The document provides information on the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, which includes the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental. It details the land area, population, climate, languages spoken, natural resources, industries, and urban centers of the region. The primary economic activities are farming, fishing, sugar production, and the region is known for agriculture, fishing, and its festivals celebrating local culture and traditions.

2.  Total Land Area: 2,079,418 ha.
 Provinces: 6
. Cities: 16
 Municipalities: 117
 Barangays: 4,051
 Agricultural Land Area:6 66,917 ha.
 Temporary Crop Land: 497,446 ha.
 Idle Land: 6,889 ha.
 Permanent Crop Land: 128,140 ha.
 Meadows/Pasture: 4,491 ha.
 Forest Land: 3,003 ha.
 Other Land: 24,203 ha.
Population (2010)
 Total Population: 7,102,438
 Growth Rate (2000-2010): 1.35 percent
 Climate: Type I
 Dialect: Ilonggo, Karay-a and Akeanon
 Poverty incidence among families: 23.80 percent

3. is comprised of six provinces:
Province/City Capital
Aklan Kalibo
Antique San Jose de Buenavista
Capiz Roxas City
Guimaras Jordan
Iloilo Iloilo City
Negros Occidental Bacolod
16 Cities
Bacolod City Himalayan City, Iloilo City Kabankalan City
Bago Cty, La Carlota City Roxas City, Sagay City
Cadiz City, Passi City, San Carlos City Silay City
Escalante City Sipalay City Talisay City Victorias City
REGIONAL CENTER ; ILOILO CITY

4. Province of AKLAN

5. . Aklan is the biggest producer of Piña Cloth, "The Queen of Philippine Fabrics".
. Aklan is famous for Boracay, a resort island one kilometer north from the tip of
Panay. It is known for its white sandy beaches and is considered as one of the more
prominent destinations in the country.
. Farming is the basic livelihood in the interior while fishing is the basic
livelihood in the coasts. Poorer inhabitants also migrate seasonly to other provinces
and islands, particularly Negros, to work mostly in plantations. Some of these migrants
include minors.
. Despite its vibrant tourism industry and substantial agriculture, the province is
still considered as one of the poorer provinces in the country with more than 30% of
the population living below the national poverty line.

6. Livelihood
Aklan depends greatly on agriculture. The massive and sustained education and research in
agriculture production, the implementation of national program in agriculture, well-established
marketing strategies, as well as the support of the agribusiness industry and other private and non-
government sectors, result to better production and higher income of the farmers.
Palay Production
Palay is still the number one crop grown in the province.
Livestock and Poultry Production
In general, Aklan is sufficient in meat and other livestock and poultry products, though in the
inventory of livestock and poultry in the year 2000, hog and chicken had a decrease in population
from 114,890 heads of hogs and 886,597 heads of chickens in 1999 to 95,950 heads of hogs and 782,820
heads of chicken in the 2000.
Coconut Production
Coconut still occupies the largest area planted among major permanent agriculture crops. The total
area planted with coconut is 32,276 hectares (ha.).
Other Permanent Major Crops
Aside from palay and coconut, other major crops that contributed to uplift the economy of Aklan are
being developed. These are high valued crops with export potential, such as banana (Lakatan), mango,
rambutan, and lanzones; and fiber crops such as piña fiber and abaca.
Fishery Production
Aquaculture constitutes a significant component in the province's fishery industry. The province has
a total fishpond area of 7,807.14 hectares (ha.), of which 7,749.9247 ha. Are fully developed and
only 57,2153 ha. are underdeveloped.

7. Aklan Festivities
Kalibo's Ati-atihan Festival
The Ati-Atihan, held every January in the town of Kalibo
in the province of Aklan on the island of Panay, is
the wildest among Philippine fiestas. Celebrants paint
their faces with black soot and wear bright,
outlandish costumes as they dance in revelry during the
last three days of this week-long festival. The Ati-Atihan,
a feast in honor of the Santo Niño, is celebrated on the
second Sunday after Epiphany.
Nabas' Bariw Festival
is celebrated to commemorate the feast day of
St. Isidore the Farmer, the town's patron saint. It
is celebrated annually from May 12–15.

8. Province of Antique
. antique the “Gemstone Country”
.“antique” (an'tek), which means “ancient”, “out of date”, “old
fashioned”.
. Antique has deposits of metallic and non-metallic mineral resources.
The metallic mineral resources include copper, gold, chromite, pyrite,
iron, manganese and ferro alloy and limestone.

