Tablas

Tablas

Geography
Tablas (Philippines)
Location	South East Asia
Archipelago	Romblon
Country
Philippines
Municipalities	Alcantara, Calatrava, Ferrol, Looc, Odiongan, San Agustin, San Andres, Santa Fe, and Santa Maria.
Largest city	Odiongan
Demographics
Population	144,000

Tablas is the largest island of Romblon Province, Philippines.

The island is deeply indented by Looc Bay, in the southern part of the island. Odiongan is the island's major port and largest population center. Tablas is administratively subdivided into the municipalities of Alcantara, Calatrava, Ferrol, Looc, Odiongan, San Agustin, San Andres, Santa Fe, and Santa Maria.

Access to Tablas is usually by ferry from Batangas in southern Luzon disembarking at Poctoy Pier, near the island's main town of Odiongan.

Montenegro Lines serves Odiongan from Batangas Pier six days per week with roll-on roll-off vessels, then going on to Romblon island from Poctoy, and returning the next day. Trip time from Batangas to Poctoy is about 10 hours and costs about 600 pesos, one way, economy. Trip time from Poctoy Pier to Odiongan town is about 10 minutes by motorcycle for 20 pesos. Tricycles are also readily available.

SeaAir serves Tablas four times a week.

Romblon State College (an accredited educational institution) has a large campus at Odiongan town, focussing on vocational and administrative courses, including bachelor degrees.

Tablas is relatively undeveloped with only light industry. Main occupations are rice-farming and fishing. Education is considered important, with most college graduates leaving Tablas to work in Batangas or further afield.

Tablas has been little impacted by tourism. Foreigners are a welcome diversion for college students, who are the main part of the population which can speak English. Visayan is the usual language on Tablas with Tagalog as the second language.

Mainit Falls is an interesting natural site about 1 hour hike north of Poctoy Pier. It is on private property and not signposted, but the owners are good about letting people visit and swim there.

Images

Poctoy Pier, Tablas Island, 2008	Batangas Pier, 2008	MV Maria Matilda at Poctoy Pier, Odiongan, Tablas Island 2008
Mainit Falls, Tablas Island, 2008	Maint Falls, Tablas Island, 2008

References

Coordinates: 12°23′N 122°02′E / 12.383°N 122.033°E / 12.383; 122.033

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