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Janiuay
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Janiuay, officially the Municipality of Janiuay (Kinaray-a: Banwa kañg Janiuay, Hiligaynon: Banwa sañg Janiuay, Tagalog: Bayan nañg Janiuay, Spanish: Municipio de Janiuay), is a municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 67,509 people.[6]
Key Information
The town was created in 1769 and is noted for its Spanish era-built St. Julian of Cuenca church located atop the hill facing the municipal square, and the national historical landmark Janiuay Cemetery. It is also home to the West Visayas State University-Janiuay Campus and the first Protestant town in the country, Calvario.
Recent economic developments became a catalyst in the town's progress, and establishments like banks, malls, and retail markets have sprouted in the area - Gaisano Capital Janiuay of Gaisano Group and SM Savemore Express of SM Prime Holdings.
History
[edit]In the summer of 1578, the natives of Tala-ugis trudged up from the coast to establish a settlement northward in the interior along Suage River.[7] The first settlers were led by families of Gamuk, Hutikon, Uganet and Pagdakton, who settled themselves in what is currently known as barangays Matag-ub, Danao, Yabon and Quipot.
More than a century later, Spaniards came along these parts of Panay.
Early in 1738, Datu Buhawi of Yabon recognized the Spanish government, thus subjugating himself and his barangay to Spanish rule. But, Datu Dumagtol of nearby Ubian refused to follow suit. He led his subjects to the mountains to resist against the Spanish colonizers.
The Spanish governor Francisco Bayot de Ocampo recommended to the Principalía to transfer the seat of government, and in the following year (1770), the settlements were strengthened in their administration in what they called "Janiuay".
While there is no certainty, there are several legends of how the place got its name. One is that it came from the ruling Datu's sons named "Han" and "Oway". Another is that the words "hani" (whisper) and "oway" (rattan) were combined.[8]
A strong typhoon followed by heavy rain in June 2008 caused the Suage river to overflow, damaging river bank communities and infrastructures. The flooding caused the river to be re-drawn and encroached the river banks by about 200 meters from its original location. Suage bridge remains structurally sound despite the flooding and encroachment.
Geography
[edit]Two rivers coming from the north-west cuts in parallel through Janiuay. One is the Suage River and the other is the Magapa River which provide natural irrigation supporting the mainly agricultural town of Janiuay. The Suage river bridge was once witness to fierce fighting between Japanese Imperial forces and the combined Filipino and American troops including the recognized Ilonggo guerrilla fighters. The Magapa river bridge was built after World War II.
Janiuay is 33 kilometres (21 mi) from Iloilo City.
Barangays
[edit]Janiuay is politically subdivided into 60 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
- Abangay
- Agcarope
- Aglobong
- Aguingay
- Anhawan
- Atimonan
- Balanac
- Barasalon
- Bongol
- Cabantog
- Calmay
- Canawili
- Canawillian
- Caranas
- Caraudan
- Carigangan
- Cunsad
- Dabong
- Damires
- Damo-ong
- Danao
- Gines
- Guadalupe
- Jibolo
- Kuyot
- Madong
- Manacabac
- Mangil
- Matag-ub
- Monte-Magapa
- Pangilihan
- Panuran
- Pararinga
- Patong-patong
- Quipot
- Santo Tomas
- Sarawag
- Tambal
- Tamu-an
- Tiringanan
- Tolarucan
- Tuburan
- Ubian
- Yabon
- Aquino Nobleza East (Poblacion)
- Aquino Nobleza West (Poblacion)
- R. Armada (Poblacion)
- Concepcion Pob. (D.G. Abordo)
- Golgota (Poblacion)
- Locsin (Poblacion)
- Don T. Lutero Center (Poblacion)
- Don T. Lutero East (Poblacion)
- Don T. Lutero West Pob
- Crispin Salazar North (Poblacion)
- Crispin Salazar South (Poblacion)
- San Julian (Poblacion)
- San Pedro (Poblacion)
- Santa Rita (Poblacion)
- Capt. A. Tirador (Poblacion)
- S. M. Villa (Poblacion)
Santo Tomas
[edit]Santo Tomas approximate population is 500–800. Santo Tomas (Pakol to locals) is bounded by Madong in the east, Mangil in the north-east and Danao in the south west. It is accessible by three class C feeder roads in the east, south-west and south-east. Agriculture centers around rice, corn, coffee, beans, sugar cane, and copra. Traces of sweet mango farms are starting to gain roots especially close by the public elementary school. General topography is flat rice fields on the east and hill-valley-hill dotted by bamboos, coffee, mango, banana, coconuts and other fruit tree crops in the remaining areas. Water source are via deepwells and rice produce is primarily dependent on rainfall.
