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PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN, 2008-2013 PROVINCE OF AKLAN

I.

INTRODUCTION

1.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The written history of Aklan takes us back to the middle of the 13th century when ten Bornean datus, together with their families, fled the oppressive rule of the Bornean king, Sultan Makatunaw.

In search for freedom, new lands and better fortunes, they left Borneos shore on a flotilla of balangays (ships) sailing northward. And one day, in 1250 (circa), they landed on the bank of the Sirwakan River near the present town of San Joaquin, Iloilo. Immediately after, Datu Puti, the leader of the expedition, came in contact with the Atis, the blackskinned, pygmy aborigines of Panay Island. The Ati king named

Marikudo and his queen, Maniwang-tiwang, welcomed the newcomers. Datu Puti asked Marikudo if the latters people would be willing to move into the hinterlands and mountains in favor of the newcomers.

An agreement was reached. The price for the land was a gold saduk (wide-brimmed helmet), a chain of pure gold necklace, and some gifts consisting of colored clothes, decorated arms, and fanciful trinkets.

The historic sale (Barter of Panay) was sealed by a sumptuous banquet attended by both the Atis and the Bornean peoples, and everybody had a joyous celebration feasting, dancing and singing. The celebration is commemorated every year, during the blooming season of mangoes, or at about the same time of the year when the purchase was consummated. In later years, when the Ati descendants of Marikudo withdrew to the mountains, the settlers chose to perpetuate the celebration. In the absence of the Atis, some of the settlers smeared themselves with soot to simulate the Atis. Thus, from

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

then on, the celebration that has withstood the tests of centuries came to be known as the Ati-atihan Festival.

The island of Panay was divided into three sakups (districts): IrongIrong (now Iloilo) under Datu Paiburong; Hantik (now Antique) under Datu Sumakwel; and Aklan (what was then Aklan and Capiz combined) under Datu Bangkaya. These three sakups were united for mutual protection against enemy attacks into one confederation called Confederation of Madyaas under the overlordship of Datu Sumakwel who was the oldest and wisest of the ten Bornean datus.

Our historians have overlooked an interesting fact about Datu Bangkayas sakup of Aklan. It was originally (geographically and

ethnologically also) the valley of Aklan, centering in the present town of Kalibo. Since the days of Datu Bangkaya, the people of this region have developed their own peculiar dialect, distinct customs and traditions, and local culture. Thus, it has come to pass that the

present-day Aklanons posses a deep-rooted pride and loyalty to their own locality, setting them apart from the rest of the Capiceos. They fondly aspire to be an independent province, separate and independent from Capiz province.

There is further historical validity to the Aklanons dream of a separate province. As early as 1433, according to Parayan historical records, there was already a well-organized government on Aklan soil under the rule of Kalantiaw, the third chief of Panay. This Aklan ruler wrote the famous Kalantiaw Code containing eighteen sugo (orders) which reveal the high degree of civilization which the people of Aklan had then.

Following that spirit of patriotic desire, after having developed their ideals of freedom and having progressed in education and culture, in commerce and industry, and in political maturity and experience,

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

whenever occasions presented, the people of Aklan, through their chosen leaders, had taken the issue of separation and independence:

April 14, 1901:

Don Natalio B. Acevedo, Aklan delegation head,

presented the first memorial for the separation of Aklan from Capiz to the Junta Magna headed by Commissioner Dean C. Worcester;

1920: Representatives Jose Alba Urquiola and Eufrosino Alba of the second and third districts of Capiz, respectively, presented a Bill for Aklans formal separation from Capiz;

1925 to 1930: Representatives Manuel Laserna and Teodulfo Suner from the third district of Capiz filed a similar Bill. Subsequently, Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon of the same succeeded in securing the approval of the Committee on Provincial and Municipal Governments after the hearing, but was not able to push it through due to time constraints;

April 25, 1956: Republic Act 1414 was signed by President Ramon Magsaysay, eventually separating Aklan from Capiz. This was made through the efforts of Congressman Godofredo P. Ramos who filed House Bill No. 334. For such fate, he was regarded as the Father of Aklan. Aklan became the 53rd province of the country.

2.

PLAN OBJECTIVES AND CONTEXT

2.1

Objectives

of

the

Provincial

Development

and

Physical

Framework Plan (PDPFP)

To enhance and strengthen the development of the province, the formulation of the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan was based on the following Specific Objectives:

a.

To design and outline the overall Vision of the province.

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

b.

