MUN. OF CABATUAN

Mayor: ELISEO C. TOBIAS
Vice Mayor: RAMON C. YEE
SB Chairman for Tourism: REYNALDO C. NANDIN
Planning Officer: ENGR. JOSE NORMAN R. UMADHAY

 

BRIEF HISTORY

According to the records of the  National Historical Commission under Chairman Esteban A. De Ocampo of Metro Manila, the Municipality of Cabatuan was founded in the year 1732.  

The town's founding in 1732 is justified by a huge cross made of  hard thick "murawon" (molave) the base of which still stands at Pamul-ogan Hill.  On the cross which was officially revenerated on April 9, 1972, during the celebration of the 239th year Foundation was carved "1732" although what remains of the cross now is only its base.  Only residents of the town recall that the cross was more than four meters high, loading the Tigum River and the plains towards the town.  It is presumed that the early founding Spaniards, following their procedures of establishing a new town is first dedicating the place of Christ, had made the cross and carved the date on it.

 

Cabatuan was believed originally planned by Tono, it conceded tribal leader with two leaders, Gomoc and Amihan.  The site of early settlements was on level track of land near the Northern bank of the Tigum River where the Poblacion is now located.

In 1733, Cabatuan was officially organized upon the installation of Rev. Father Antonio Lopez as first priest and Tan Tono as  its first Governadorcillo.

The Town Hall and the Catholic Church were simultaneously built, in the locality. Tono the organizing leader, became its first governadorcillo or "Capitan".  The town was placed by the priest under the spiritual protection of Saint Nicolas de Tolentino whom Cabatuananons still venerated today as their Patron Saint on September 10 of every year.

 

Streets were constructed and the number of homes increased with rapid rate.  However not until more than one hundred and fifty  years later that the giving of official names to the streets was made.

How Cabatuan got its name 

The name Cabatuan is suggestive of the character of its people and the nature of the locality.  It may be derived from hiligaynon word "Kabatuhan" meaning full of stone or bato, from "batuan" meaning against, contrary or opposite, to resist, oppose, challenge,  defy, fight or contest.  Some  old folks believed that the name was derived from batuan, a tree whose sour fruits are used in seasoning vegetables and other foods which formerly abound in the locality.

 LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY

Cabatuan lies at the heart of the Island of Panay. It is come 24 kilometers away from Iloilo City. Located on the west central part of the Province of Iloilo. It is bounded on the north by the Municipality of Janiuay, on the east of Maasin, on the northwest of Sta. Barbara and New Lucena, on the south Alimodian and San Miguel. All the aforementioned towns with exception of Alimodian are directly connected with roads from Cabatuan.

Accessibility

Jeepney station
Fare - P10.00

POLITICAL SUBDIVISION

The Municipality of Cabatuan is composed of 68 barangays of which 11 are found in the Poblacion and 57 are in the rural areas. Cabatuan has a total land area of 11,653 has and has a climate under type II.

RESOURCE PROFILE

Land Area - 11,653 hectares

Land Use/Land Cover:

Agricultural - 10,164.6036 hectares
Residential - 141.3295 hectares
Commercial - 2.1787 hectares
Industrial - 17.0337 hectares
Institutional - 36.3484 hectares
Others - 1,291.50865 hectares

Topography
Plain and hilly terrain and with Pamul-ogan Hill having the highest elevations of meters above the sea level.

Soil Types
Sta. Rita Clay
Alimodian Clay Loam
Umingon Fine Sandy Loam
Alimodian Silt Loam

Natural Resources
Good source of sand and gravel. Spring water located at Brgy. Anuan, Brgy. Jelicuon Montinola and SitioTingib at Brgy. Gines Patag.

Major River: Tigum River.

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

Population -  42,264 (8,027 households) as of 1995
Population Growth - 0.662 %
Average Household Size - 5.3
Birth Rate - 16.8 %
Death Rate - 6.10 %
Infant Mortality  Rate - .40%
Dialect -  Kinaray-a
Dominant Religion - Roman Catholic

SOCIAL PROFILE

Ethnic/ Cultural Minority Groups - Aetas found at Brgy. Leong

ECONOMIC PROFILE

Major Industries
• Concrete Products
• Metal Craft/Light Steel industries
• Cottage Industries
• Wood/Bamboo Furniture Making

Agriculture
• Irrigated - 260 hectares
• Rainfed - 4,762 hectares

Food Crops
• Rice
• Corn - 250 hectares
• Mongo - 200 hectares
• Peanut - 40 hectares
• Cotton - 113 hectares
• Tobacco - 125 hectares
• Upland Crops
• Fruit Bearing Trees
• Mango - 144 hectares
• Banana - 500 hectares
• Jackfruit - 25.82 hectares
• Sugarcane - 376 hectares
• Coconut - 60 hectares
• Coffee and Cacao - 150 hectares
• Root Crops - 40 hectares
• Vegetables - 70 hectares
• Commercial Crops

Industrial Crops - 700 hectares

Other Forests Trees/Fruits Trees - 354.33 hectares

Pasture Area - 79 hectares

Fishpond (Freshwater) - 0.85 hectares

Livestock - Carabao, Cattle, Swine, Goat, Poultry, Chicken, Turkey, Geese, Ducks

INTERESTING PLACES

Attractions
• Roman Catholic Church
• Roman Catholic Cemetery
• Pamul-ogan Hill
• Way of the Cross to the Balic Hill
• Singing of "Pasyon"
• Making of Kapiya during Holy Friday
• Hirinugyaw - the opening salvo on the celebration of the Patronal Fiesta
 

Tourist Facilities

Restaurants/Cafeterias

• 3 Ladies Snack Haus
• Know Well
• Leah's Tinu-om
• Airport 24

INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES

Roads
• Barangay Roads - 102.627 kms.
• Municipal Roads - 5.848 kms.
• National Roads - 31 kms.
• Provincial Roads - 22.55 kms.

Bridges
• Tigbauan Bridge - 30 m. (national)
• Tigum River - 5.848 kms (national)
• Imelda Marcos Bridge - 180 m. (national)
• Jelicuon Montinola Bridge - 30 m. (national)
• Balic Bridge - 40 m. (national)
• Ito Sur Bridge
• Ito Norte Bridge
• Calawagan Bridge

Post Office - Cabatuan Postal Office

Communication facilities

Radio, TV, Cable TV
Telegraph station
Telephone facilities

Bank
Cabatuan Rural Bank

Medical facilities
Public - Cabatuan Rural Health Center - 10 Brgy. Health Stations located in different barangays
Private
Hospital - Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital
Clinics
Medical Clinic - 7
Dental Clinic - 3
Optical Clinic - 2
Pharmacies - 4

Schools - Public
High Schools
Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School
Tiring National High School
Mateo National High School
Acao National High School
Grio National High School
Elementary
8 Primary Schools
29 Elementary Schools