Motorbike and tricycle are the easiest mode of transportation and also four-wheels during festive events. Ride is some 30 minutes from the town proper. Electricity is subscribed by 15-25% of the population. Wireless cellphone carrier SMART covers the area and is generally available in 20-25% of the population. English language is generally understood and spoken fairly by locals in certain situation with foreigners.
Danao-Santo Tomas Elementary School established during the 1950s is located on the highest hill of the surrounding barangays and view of rice fields in the east is impressive especially in the morning. An old artesian well stands within the school grounds - part of an effort to secure deep water for the school in the 1960s (WVA).
Danao
[edit]Pueblo Danao has a history. It was established by Fr. Eugenio Moya in 1766. It lasted for eight years until Fr. Moya was forced to move to adjacent Pueblo Yabon for fear on his life on errant moros and the locales. The moros and the locales set camp in the forest of Danao away from forced labor edict from Spanish Principalia and administered by priests of Poblacion Janiuay. The moros and the locales raised in arms against Catholic conversion and had attempted to poison and kill Fr. Moya. Pueblo Danao became a prized possession disputed by Pueblo Quipot and Principalia Masin (now Maasin) because of its rich farmland in the west bounded by the Suage river and the rumor about rich mineral deposits in the hills of Kantong (now Danao Gantong). When Pueblo Quipot was moved to Poblacion Janiuay in 1769, Pueblo Danao was downgraded to a barrio and became part of Janiuay.
Danao is divided into three mini locales (mini-barrangay), Danao I, Danao 2 and Danao Gantong. Each mini barangay has about a population of 300- 400. Danao is bounded by Santo Tomas (North-West), Mangil (North), Madong (East), Tambal (South-West),Calmay (West), Caraudan (West) and Aguingay (South-West).
It is accessible by two class C feeder roads from Poblacion Janiuay in the east, south-west and south-east. Agriculture centers around rice, corn, coffee, beans, sugar cane, and copra. Traces of sweet mango farms are starting to gain roots especially close by the public elementary school. General topography is flat rice fields on the east and hill-valley-hill dotted by bamboos, coffee, mango, banana, coconuts and other fruit tree crops in the remaining areas. Water source are Suage river in the south-west and via deepwells and seasonal rainfall in the east.
Four wheels are a means of transportation including motorbike and tricycle. Ride is some 30 minutes from the town proper. Electricity is subscribed by 15-25% of the population. Wireless cellphone carrier SMART covers the area and is generally available in 20-25% of the population. English language is generally understood and spoken fairly by locals in certain situation with foreigners.
Danao-Santo Tomas Elementary School established during the 1950s straddles Sto- Tomas and Danao Gantong. An old artesian well stands north of the school grounds - part of an effort to secure deep water for the school in the 1960s (WVA). It is believed that the well was an exploratory bore hole to determine and analyze the mineral content of the sub-surface of the surrounding area. Bore hole samples including sediment samples from surrounding open wells (Rapo, Brasileno, Casiple) were collected and sent for analysis. No new samples are requested by the Bureau of Mines. lorenzo arillo is the longest brgy. captain of brgy. danao (1960-2003).
Matag-ub
[edit]Matag-ub was formerly Pueblo Binogsukan in 1766. Aetas set camp in these areas helping the Moros raid and fight wars with the Augustinian priests Marin, Carvajal, Gorrosari and Llorente of Poblacion Janiuay for forced labor erecting the churches and cemetery of Poblacion Janiuay.
