philippine News Agency. 26 August 2020.