Baliguian Island 3.35

Baliguian Island is an inhabited island in northeastern Iloilo, Philippines. It is the westernmost of the Concepcion Islands and politically administered by the municipality of Concepcion. A virtually flat island, Baliguian features a lighthouse to aid in ship navigation.Location and geographyBaliguian Island is east of Panay Island in the Visayan Sea, making it the furthest of the sixteen Concepcion Islands. Baliguian is 9mi due east of nearby Igbon Island. Small, flat, and heavily wooded, Baliguian is ringed by a narrow reef and surrounded by deep water.LighthouseThe main feature of Baliguian is its lighthouse, situated on the northwest corner of the island. The Baliguian Island Light was built in 1916. Its designations are ARLHS PHI-007, Admiralty F2314, and NGA 14668. The white, octagonal tower is high and flashes a white light every seven seconds. The lighthouse is currently active and administered by the Philippine Coast Guard. Rainwater tanks were installed on Baliguian in 2010, as the island until then faced a constant shortage of potable water.Natural disastersTyphoon HaiyanOn November 2013 Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda in the Philippines) destroyed more than 80 percent of homes and pump boats on Baliguian. Four rooms of the island's single school were also damaged. The island did not suffer any fatalities; however, causing locals to dub their home the "Miracle Island". Several religious and international organizations assisted in relief efforts for Baliguian, including Indigenous Ministries and Wilde and Woollard.