Taklong Island

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Taklong Island
Beach of Taklong Island Guimaras.jpg
Beach on Taklong Island
Philippines relief location map (square).svg
Red pog.svg
Taklong Island
Location within the Philippines
Geography
Coordinates 10°24′16″N122°30′43″E / 10.40444°N 122.51194°E / 10.40444; 122.51194
Adjacent to Panay Gulf
Administration
Region Western Visayas
Province Guimaras
Municipality Nueva Valencia

Taklong Island is an island located in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, off the southern end of the island of Guimaras, in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is the main island of the Taklong and Tandog Group of Islands Natural Park, formerly known as the Taklong Island National Marine Reserve.

The island and nearby vicinity was declared as a national marine reserve by President Corazon Aquino in 1990. [1] In 2025, Republic Act No. 12225 was signed by President Bongbong Marcos converting the marine reserve to a natural park. [2]

A marine biological station run by the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) of nearby Iloilo Province is located on this island. The one-storey station established in 1977 and renovated twice (in 1987 and in 2008) sits on a 1.64 hectares parcel of land donated to UP in 1964, with Carlos P. Romulo as then University President. Donors included the family of the first lieutenant governor of then sub-province of Guimaras, the late Antonio Ortiz.

When proclaimed as a national marine reserve in Feb. 8, 1990 by then President Corazon C. Aquino, there was only one family residing in the island, the family of Vicente Basco, the only recognized tenured migrant when Taklong Island became part of the national marine reserve. Mr. Basco was employed by UPV as caretaker of its station in Taklong Island from the 1970s until his retirement. There are UPV staff, including security guards stationed in the island.

Takong Island was affected by the Guimaras Oil Spill of 2006 with 90% of its mangrove forest being coated with the oil sludge. [3] Rehabilitation efforts in the area was started in 2007. [4] It has fully recovered.

Beach on Taklong Island with pump boat and rock outcropping. Beach and islands of Taklong Island Guimaras.jpg
Beach on Taklong Island with pump boat and rock outcropping.
This is the view from the front beach of Taklong Island. Taklong Island Front Beach.jpg
This is the view from the front beach of Taklong Island.
The dock through the mangroves at the back of the island. This is the preferred dock when the sea is rough. The mangrove forest at the back of the island.jpg
The dock through the mangroves at the back of the island. This is the preferred dock when the sea is rough.
The Banago area sandbar is one of the two sandbars in Taklong island that connects two adjacent islands or islets. The Banago Sandbar.jpg
The Banago area sandbar is one of the two sandbars in Taklong island that connects two adjacent islands or islets.

References

  1. ↑ "Marine Reserve". Manila Standard. Manila Standard. 16 June 1990. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  2. ↑ Guardian, Daily (2025-07-21). "Guimaras islands declared natural park under new law". Daily Guardian. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  3. ↑ Burgos, Nestor P. (4 September 2006). "Marine rehab, recovery may take 10-25 yrs, say UP experts". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  4. ↑ "ILOILO CITY: The rehabilitation of the 15-hectare habitat of various endangered species in Guimaras has already started". The Manila Times. The Manila Times. 1 November 2007. Retrieved 16 February 2024.


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