Before the armed rebellion of the MNLF in the early 1970s, Bongao is merely a backwater village ruled by the prominent noble Halun family, who used to own about 3/4 of the island.
The capital of the province is Bato-Bato in the mainland situated in a cove with deep waters suited for anchors of the Philippine Navy. At the height of the armmed rebellion and fearing that the provincial capitol might be overrun, the government transferred it to Bongao. The white-washed, Taj Mahal-inspired provincial capitol building is located on a hill overlooking the bay and the whole town to the North of the Island against the backdrop of Mount Kabugan and the famous Bud Bongao (Bongao Peak).
The transfer of the seat of government ushered the rapid development of the island as the southernmost center of commerce and trade. Suddenly, the population swelled as individuals (and their families) who are in government service moved to town.
Bongao is the capital town of the province of tawi-tawi. As the capital town of this southernmost province, Bongao is the seat of commerce, trade and governance. As of the present, it has 95,055 total number pf population with more than 50 percent of this living in 11 barangays considered as its center. Its 35 barangays can be found in two major islands and an islet. In bongao island alone, there are 10 barangays while Sanga-Sanga island is home to another 10 barangays while the rest can be found in mainland tawi-tawi and three are in pababag islet.
bongao is a city now!!!!!!okk..so cool and amazing.bongao is a truly safe place and secured and bongao has many tourist attraction and tourist spot and many more….so come to tawi-tawi..!!!its more fun in the philippines!!right????