Agutaya is an island municipality in the eastern Cuyo Archipelago, in the Sulu Sea. Its namesake island is the second largest in the group, with four peaks rising over it, and the town also takes in Diit, Halog, Maracanao, Matarawis, Eke and Quiniluban islands.
Cuyo Island lies about 20 miles away, yet in the strongest months of either monsoon native sailboats once could not make the crossing.
- Area
- Sulu Sea Islands
- On the map
- Open Agutaya in Google Maps
The local government
- Mayor
- Fernando Ilustrisimo Sr.
- Vice mayor
- Joey Zumaraga
- Municipality of
- Agutaya
- PSGC code
- 1705302000
- Barangays
- 10
- Land area
- 37.3 km²
Elected on 12 May 2025 for the term to 30 June 2028, named as on the ballot, from the count COMELEC released (via Rappler); checked 9 November 2026. An official can be suspended or replaced during a term, so the town hall has the last word.
In an emergency
Call 911Agutaya’s disaster office (MDRRMO): 0968-375-9069, 0963-496-0390
From the provincial emergency page, checked 8 November 2026. Every emergency number
Its people and its past
The islanders have their own language, Agutaynen, spoken by about ten thousand people; Tagalog and Cuyonon are also widely used.
The Spanish built the church of Saint John the Baptist in 1683, and after Moro raids it was rebuilt as a fort, the Baluarte de San Juan Bautista. It sheltered the town during the Second World War. Agutaya became a permanent municipality in 1916.
Also around Agutaya
heritage
Agutaya Fort (Baluarte de San Juan Bautista)
A fort in Agutaya created by remodelling the 1683 Church of St. John the Baptist, built 1700–1748; the church was the town's evacuation centre in World War II.
Agutaya - Wikipediaisland
Agutaya Island
The municipality's namesake island, the second-largest of the Cuyo archipelago; Agutaya also covers Diit, Halog, Maracanao, Matarawis, Eke and Quiniluban islands.
Agutaya - Wikipedia
Where it is
287 km north-east of Puerto Princesa, as the crow flies.
Places within reach