Climate
[edit]| Climate data for Janiuay, Iloilo | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29 (84) |
30 (86) |
32 (90) |
33 (91) |
31 (88) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
30 (86) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22 (72) |
22 (72) |
22 (72) |
23 (73) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
23 (73) |
22 (72) |
23 (74) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 48 (1.9) |
41 (1.6) |
58 (2.3) |
82 (3.2) |
223 (8.8) |
300 (11.8) |
346 (13.6) |
307 (12.1) |
311 (12.2) |
292 (11.5) |
167 (6.6) |
81 (3.2) |
2,256 (88.8) |
| Average rainy days | 11.4 | 7.7 | 11.3 | 15.4 | 25.7 | 28.5 | 29.5 | 28.7 | 28.3 | 28.7 | 21.8 | 15.2 | 252.2 |
| Source: Meteoblue[9] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
[edit]| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 20,738 | — |
| 1918 | 24,641 | +1.16% |
| 1939 | 38,778 | +2.18% |
| 1948 | 44,348 | +1.50% |
| 1960 | 46,946 | +0.48% |
| 1970 | 34,409 | −3.06% |
| 1975 | 39,172 | +2.63% |
| 1980 | 40,120 | +0.48% |
| 1990 | 47,253 | +1.65% |
| 1995 | 50,066 | +1.09% |
| 2000 | 54,166 | +1.70% |
| 2007 | 57,878 | +0.92% |
| 2010 | 63,031 | +3.15% |
| 2015 | 63,905 | +0.26% |
| 2020 | 66,786 | +0.93% |
| 2024 | 67,509 | +0.26% |
| Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13][14] | ||
In the 2020 census, the population of Janiuay was 66,786 people,[15] with a density of 370 inhabitants per square kilometre or 960 inhabitants per square mile.
Economy
[edit]Poverty incidence of Janiuay
10
20
30
40
50
60
2000
53.25 2003
42.66 2006
27.10 2009
25.84 2012
25.26 2015
25.71 2018
21.62 2021
22.67 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] |
Cultivation of rice, corn, sugar, copra, coffee, banana, abaca fiber, fowls (and gamefowls), goat and cattle raising are the main sources of livelihood. Commerce for these products are generally brought into the town proper for market. The rainfall generally dictate the commerce of these products as the river go dry in summer months.
Most of these are coming from the west, north-west and south-west of the town.
Transportation and telecommunications
[edit]Janiuay can be accessed from all directions with good paved concrete and asphalt road infrastructures from the east, north and south. Mode of transport can either be jeeps, motorcycles fitted with cabs for 2-5 persons locally known as tricycles for inter barangay transport. Intertowns are plied by buses, jeeps and private vans. Within the town, "trysikad" - a bicycle fitted with a cab for 2 people are commonly available.
Communication is generally available with nationwide carriers such as PLDT, Globelines and Smart competing with local and aging analog Pantelco.
Electricity is sourced from electric cooperative Ileco II supplying 75% of the town proper and about 25% of the neighboring barangays.
Tourism
[edit]Heritage buildings
[edit]Janiuay prides itself on two heritage infrastructure dating back from 1760.
The Janiuay Catholic Church was built of sandstone, limestone and layered bricks and was completed in February 1770. Its belfry used to carry three magnificent bells, the largest weighing close to a ton. World War II damaged the belfry, and the bells were lowered to ground after the war. The largest bell crashed down during the relocation and suffered a crack 18 inches (460 mm) in length from its lip upwards. When sounded it gives a distinct baritone rattling sound that can be heard for miles. It is now mounted in the new church's belfry built in the late 60s.
Another heritage infrastructure is the Janiuay Cemetery. It was built much later, in 1870, and is also walled with ancient sandstone and bricks brought from distant locale some 30 km away in what is now known as the town of Dingle. Spanish Fr. Llorente directed the construction of this cemetery in the Gothic design of his time. The Janiuay town cemetery is located a kilometer east of Janiuay Catholic Church.
Janiuay is also home to several heritage mini sugar mills owned by landed Spanish mestizos and Swiss descent. These mini sugar mills have seen their own time and once produces brown sugar. Wrought steel rotary crushers driven by water buffaloes or carabaos extract sugar from canes and cooked in large vat until brown and solid.
Other landmarks
[edit]- Janiuay Old Prison and Town Hall - Post Hispanic infrastructure with 24-inch-thick (610 mm) walls and wrought iron bars.
