Santa Fe, Cebu

Santa Fe, officially the Municipality of Santa Fe (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Santa Fe; Tagalog: Bayan ng Santa Fe), is a municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 34,834 people.^[5]

Santa Fe
Municipality
Municipality of Santa Fe
Og-tong beach area in Pooc with Mayet and Yooneek resorts
Flag Seal
Map of Cebu with Santa Fe highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Santa Fe Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°09′N 123°48′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas
Province	Cebu
District	4th district
Barangays	10 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Ithamar P. Espinosa (1Cebu)
• Vice Mayor	Mary Greleigh P. Cabrera (1Cebu)
• Representative	Sun J. Shimura (PMP)
• Municipal Council	Members Ryan James G. Fariolen James Philip P. Lao Junrel G. Bataycan Dindo G. Zaspa Joan Gay P. Nepangue Francis Kelvin E. Mondejar Rosalinda Z. Espinosa Wilfredo E. Batobalonos Sr.
• Electorate	22,646 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	28.05 km2 (10.83 sq mi)
Elevation	3.0 m (9.8 ft)
Highest elevation	38 m (125 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	34,834
• Density	1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi)
• Households	8,241
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	40.82 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 194.1 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 409.9 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 144.9 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 55.03 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Bantayan Island Electric Cooperative (BANELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	6047
PSGC	072244000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)32
Native languages	Cebuano Filipino Waray

Because the island's airport and principal ferry port are both located within the municipality, Santa Fe is considered the gateway to Bantayan and its islands.

Geography

The municipality's territory occupies the southeastern portion of Bantayan Island (marching with the municipality of Bantayan), together with the islands of Guintacan (or Kinatarkan), Hilantagaan and Hilantagaan Diot (or Silion). Santa Fe is bordered to the north by the town of Bantayan, to the west also by Bantayan, to the east is the town of Medellin and to the south is the Tañon Strait.

Barangays

Santa Fe is politically subdivided into 10 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a. 2024[6] 2010[7] 072244009 Balidbid 5.3% 1,853 1,592 ▴ 1.07%   072244002 Hagdan 10.0% 3,486 3,545 ▾ −0.12%   072244003 Hilantagaan 10.7% 3,726 3,651 ▴ 0.14%   072244004 Kinatarkan 4.8% 1,667 1,763 ▾ −0.39%   072244005 Langub 5.9% 2,055 2,082 ▾ −0.09%   072244006 Maricaban 9.4% 3,286 2,999 ▴ 0.64%   072244007 Okoy 11.2% 3,916 3,532 ▴ 0.72%   072244008 Poblacion 7.1% 2,458 2,345 ▴ 0.33%   072244010 Pooc 9.4% 3,280 2,883 ▴ 0.91%   072244011 Talisay 8.3% 2,876 2,878 ▾ 0.00%   Total 34,834 27,270 ▴ 1.73%

Climate

Climate data for Santa Fe, Cebu
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	28 (82)	29 (84)	30 (86)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (82)	30 (85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	23 (73)	24 (75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	70 (2.8)	49 (1.9)	62 (2.4)	78 (3.1)	138 (5.4)	201 (7.9)	192 (7.6)	185 (7.3)	192 (7.6)	205 (8.1)	156 (6.1)	111 (4.4)	1,639 (64.6)
Average rainy days	13.4	10.6	13.1	14.5	24.2	27.9	28.4	27.7	27.1	27.4	22.5	15.9	252.7
Source: Meteoblue[8]

Demographics

The Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Child of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church) in Santa Fe, Cebu.

Population census of Santa Fe

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 4,025 —     1918 5,781 +2.44% 1939 7,836 +1.46% 1948 10,311 +3.10% 1960 11,542 +0.94% 1970 13,096 +1.27%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1975 15,501 +3.44% 1980 15,787 +0.37% 1990 20,838 +2.82% 1995 21,720 +0.78% 2000 22,956 +1.19% 2007 26,826 +2.17%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2010 27,270 +0.60% 2015 28,603 +0.91% 2020 34,471 +4.01% 2024 34,834 +0.25%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[9][10][7][11][12]

Religion

The two predominant religions in the municipality are the Roman Catholic Church and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church).

Economy

Poverty incidence of Santa Fe

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 2000 60.46 2003 33.88 2006 65.00 2009 56.24 2012 39.83 2015 33.33 2018 24.90 2021 40.82 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Although there is some small-scale industry, the municipality's principal source of income is fishing and agriculture, and from holidaymakers who come in large numbers, most notably during Holy Week, to enjoy the particularly fine white sand and uncrowded beaches.

Transport

Bantayan Airport, serving the whole Bantayan Island, is located in Santa Fe. Air Juan operates scheduled flights between Mactan Airport three days a week. The town can also be reached by ferry from Hagnaya Wharf in San Remigio, Cebu.

In August 2024, the Port of Cebu announced the construction of a PHP500 million Santa Fe Port, featuring a finger wharf, passenger terminal and marina for international cruise ships. The four phases project also includes causeway's reinforced concrete deck, and berthing areas for ferries and roll-on/roll-off vessels.^[21]

Gallery

• 
  Boat beached in Santa Fe
• 
  Guintacan Island; the 3 barangays of Hagdan, Kinatarkan and Langub are located on this island.
• 
  Ferry pier, Santa Fe
• 
  Santa Fe Founding Anniversary