To provide analytical basis for understanding existing conditions and identifying key development issues, goals, objectives, and targets of the province.

c.

Based on the provinces Vision, identify programs, projects, and activities consistent with the proposed strategies.

2.2

Context of the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP)

The Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) is the key link in the network of plans covering the national, regional, provincial, and municipal levels.

Plans and investment programs at the provincial level have vertical connections to corresponding plans at the regional and municipal levels. In turn, regional plans and programs relate to corresponding plans at the national level. The resulting PDPFP, therefore, serves as the vertical link between local development objectives and regional and national priorities. At the provincial level, the Programs, Projects and Activities (PPAs) derived from the PDPFP are the bases for a multiyear investment program and an Annual Investment Program (AIP), the basis for budgetary allocations for PPAs.

3.

COVERAGE OF THE PLAN

3.1

Historical Coverage

The Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) is a six-year medium-term development plan of the province of Aklan, guided by its long-term vision. It is formulated to coincide with two three-year terms of the present leadership, Governor Carlito S. Marquez, that can be aligned with a full term of the national leadership. Planning analyses, however, extend beyond the medium term to
Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan 4

consider longer-term trends.

These are significant and necessary

inputs to the identification of Strategies, Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs) for the six-year plan period.

3.2

Geographical Coverage

The political boundaries of the province define the primary level of geographical analysis. Other provinces in Region VI (Western Visayas) as well as the region itself, and the country as a whole, are also included as benchmark in some of the analyses.

Municipalities within the province serve as the major level of analytical disaggregation, barangay-level data are also considered for population analysis. Groups or clusters of municipalities as well as geographically delineated areas like the Metropolitan Kalibo are also considered. References to land and land use which include water and water use are likewise a part of the planning environment.

3.3

Sectoral Coverage

The planning environment of the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) includes all major sectors for and in the development of Aklan.

These are the core elements of Population which covers its sector; Economic Activity agriculture, fisheries, forestry, trade, industry, services, and tourism; Physical Resources environment, natural Income/Access to other services and

resources, and transport;

facilities for the elderly, children, indigenous peoples, the third sex, and the women; and Land Use which is the physical integration of all the sectors.

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

Table 1 Core Elements and Sector Core Element Population Economic Activity Population Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry Trade, Industry, services Tourism Physical Resources Environment, natural resources Transportation and communication Income/Access to services Health Education Housing Social Welfare Public works (water supply, drainage, solid waste) Energy Security Other services and facilities (for community group such as the elderly, children, indigenous people, etc.) Land Use (Physical integration of all sectors) Sector

4.

OUTLINE OF THE PLAN

4.1

Vision: the provinces long-term vision as expressed through it provincial leadership in consultation with stakeholders.

4.2

Planning Environment:

Descriptions and analyses of the social.

Economic, and physical environment of the province that serve as basis for identifying the development challenges and issues and subsequent courses of actions which are the formulation of Strategies, Plans, Programs, Projects, and Activities.

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

Table 2 Data Requirements


Core Element/ Sector Population Population Data Size, density, APGR, Age-sex, urbanrural distribution, migration Geographical Unit Period Source NSO, NCSB, LGUs

Environment natural resources, protection forestry

Transport and communication

Agriculture, fisheries, production forestry Manufacturing Trade, industry, services Tourism Employment Housing, health, education, sanitation, security Public Works, roads, water supply, solid waste, drainage Power, other sectors. Land use

Philippines, Latest, region, province previous census Other provinces in region, municipalities in province, barangays Physical Resources Latest Land area Province census Characteristics Region, other provinces in Of land resources region, Land use, land municipalities in suitability, land province classification Map Latest Existing & Province proposed Other provinces census facilities, routes, in region, levels of service municipalities in province Map Economic Activity Latest, Philippines, Employment, income, or value region, province previous of prod by sector Other provinces census Export products, in region, municipalities in markets volume by sector province. Existing Proposed support infrastructure Map Income and Services

Sectoral agencies, LGUs

Sectoral agencies, LGUs

NSO, sectoral agencies, LGUs

Employment/ unemployment Rates Existing & proposed facilities Levels of service of basic social services (health, education, sanitation, security), public works. Map Location/map of above sectors

Philippines, Latest, NSO, region, province Previous NCSB census Latest Sectoral Philippines agencies, region, province census LGUs

Province, municipalities in province

Latest available, previous

LGUs, sectoral agencies

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

4.3

Development Issues/Problems, Goals, Objectives, and Targets: Issues, challenges, and opportunities that face and accompany the task of achieving the identified development goals, objectives and targets as guided by the vision.