- Janiuay Pilot Elementary School - established before World War II
- Janiuay National Vocational School - (Now West Visayas State University - Janiuay Campus) - established before World War II.
- Janiuay Protestant Church - First outside of Iloilo City
- Iglesia ni Cristo Church in Barangay Jibolo
- Janiuay Public Market
- Janiuay Cattle Market - the only in Iloilo Province.
- Janiuay Town Hall and Plaza
- Janiuay Public Library
- St. Elizabeth Academy (Now St. Julian Academy) established in the 1960s
- Janiuay Emergency Hospital. Back in operation after Suage river overflow caused by heavy rain and typhoon in June 2008.
- Don Juan Wuthrich Estate in Barangay Jibolo
- Don Jose Marin Estate and house in Santa Rita
- Lutero Estate in Barangay Tambal and Barangay Kinambud
- Locsin Estate in Barangay Guadalupe
- Camarista House in San Julian St.
- Suage River Breakwater - A kilometer long concrete breakwater from Esperanza St. to Aquino Nobleza St.
- Calmay Elementary and High School - biggest public school outside and west of Poblacion Janiuay.
- Barangay Ubian, Yabon and Quipot - seat of pre-Spanish Janiuay in 1578 to 1760. Moved to its current location on or before 1760 by the Spanish Principalia. About 22 km. west of Janiuay.
- Quipot Wier - A natural wier located at sito Punong. These are two big massive land mass blocking entry of downstream Suage river to the Janiuay Poblacion and beyond. About 22 km west of Poblacion Janiuay. WVA Post Note: The two massive land mass is now covered with sand, soil and debris after the June 2008 heavy rain and typhoon. Two opposing stone boulders seen today are a trace of once the beautiful Quipot Weir playing with the graceful flow of Suage River which can cast its angry might at any moments notice.
- Barasalon Falls - located in sitio Igbiating. Up inland and about 15 km from Barangay Yabon. WVA Post Note: Baby falls at both sides started to appear.
References
[edit]- ^ Municipality of Janiuay | (DILG)
- ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ https://elevationmap.net/cunsad-janiuay-iloilo-ph-1001570229.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ Iloilo History Part 1 – Research Center for Iloilo Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "History". About Janiuay. Municipality of Janiuay. 2011. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ^ "Janiuay: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VI (Western Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
- ^ "Province of Iloilo". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
- ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
- ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
- ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
- ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
- ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
External links
[edit]Janiuay
View on GrokipediaJaniuay, officially the Municipality of Janiuay, is a first-class landlocked municipality in the province of Iloilo, Western Visayas region, Philippines.[1][2] According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 66,786 residents distributed across 60 barangays and covering a land area of 179.10 square kilometers.[1][3] Established in 1769, the municipality is situated approximately 33 kilometers northwest of Iloilo City and features a topography of eastern flat rice fields transitioning to hilly areas with bamboo, coffee, mango, banana, and coconut plantations.[2] Its economy centers on agriculture, including rice production and fruit cultivation, supplemented by limited local enterprises.[4] Notable landmarks include the Spanish-era St. Julian of Cuenca Church, constructed around 1770 and perched atop a hill overlooking the municipal plaza, and the historic Janiuay Spanish Era Cemetery, reflecting colonial architectural influences.[2]
History
Founding and Colonial Period
The origins of Janiuay trace back to pre-colonial settlements established around 1578 in areas such as Barangays Ubian, Yabon, and Quipot, where early inhabitants organized communities under local datus.[2] In 1738, Datu Buhawi of Yabon formally recognized Spanish authority, submitting himself and his barangay to colonial rule, marking an initial integration into the Spanish administrative system, though nearby Datu Dumagtol of Ubian resisted and retreated to the mountains.[2] [5] Janiuay was officially established as a pueblo in 1769 following a recommendation by Spanish Governor Francisco Bayot de Ocampo to the local principalía for transferring the seat of government to strengthen administrative control amid growing settlements, which had expanded to 27 by that time.[2] [5] The name Janiuay derives from local legends: one attributes it to the sons of a ruling datu named "Han" and "Oway," while another links it to "jani" meaning victory and "uway" referring to a type of vine or lanot.[5] During the Spanish colonial period, Janiuay evolved as a key community in Iloilo province, with the St. Julian of Cuenca Parish founded in 1738 serving as a religious and organizational center.[6] The current stone church, constructed by Augustinian priest Fr. Miguel Carod starting in 1830 and completed in 1868, became a prominent Spanish-era structure atop a hill overlooking the municipal square, symbolizing the consolidation of colonial influence through Catholic infrastructure.[7]American Era and Post-Independence
