Maluso, officially the Municipality of Maluso (Tausà «g: Dai'rah Lupah Maluso; Chavacano: Municipalidad de Maluso; ), is a municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 45,730 people.
It is geographically located in the Province of Basilan, on the southwestern part of the island, near the Sulu group and Banguingui Isles. In terms of residents living in semi-urban areas, it ranks as the third most populous town after Isabela City and Lamitan City. Maluso is characterized by its beaches, rivers, and extensive mangrove areas. It is also home to diverse ethnolinguistic groups, including the Yakan, Iranun, Banguigui, and Tausug, who coexist with kolono communities from various parts of Luzon and the Visayas, many of whom migrated during the Commonwealth era and later settled permanently. Maluso is one of the core member of Western Basilan Alliance, a group of five municipalities consisted of Maluso, Hji. Muhtamad, Lantawan, Sumisip and Tabuan-Lasa LGUs, sponsored and capacitated by the Spanish government aid agency AECID-funded "MILAB 2" Project, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Basilan.
On July 1, 2022, it launched its flagship program, âÂÂMarayaw Maluso: Peace and Eco-Tourism Hub of Southern Philippines", primarily focused on three major key areas: peace, environment and tourism. Maluso is home to Maluso River, locally known as âÂÂSubah MalusoâÂÂ, historically tied with its humble beginnings centuries ago, and a known source of freshwater from European sailors and adventurers of the past.
Maluso is politically subdivided into 20 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
In the 2020 census, Maluso had a population of 45,730. The population density was .
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