4.4

Strategies, Plans, Programs, and Activities: Identified and designed to address development issues and attain objectives.

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

II.

VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT

2.

VISION Progressive Aklan whose empowered citizens live amidst a well-

anchored, vibrant economy where agri-eco tourism developments are globally competitive, gender- responsive, environment-friendly, equitable, self-sufficient, and sustainable.

Vision Elements

People as a society and as individuals are empowered where public consultation is made an integral part of decision-making process. There is a vigorous advocacy for issues of public interest like human rights, social justice, gender equality, and environmental concerns, among others.

The local economy, being vibrant and well-anchored on agri-ecotourism developments which are globally competitive, genderresponsive, environment-friendly, equitable, self-sufficient, and

sustainable, is best described by the following: there is an increase in the number of banks and other financial institutions; decrease in poverty incidence; increase in the utilization of organic fertilizers;

increase in employment rate; increase in womens involvement; and decrease in the incidence of domestic violence.

On the state of the provinces natural environment, it is clean, safe and restored by having a waste-generation program; use of ecologicallysound waste disposal practices; and its urban expansion is directed towards areas with less environmental constraints.

There is a planned, balanced, and attractive built environment where built up areas are integrated with towns open space network having no informal settlers in environment-critical areas.
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The capacity and quality of the local leadership/governance is best described as progressive and decent where the government is financially stable having competent and professional personnel with decreased incidence of poverty.

Mission

The province, in the realization of its vision, shall ensure and support, among other things:

1. 2. 3. 4.

Preservation and enrichment of culture; Promotion of health and safety; Enhancement of the right of the people to a balanced ecology; Encouragement and support to the development of appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities;

5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Improvement of public morals; Enhancement of economic prosperity and social justice; Promotion of full employment among the residents; Maintenance of peace and order; and Preservation of the comfort and convenience of the Aklanons.

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

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III.

THE PLANNING ENVIRONMENT

1.

Location, Land Area, and Political Subdivisions

Aklan is located in the northwestern portion of Panay Island.

It is

bounded on the south by Capiz, east by the Sibuyan Sea, west by Antique, the northwest by Sulu Sea, and on the northeast by Sibuyan Sea. It is cadastrally located between latitude 110930 N and latitude 120100 N, and longitude 1223445 (PAG-ASA). The northernmost limit of Aklan is Lapuz-Lapuz in Boracay Island (Malay), while the southernmost limit is the point in the Municipality of Libacao where the borders of Aklan, Antique, and Capiz meet. The easternmost part of the province is the eastern shoreline of Barangay Mambuquiao in the municipality of Batan; the westernmost part is Pucio Point in the municipality of Buruanga.

Aklan is the regions second smallest province having a total land area of 1,817.9 km2, which is 8.99 percent of the regional land area and 0.61 percent of the national land area (Table 3).

Table 3 Land Area by Municipalities (in km2) Municipalities Altavas Balete Banga Batan Buruanga Ibajay Kalibo Lezo Libacao
Source: RSET 2007

Land Area 109.1 131.8 64.2 79.2 68.8 169.2 45.8 23.4 316.9

Municipalities Madalag Makato Malay Malinao Nabas New Washington Numancia Tangalan AKLAN

Land Area 256.9 66.5 66.4 173.5 98.6 62.5 28.8 56.5 1,817.9

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

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Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

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With only one congressional district, Aklan is composed of 17 municipalities with Kalibo as the capital town. These are further subdivided into 327 basic units called barangays. The province is accessible to and from key cities like Manila and Cebu through air and sea, and Iloilo by land transportation. Travel time between Manila and Aklan is approximately 18 hours by boat and 55 minutes by plane. Aklan has become a favorite tourist destination with the lure of Atiatihan Festival and Boracay Islands fine white sand beaches and crystal clear waters.

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2.

POPULATION AND SETTLEMENTS

2.1

Population: Regional and National Context

As of the 2007 census, Aklan has a population of 495,122 and a density of 272 persons/km2. Between 2000 and 2007 (see Table 4 below), its population grew at an annual growth rate of 1.29 percent lower than the 2.05 percent rate during the previous census (19952000).