Following the Spanish-American War in 1898, Janiuay, as part of Iloilo Province, transitioned to U.S. colonial administration, with American forces capturing Iloilo City by February 1900 and extending control over surrounding municipalities through the Philippine Commission.[8] Local governance integrated into the American system via the 1901 Philippine Organic Act, establishing municipal councils under provincial oversight, emphasizing elected officials while retaining U.S. supervisory authority.[8] Public education expanded significantly, with records showing Janiuay among Iloilo towns receiving elementary instruction infrastructure by the early 1900s; American "Thomasite" teachers arrived in Iloilo in 1901 to implement English-medium schooling, replacing prior Spanish clerical focus and increasing enrollment through free, secular systems.[9] Basic infrastructure, including roads and health facilities, saw reforms under the Taft Commission, though Janiuay-specific developments remained tied to provincial priorities like agricultural access routes.[8] During World War II, Japanese forces invaded Panay Island in April 1942, occupying Iloilo and establishing garrisons, including one in Janiuay's Calmay area, amid widespread resistance by local guerrillas affiliated with the Panay Guerrilla Forces.[10] On an unspecified date in 1943 or 1944, guerrillas attacked the Calmay garrison, killing 20 Japanese soldiers and seizing 1,000 rounds of ammunition, reflecting broader anti-occupation operations that disrupted supply lines.[10] Japanese retaliation included burning Janiuay's St. Julian of Cuenca Church, repurposing its bricks for defensive structures like the Tiring garrison.[11] Liberation occurred in 1945 as U.S. forces, supported by Filipino units, recaptured Iloilo, with Panay fully freed by April, though local areas like Janiuay endured scorched-earth tactics and civilian hardships from both occupiers and liberators.[12] Philippine independence on July 4, 1946, marked Janiuay's shift to full self-governance within the Third Republic, retaining its municipal status under Iloilo Province with locally elected mayors handling administration amid national reconstruction.[13] Post-war recovery focused on rebuilding war-damaged structures and agriculture, with U.S. aid via the Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1946 funding infrastructure repairs, though Janiuay's rural economy emphasized rice and corn restoration without major land redistribution until later national programs.[14] Initial self-governance emphasized tenant protections and cooperative formation, aligning with Republic Act 34 (1946) tenancy laws, but implementation in Janiuay lagged due to localized hacienda persistence and limited central enforcement.[15] By the 1950s, municipal efforts prioritized basic services recovery, setting foundations for sustained agrarian stability absent radical reforms.[15]Modern Developments and Recent Events
Following World War II, Janiuay experienced gradual post-war recovery marked by agricultural modernization efforts, including the adoption of improved farming techniques and crop diversification in the late 20th century, which supported expansion in staple production and cash crops like abaca.[16] Local infrastructure developments, such as rural road networks and irrigation systems, facilitated better market access and productivity gains, aligning with national initiatives under the Green Revolution that emphasized hybrid seeds and fertilizers from the 1970s onward.[17] These changes contributed to sustained rural growth without large-scale industrialization, relying on community-managed enhancements to basic facilities. In recent years, Janiuay has hosted significant local initiatives, including the 2025 Provincial Cooperative Month celebration organized by the Iloilo Provincial Cooperatives Development Office from October 8 to 31.[18] The event culminated in activities such as a cooperative caravan parading through town streets on October 22, promoting collective economic strengthening among provincial cooperatives.[19] The provincial government allocated P1.17 million in financial assistance to support these month-long programs, underscoring Janiuay's role in fostering cooperative-driven community development.[20] The municipality continues to record minor seismic events, reflective of its position in a seismically active region; for instance, a magnitude 2.9 earthquake struck near Janiuay on October 19, 2025, with no reported damage.[21] Community resilience has been evident in recoveries from periodic natural hazards, such as typhoon-induced flooding affecting rice fields, where local efforts prioritized self-reliant rehabilitation over prolonged external dependencies.[22] These responses highlight adaptive practices rooted in agricultural continuity and barangay-level coordination.Geography