9. Province of Capiz
.The Province of Capiz is known as the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines”
due to its abundance in marine life from prawns to crabs, marlins to
catfish, and mussels to angel wings (diwal).
.Farming and fishing are the primary sources of income of the people.
Sinadya sa Halaran is a merging of
the Roxas City Fiesta "SinadyA” and
the Province celebration of "Halaran".
. “ Sinadya sa Halaran" is a commemoration
of the feast of the patroness of
Roxas City which is the
Immaculate Concepcion and a thanksgiving.
It literally means "Joy in Sharing and Thanksgiving" .

10. Province of Guimaras
. “mango country”
. palay, coconut, mango,
vegetables, livestock, poultry
and fishing as major products.
. major industries are tourism,
fruit processing, coconut processing,
fish farming, handicrafts making,
mining, quarrying and lime production.
. Guimaras' largest event of the
year is The Manggahan Festival
(the Mango Festival).

11. Province of Iloilo
“Food Basket & Rice Granary of Western Visayas”

12. Province of Negros Occidental
.Known as the "Sugarbowl of the Philippines“
.Bacolod City is known for the
popular Masskara Festival which takes
place here Oct. 1-20.

13. Natural Resources
Western Visayas is one of the richest regions in the country.
Forty-three percent of the region's land resources are devoted to
agricultural purposes. It is the largest producer of sugar and was
the third largest rice producer among the regions. Sugarcane
covers the majority of area in Negros Occidental and rain fed or
irrigated Palay in Panay. The region also produces coconut,
banana, fruits, root crops and vegetables. Its forests however
have been denuded due to indiscriminate logging. Its waters
produce numerous species of fish and other marine products.
Western Visayas exports prawn, tuna and other fish products.
Mineral resources include copper, gold, silver, clay, limestone,
coal, sand and gravel and other non-metallic.

14. CULTURAL GROUPS
The region’s ethno linguistic people are called Panay-Hiligaynons (Ilonggos, Aklanons,
Capiceños, Antiqueños and Negrenses).
CLIMATE
The province has no pronounced climate. It has a short dry season and is relatively wet the rest
of the year.
LAND USE
Region VI is an agricultural region with an area of around 1.05 M hectares or 52% of the total
land area. 35.4% of this is Riceland. The region also produces sugar, coconut, banana, fruits, root
crops and vegetables.
It is one of the top food producers in the country. It is the largest producer of sugar, 63% of the
total sugar produced in 1996. In 1996, it was the third largest rice producer among the regions,
third ranking marine fish producer, and fourth largest aquaculture supplier.

15. INDUSTRIES
The major economic activities of the region are farming, sugar, rice and corn milling, fishing, mining
and trading. Forward and backward integration in production, processing or marketing are good areas
for investment. Other important industries include livestock and poultry raising and cottage industries
such as rattan craft, food preservation, ceramics and confectionery manufacturing.
The region has a competitive advantage in the production of seaweeds, mangoes, pineapple, banana
and cashew.
URBAN CENTERS
The major trading and commercial centers of Western Visayas are the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Cadiz,
La Carlota, San Carlos and Silay in Negros Occidental; Iloilo City in Iloilo; Roxas City in Capiz; San
Jose in Antique and Kalibo in Aklan.
Metropolitan Iloilo, composed of Iloilo city and the municipalities of Oton, San Miguel, Pavia and
Leganes, is planned to be the center for residential, commercial, financial and industrial activities for the
region.
FACILITIES
The road network of Panay is almost 2,000 kilometers. Iloilo has the longest stretch of paved roads.
The region has several seaports and airports for both water and air travel. Telephone, postal and
telegraphic services are available. Electricity and water supply are accessible to the population.

16. Languages
The languages native to the inhabitants of Western Visayas are:
Hiligaynon - spoken in Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, and
Capiz.
Capiznon - spoken in Capiz
Kinaray-a - spoken in Antique and parts of Iloilo, Capiz and
Aklan.
Akeanon - spoken in Aklan.
Malaynon - spoken in Aklan.
Cebuano - spoken in the northern parts of Negros Occidental and
its municipalities and cities which are facing Tañon Strait
towards Cebu.

17. Accessibility and Availability
* FISHING ACCESS SITES * Availability of land
* ACCESS TO MINE SITES * Availability of livelihood
* ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION
land transportation Sea transportation Air transportation

18. SAFETY and SECURITY
The Philippine Army (PA) here has assured people in Aklan that their troops continue to
sustain their pursuit of peace and security to safeguard communities and vital facilities
in the province.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
• Champorado sugar industry
• Seaweed processing
• Marble processing
• Gemstone and semi-precious stone processing
• Coco oil mill
• Livestock and poultry processing
• Food Processing
• Marine products processing
• Furniture, handicraft, metal craft
• Fiber extraction/processing/weaving
• High value crop production
• Feed/Feed Milling