Table 4 Region VI, Population, Annual Population Growth Rate, Density, Area, by Province, Philippines, 2000, 2007

2000-2007

Pop 2000

Pop 2007

Pop 2007

Area km2

Area km2 604.7

Province

Density

Density

APGR

Share

2000

2007

Aklan Antique Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Negros Occ. Region VI Philippines

451,314 472,822 654,156 141,450 1,925,573 2,565,723

495,122 515,265 701,664 151,238 2,110,588 2,869,766

7.23 7.53 10.25 2.21 30.84 41.93

1.29% 1.19% 0.97% 0.93% 1.27% 1.56%

248.3 187.5 248.4 233.9 408 323.7

272.4 204.3 266.5 250.1 447.2 362.1

1,817.90 2,522.00 2,633.20

8.99 12.47 13.02 2.99 23.34 39.19

4,719.40 7,926.10

6,211,038 76,506,928

6,843,643 88,574,614

100

1.35% 2.04%

307.1 255.02

338.4 295.2

20,223.30 300,000.00

100

Source: NSO 2007

Aklan is the second smallest province in Region VI in terms of population and in land area, accounting for 7.23477 percent and 8.98923 percent of the regional totals, respectively. In terms of Annual Population Growth Rate (APGR), Aklan has the second highest growth rate in 2000 to 2007, next to Negros Occidental of 1.44 percent. This may be attributed, among others, to the fact that the province has been one of the in-migration areas of the region due to Boracay Island which offers economic opportunities, attracting migrants from the nearby provinces of Capiz, Antique and Iloilo. If its population growth continues at the current rate of 1.29 percent, its population will likely double in
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size in the next 53 years, from 495,122 in 2007 to 990,244 by the year 2060, while the countrys and the regions populations of 88,574,614 and 6,843,643 are expected to double in 34 and 51 years, respectively.

In terms of population density, Aklan ranks third among the provinces in region VI with 272 persons/km2. This is a notch higher than that of Census Year 2000. The density has a difference of 23 persons/ km2 to that of the country and 66 persons/km2 to that of the region. The

province with the highest population density in Region VI is Iloilo at 447 persons/km2 in 2007, followed by Negros Occidental with 362 persons/km2.

Compared to the largest province in terms of population size, Cavite, with 2,856,765 in 2007, is more than five times greater than Aklan at 495,122.

2.2

Demographic Characteristics

2.2.1 Size and distribution

The largest municipality in Aklan in terms of population is Kalibo, the provincial capital and administrative center of the province. It has a population of 69,700 (Census Year 2007), accounting for 14.08 percent of the total provincial population, while occupying 2.52 percent of the provincial land area. Kalibo ranks fourth in population and fifth in land area among the provinces capitals in Region VI as shown in the table below:

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

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Provincial Capitals of Region VI Bacolod City, Negros Occidental Iloilo City, Iloilo Roxas City, Capiz Kalibo, Aklan San Jose, Antique Jordan, Guimaras
Source: NSO, 2007

Population 2007 499,076 418,710 147,738 69,700 54,871 32,524

Land Area km2 156.1 56.0 102.0 45.8 25.6 126.1

In addition to Kalibo, Ibajay, New Washington, Banga, and Malay are the five largest settlements, accounting for 44.13 percent of the population. The rest of the population is distributed among the 12

other municipalities of the province, with Lezo having the smallest share (13,077 or 2.64 percent of the provincial population). (See Table 5)

Within the province, seven of the seventeen municipalities increased their population shares since 2000, the largest net increase was

experienced by Malay at 1.05 percent followed by New Washington at 0.48 percent, Kalibo at 0.24 percent, Nabas at 0.18 percent, Numancia at 0.11 percent, Balete at 0.09 percent, and Makato at 0.01 percent.

Kalibo and the adjacent municipalities of Numancia, New Washington, and Banga account for 41.18 percent of the additional population (2000-2007) in the entire province. While Kalibo, being the provincial capital and the administrative center accounts for 16.57 percent, Malay, surprisingly, takes the lead at 17.32 percent. This may be attributed, among others, to the fact that the municipality has been one of the in-migration areas of the province due to Boracay Island which offers economic opportunities that attract migrants. These further

conclude that Kalibo and Malay are the biggest drivers of population growth in the province.

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

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2.2.2 Density

The municipality with the highest population density is Kalibo, 1,521.8 persons per square kilometer in 2007. Madalag has the lowest at 69.6 persons/square kilometer. The provincial, regional, and national averages are 272.4, 338.4, and 295.2, respectively.