Location and Topography
Janiuay is situated in the central portion of Iloilo province in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, approximately 33 kilometers northwest of Iloilo City.[2] The municipality occupies a land area of 179.10 square kilometers and is landlocked, with geographical coordinates centered at 10°57′N 122°30′E.[1] [23] It shares boundaries with neighboring municipalities including Badiangan to the northeast and Cabatuan to the south-southwest.[1] The terrain of Janiuay varies from flat expanses in the eastern areas, primarily used for rice cultivation, to undulating hills and valleys in the western sections.[24] Roughly 34.05% of the land features very gently sloping or undulating topography.[5] The average elevation is estimated at 69 meters above sea level.[1] Key topographical features include the Suage River and Magapa River, which originate from the northwest and traverse the municipality in parallel courses, shaping local drainage patterns and influencing historical settlement distribution.[25] These river systems contribute to the hill-valley configurations interspersed with agricultural lands.[24]Administrative Divisions
Janiuay is politically subdivided into 60 barangays, which function as the basic units of local governance, each led by an elected barangay captain and council responsible for community administration, public services, and dispute resolution.[1][26] These divisions encompass both urbanized areas near the municipal center and extensive rural zones supporting agriculture and small-scale enterprises. No verified records indicate recent boundary adjustments or reconfigurations among the barangays as of 2025.[2] Among the barangays, Matag-ub and Danao hold historical significance as primary settlement sites for the earliest inhabitants, established around 1578 by families including those of Gamuk, Hutikon, Uganet, and Pagdakton along the Suage River.[2] Santo Tomas stands out for its rural character and relative isolation, contributing to the municipality's dispersed administrative footprint across hilly and lowland terrains. Other notable barangays include Poblacion, which serves as the administrative and commercial hub, and upland areas like Tuburan and Jibolo, which feature in local resource management districts.[5] The full roster of barangays, as delineated in official demographic profiles, includes Abaca, Aglalana, Anhawan, Atimonan, Bad-as, Bagongon, Balanac, Balcon, Bangkal, Baras, Barosong, Batad, Bongol, Buenavista, Bugtong, Cabantog, Calmay, Canawili, Caranas, Catig, Damo, Dila-an, Guibuañgon, Guisas, Igbobon, Inadlawan, Jibolo, Kuyab, Lanag, Laniog, Layog, Lincud, Lonoc, Lubog, Malag-it, Manacabac, Mangil, Matag-ub, Nabitasan, Nagba, Palagaw, Poblacion, Quipot, Salag, Sampaloc, San Julian, Santa Rita, Santo Tomas, Sarawag, Tagbac, Tambal, Tiring, Tuburan, Ubian, and Yabon, alongside additional locales confirming the total of 60.[1]Climate and Natural Features
Janiuay exhibits a tropical monsoon climate typical of Western Visayas, with consistently high temperatures averaging 27°C annually, highs up to 31°C, and lows around 24°C, based on regional meteorological records. Rainfall occurs throughout the year, totaling approximately 2,000 mm, with the heaviest precipitation in August exceeding 240 mm monthly, while drier periods in February and March see less than 100 mm. These patterns, driven by the interplay of trade winds and monsoon influences, support agriculture but contribute to seasonal humidity levels often above 80%.[27][28] The municipality's topography consists of flat rice fields in the eastern portions transitioning to undulating hills and valleys in the west, where slopes are generally gentle, covering about 34% of the land as very gently sloping or undulating terrain. Two parallel rivers, the Suage and Magapa, originate from the northwest and traverse the area, facilitating drainage but also channeling runoff during intense rains. Forest cover has diminished significantly, with only 27.8% of designated forestland remaining intact amid historical deforestation pressures.[24][5][29] Natural hazards include vulnerability to flooding in low-lying riverine zones and rain-induced landslides in steeper western hills, exacerbated by the flat-to-hilly gradients and monsoon downpours. Seismic activity is frequent but minor, with an average of 174 low-magnitude earthquakes per year in the vicinity, attributable to regional tectonic stresses along Philippine fault lines.[30][31]Demographics
