MUNICIPALITY OF LEGANES

Mayor: Adolfo E. Jaen

BRIEF HISTORY

The municipality of Leganes sprang from a small settlement in the early part of 1840 in the site now known as Barangay Guihaman. The word "Guihman" originated from the presence of wild boars of "guiham" which inhabited or foraged the place. The early founders of the municipality named the place "Valencia" in honor of its Patron Saint , San Vicente Ferrer of Valencia, a town in Spain. Learning the existence of the settlement, Don Ysidro A. Brudit, the Spanish Governor of Iloilo at that time, decree sometime in 1856, that the settlement be registered as a "Pueblo" otherwise a fine of P600.00 will believed on the inhabitants. In compliance with the decree, the place was registered as a pueblo in 1858. 

The little pueblo at that time had grown into a thriving community with the influx of settlers from the adjacent towns of Jaro and Sta. Barbara. One of its founders, Don Miguel Valencia, seemed to enjoy unmerited, if not unusual honor after the settlement was named Valencia, while other founders protested and moved to have the name changed through a petition to the Alta Mar in Spain. The Spanish authorities, annoyed by the complaint, named the pueblo LEGANES, the name of another town somewhere in Spain, which is of little significance, just to settle the seemingly heedless dispute. The other originators, Don Angel Gustilo, Don Mariano Gustilo, Don Jacinton Sandoval, Don Lorenzo Gustilo, Don Juan Hilado and Don Fulgencio Espino fought hard for the autonomy and independence of the little pueblo.

LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY

Leganes is one of the nineteen coastal towns of the Province of Iloilo, located along Guimaras Strait, opposite the town of Buenavista in the Island-Province of Guimaras. It is adjacent to the City of Iloilo in the south, bounded by the Municipality of Pavia in the southeast, Sta. Barbara in the West and the Municipality of Zarraga in the North. It is ten(10) kilometers from the Poblacion of Pavia and approximately five (5) kilometers from the Poblacion of Zarraga. Leganes may be found between the coordinates of 122'39"35W to 122'39"45E latitude and between 10'51"48W to 10'45"15S longitude.

RESOURCE PROFILE

Land Area - 3,281 hectares

Topography 

In general, well-cultivated fields, coconut trees and bamboo clamps dominate the landscape of the entire town. The overall terrain is characterized by level plains, but slightly higher in the Northwest of Lapayon and Calaboa. It has a slope of 0-3% category.

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

Population - 21,785 (1997)

ECONOMIC PROFILE

Industries
Commercial Area - 1.100 hectares
Industrial Area - 25.0000 hectares

Agriculture - Agricultural Products

Investment - Rice Mills, RTW Factory, Fish Meal Factory, noodles Factory and Car Accessories Factory

PLACES OF INTEREST

Attractions

University of the Philippines Brackishwater Aquaculture Center
Pilgrims to the Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer

TOURISTS FACILITIES

Transportation

Highways - 4.935 kilometers
Ports - Municipal Wharf

INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES

Road

National road - concrete (4.935 kms.)
Provincial road - concrete (4.250 kms.), gravel (5.720 kms.)
Municipal road - concrete (1.430 kms.), gravel (.380 kms.)
Barangay road - gravel (13.965 kms.)

Communication Facilities

Bureau of Posts - manned by a postmaster and three letter carriers
Bureau of telecommunication - one operator who acts a messenger at the same time
Telephone - ISLAPHONE
Cellular Phones - ISLACOM, EXTELCOM, GLOBE TELECOM

Schools

National High School - 3
Elementary Schools - 10
Primary School - 1