Other municipalities with population densities substantially higher than the provincial average are Numancia (957.3), New Washington (634.5), Lezo (558.8), Banga (533.9), Malay (483.6), Makato (376.6), Batan (369.2), Tangalan (338.4), and Nabas (287.5).

Outside the province, Kalibo ranks fifth in the Ten Densely Populated Cities/Municipalities: Iloilo City 9,969 per km2., Bacolod City 3,070 per km2., Pavia, Iloilo 2,534 per km2., Roxas City, Capiz 1,554 per km2., Kalibo, Aklan 1,522 per km2., Estancia, Iloilo 1,343 per km2., Pulupandan, Negros Occidental 1,177 per km2., San Jose, Antique 1,129 per km2., Numancia, Aklan 957 per km2., and Oton, Iloilo 898 per km2. (Source: NSO, 2007 Census of Population). Analyzing the provincial densities on various censal years as shown in maps 3a, 3b, and 3c, the highest density settlements are in Kalibo and its adjacent municipalities: Numancia 957.3 per km2, New Washington 634.5 per km2., Lezo 558.8 per km2., and Banga 533.9 per km2. This is consistent with its growing economy. Malay, with 483.6 persons per km2., also has high density due to Boracay which offers economic opportunities to migrants. Increases in density in 1995-2000 are particularly noticeable in the municipalities adjacent to capital town of Kalibo (Numancia, Lezo, Banga, and New Washington). From 2000 to 2007, there is also an observed high densities in the municipalities of Tangalan and Malay.

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

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Table 5 Population, Annual Population Growth Rate, Density, Area, of Aklan, by Municipality, 2000
Municipality Pop 2000 Pop 2007 Pop 2007 percent Share 14.08 8.63 8.01 6.92 6.49 5.91 5.72 5.57 5.37 5.32 5.06 4.83 4.79 3.86 3.61 3.18 2.64 APGR 20002007 1.53% 1.04% 2.15% 0.90% 3.79% 0.66% 1.74% 1.58% 0.33% 1.53% 1.32% 0.13% 0.72% 1.15% 0.35% 0.62% 0.74% Density 2000 Density 2007 Area 2 km Area 2 km % 2.52 9.31 3.44 3.53 3.65 4.36 5.42 1.58 17.43 7.25 3.66 9.54 6 3.11 14.13 3.78 1.29

Kalibo Ibajay New Washington Banga Malay Batan Nabas Numancia Libacao Balete Makato Malinao Altavas Tangalan Madalag Buruanga Lezo

62,438 39,643 33,981 32,128 24,519 27,889 25,014 24,614 25,983 23,616 22,777 23,699 22,496 17,606 17,441 15,077 12,393

69,700 42,742 39,656 34,276 32,110 29,243 28,345 27,570 26,610 26,360 25,043 23,921 23,692 19,121 17,889 15,767 13,077

1,363.30 234.3 543.7 500.4 369.3 352.1 253.7 854.7 82 179.2 342.5 136.6 206.2 311.6 67.9 219.1 529.6

1,521.80 252.6 634.5 533.9 483.6 369.2 287.5 957.3 84 200 376.6 137.9 217.2 338.4 69.6 229.2 558.8

45.8 169.2 62.5 64.2 66.4 79.2 98.6 28.8 316.9 131.8 66.5 173.5 109.1 56.5 256.9 68.8 23.4

Source: NSO 2007 Table 6 Population Shares, 1995, 2000 and 2007, Cumulative Population Shares, Additional Population, by Municipality
Municipality Kalibo Ibajay New Washington Banga Batan Libacao Numancia Makato Malinao Altavas Nabas Balete Malay Madalag Tangalan Buruanga Lezo Aklan Pop95 % Share 14.14 8.81 7.77 7.32 6.43 5.56 5.45 5.35 5.24 5.23 5.21 4.86 4.73 4.06 3.94 3.08 2.81 100 Pop00 % Share 13.83 8.78 7.53 7.12 6.18 5.76 5.45 5.05 5.25 4.98 5.54 5.23 5.43 3.86 3.9 3.34 2.75 100 Pop07 % Share 14.08 8.63 8.01 6.92 5.91 5.37 5.57 5.06 4.83 4.79 5.72 5.32 6.49 3.61 3.86 3.18 2.64 Cum Pop 1995 14.14 22.95 30.72 38.04 44.47 50.03 55.48 60.83 66.07 71.3 76.51 81.37 86.1 90.16 94.1 97.18 99.99 Cum Pop 2000 13.83 22.61 30.14 37.26 43.44 49.2 54.65 59.7 64.95 69.93 75.47 80.7 86.13 89.99 93.89 97.23 99.98 Cum Pop 2007 14.08 22.71 30.72 37.64 43.55 48.92 54.49 59.55 64.38 69.17 74.89 80.21 86.7 90.31 94.17 97.35 99.99 Add Pop 2000 1995 -0.31 -0.03 -0.24 -0.20 -0.25 0.20 0.00 -0.30 0.01 -0.25 0.33 0.37 0.70 -0.20 -0.04 0.26 -0.06 Add Pop 20002007 0.25 0.1 0.58 0.38 0.11 -0.28 -0.16 -0.15 -0.57 -0.76 -0.58 -0.49 0.57 0.32 0.28 0.12 0.01