Population Trends
The population of Janiuay has exhibited consistent long-term growth, rising from 20,738 residents in the 1903 census to 66,786 in the 2020 census, an absolute increase of 46,048 over 117 years as documented by Philippine Statistics Authority data.[1] This trajectory reflects sustained natural population increase amid limited large-scale industrialization, with decadal censuses showing incremental gains: 63,031 in 2010 and approximately 63,900 in 2015.[1][3] Recent trends indicate moderated expansion, with an annual growth rate of 0.93% between 2015 and 2020, below the 1.1% provincial average for Iloilo, implying a balance of births offset by net out-migration to nearby urban hubs like Iloilo City.[3][32] Such patterns align with regional dynamics in Western Visayas, where internal migration rather than high fertility rates has increasingly sustained growth since the 2010s.[33]| Census Year | Population | Annual Growth Rate (Prior Period) | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 20,738 | N/A | ~113 |
| 2010 | 63,031 | N/A | ~345 |
| 2015 | 63,900 | N/A | ~350 |
| 2020 | 66,786 | 0.93% (2015–2020) | 365 |
Ethnic and Cultural Composition
The population of Janiuay is overwhelmingly composed of the Hiligaynon ethnic group, also known as Ilonggo, who form the predominant ethnolinguistic identity in the municipality and broader Iloilo province.[5] A 1995 demographic assessment recorded 49,650 Hiligaynon/Ilonggo individuals out of a total population of 50,066, underscoring their numerical dominance, with minor representation from the Karay-a ethnolinguistic group.[5] Hiligaynon serves as the primary language spoken, integral to local communication, cultural expression, and identity, consistent with its status as the dominant tongue across Iloilo.[34] A small indigenous Ati (Negrito) community persists in Barangay Matag-ub, comprising approximately 200 members as documented in recent health outreach programs targeting the group.[35] This minority maintains distinct cultural practices rooted in pre-colonial Panay Island traditions, though integrated into the broader municipal fabric.[35] Religiously, the populace adheres predominantly to Roman Catholicism, reflecting the enduring legacy of Spanish-era evangelization in the Visayas, with supplementary presence of Protestant churches and Iglesia ni Cristo congregations established since the early 20th century.[5] Cultural norms emphasize extended family structures, communal reciprocity (e.g., bayanihan), and fiestas tied to Catholic saint veneration, shaping social cohesion among Hiligaynon residents.[36]Economy
Agricultural and Primary Sectors
Agriculture in Janiuay centers on smallholder farming, which forms the backbone of the local primary sector, with principal activities involving the cultivation of rice, corn, sugarcane, copra, coffee, bananas, and abaca fiber, alongside livestock raising of poultry, goats, and cattle. These operations are predominantly rain-fed or irrigated by local rivers such as the Suage and Magapa, supporting subsistence and market-oriented production typical of inland Iloilo municipalities.[37] Local cooperatives facilitate primary production by providing organizational support to farmers, including the Tuburan Farmers and Weavers Agrarian Reform Cooperative, which aids agrarian reform beneficiaries in Janiuay through partnerships for livelihood enhancement.[38] Similarly, the Janiuay Municipal Employees Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative and broader Central Iloilo farmer groups contribute to collective resource pooling and market access for crops like rice and corn.[39] Sugarcane cultivation receives targeted municipal efforts, such as organizing small-scale planters to improve industry resilience and farmer incomes, reflecting its role amid regional trends where Iloilo accounts for over 76% of Western Visayas' sugarcane output at 872,985 metric tons in the first quarter of 2025. Crop cycles align with Janiuay's tropical monsoon climate, featuring wet-season rice planting from June to November for higher yields and dry-season corn and sugarcane harvests, though specific municipal production volumes remain undocumented in available Department of Agriculture reports.[40]Commercial Expansion and Industry
The commercial landscape in Janiuay has expanded post-2000 through private-sector initiatives, including the entry of national retail chains. Savemore Market Express, a supermarket operated by SM Markets, opened its Janiuay branch on July 20, 2022, providing residents with modern grocery and convenience options previously limited to traditional public markets.[41] Similarly, Gaisano Capital, a regional mall operator, inaugurated a new outlet in Janiuay in November 2024, featuring diverse stores and promoting local consumption with discounts to attract shoppers.[42] Banking infrastructure supports this growth, with local institutions like Janiuay Rural Bank, Inc., established as one of the oldest rural banks in Iloilo, offering deposits, loans, and remittance services to residents and small businesses.[43] The Land Bank of the Philippines maintains a branch in Janiuay, facilitating agricultural credit and government payouts that indirectly bolster commercial transactions.[44] These banks, alongside cooperatives, enable financial access for entrepreneurs, with Janiuay Rural Bank expanding to multiple branches by the 2020s to serve growing deposit bases. Local entrepreneurship drives small-scale industries and retail, evidenced by the Negosyo Center Janiuay, which under the Go Negosyo Act provides training and funding to MSMEs for non-agricultural ventures like trading and services, aiming to generate employment beyond farming.[45] Competitiveness data indicates 298 active establishments in the locality, reflecting incremental private investment in retail and light manufacturing.[46] This shift aligns with regional trends in Western Visayas, where services contributed 6.0% to growth in recent years, outpacing primary sectors.[47]Economic Challenges and Growth Prospects
Janiuay, as a predominantly agricultural municipality, grapples with persistent rural poverty, with poverty incidence estimated at 25.8% in 2009 and 25.3% in 2012 according to Philippine Statistics Authority small area estimates.[48][49] These figures reflect heavy reliance on subsistence farming vulnerable to environmental stressors, including prolonged droughts lasting up to six months and extensive land degradation, where only 27.8% of forestland remains intact.[50][29] Compounding these are provincial trends of declining agricultural output and inflationary pressures, which limit income diversification and exacerbate infrastructure gaps in far-flung barangays.[51] High rates of child stunting and wasting in 2023 further indicate ongoing nutritional and economic vulnerabilities tied to these structural issues.[52] Growth prospects hinge on recent local governance enhancements and targeted interventions to foster self-reliance over aid dependency. In November 2024, Janiuay was ranked the top most-improved first- to second-class municipality in Western Visayas by the Department of Trade and Industry, signaling gains in business competitiveness and revenue mobilization, bolstered by a 2025 revision of the municipal revenue code.[53][54] Initiatives like the Department of Science and Technology's 1.4 million peso community project in 2021 for vulnerable barangays and the Department of Social Welfare and Development's 8 million peso allocation in 2025 for climate-resilient poverty reduction underscore potential for sustainable agri-modernization and skills training, including a proposed TESDA center.[55][56][25] Local aims for a vibrant, self-sufficient economy, as articulated by municipal leadership, prioritize internal resource management amid provincial growth constraints of 1.4% in 2024.[57][58]Government and Administration
Local Government Structure
 from national government funds, which constitutes the primary budgetary source for municipalities like Janiuay.[59] Annual budgets must balance expenditures on general services, economic development, and social welfare, subject to sanggunian approval and audits to uphold fiscal responsibility.Key Officials and Elections
Paulino M. Parian serves as the mayor of Janiuay, having been re-elected on May 12, 2025, with 18,531 votes, representing 45.17% of the votes cast from 41,028 registered voters.[26][60] Felizardo D. Amigable Jr. was elected vice mayor in the same election, securing 18,505 votes or 45.10%.[26][60] Both officials are affiliated with the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).[26] The 2025 local elections featured competition between PFP and the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP-Laban, abbreviated PDPLBN), with the municipal council (Sangguniang Bayan) resulting in a mix of representatives from both parties.[26] The eight elected councilors, serving three-year terms from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, are listed below:| Rank | Name | Party | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salarda, Sir Itik | PDPLBN | 18,239 |
| 2 | Dureza-Loffe, Gracia | PDPLBN | 17,729 |
| 3 | Bermejo, Jaime Jr. | PFP | 17,376 |
| 4 | Tallador, SB Leo | PDPLBN | 15,687 |
| 5 | Barranco, Engr. Egan | PDPLBN | 15,488 |
| 6 | Adelantar, Burj | PDPLBN | 15,382 |
| 7 | Nobleza, Inday Glofil | PFP | 14,857 |
| 8 | Barranco, Felix | PFP | 14,397 |
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