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

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Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

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2.2.3

Growth Rate

The 1990-1995 data showed that Malay was the fastest growing municipality in the province at the rate of 5.78 percent. This was followed by Kalibo, the capital town, which grew at a rate of 2.32 percent. Towns adjacent to Kalibo grew at a faster rate. These were Numancia at 2.21 percent, Lezo at 2.07 percent and Makato at 2.51percent. Highly noticeable are the municipalities of Madalag and Makato which growth rates fall from 1.5-3 percent to 0-1.5 percent (Map4a & Map4b). These may be due to the following reasons:

Makato is considered as having a Best Practice on Population Management Program, while Madalag, during the census year, had many out-migrants seeking employment, as Sacadas, in other places.

In 1995 to 2000, Malay still tops the fast growing municipalities at 5.14 percent as it continues to attract migrants because of Boracay. There were other emerging fast growing municipalities notably Buruanga and Nabas both growing at a rate of 3.80 percent and 3.41 percent, respectively. Both municipalities are adjacent to Malay (Map4b).

Balete, on the other hand, also exhibited a high growth rate of 3.65 percent because of improving economic opportunities that attracted migrants.

In 2000-2007, Malay continues to exhibit a high growth rate at 3.79 percent (Map4c). This is followed by its neighboring town of Nabas at 1.74 percent. Kalibo continues to grow at a rate of 1.53 percent as well as its adjacent towns of Numancia at 1.58 percent, Makato at 1.32 percent, Lezo at 0.74 percent and significantly, New Washington at 2.15 percent. New Washington is the home to many tourist attractions such as Sampaguita Gardens, Pink Sisters Convent, and the House of Jaime Cardinal Sin, which are alternative attractions to Boracay.

Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

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Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan

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2.2.4

Densities and Growth Rates

The high and fast growing municipalities are Kalibo and its adjacent towns of Numancia, New Washington, Banga, and Lezo. The

dominance of Kalibo is seen considering that it is the provincial capital and the administrative center of the province.

New Washington is adjacent to Kalibo and is home to its Pink Sisters Convent, Numancia is adjacent to Kalibo and home to its growing light industries along the national highway; Banga is adjacent to Kalibo and home to Aklan State University (main), and to its growing light industries along the national highway; Lezo is adjacent to Kalibo and is densely populated due to its land area which is the provinces smallest at 23.4 km2.

Malay is fast growing and densely populated municipality due to Boracay Island which offers economic opportunities to migrants.

Low density and fast growing settlements:

Malay was the fastest Its rapid

growing municipality in 1995 to 2000 and 2000 to 2007.

growth is expected given the continued development of Boracay as one of the prime tourist destinations in the country. High noticeable fast growing municipalities are Nabas which is adjacent to Malay with a 2007 provincial population share of 5.72 percent; and the coastal towns of Ibajay with a 2007 provincial population share of 8.63 percent, Batan at 5.91 percent, Makato at 5.06percent

High density and slow-growing settlements: Among the high density towns having more than 500 persons/km2., only the municipalities of Lezo and Banga showed a slowing down of population growth rates in 2000 to 2007 of 0.74 percent and .90 percent respectively, below the provincial average of 1.29 percent. Their high density and slow-growing settlements characteristics may be attributed to their small land area of 23.4 km2. and 54.2 km2., respectively.
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Low density and slow-growing settlements: These are Libacao with 2000-2007 density of 84 persons/km2 and APGR of 0.33 percent, Madalag with 67 persons/ km2. and APGR of 0.35 percent, and Malinao with 138 persons/ km2 and APGR of 0.13percent Aside from mountainous, these are interior municipalities far away from Kalibo. This further justifies that Kalibo, being the provincial capital and administrative center, is the principal driver of Aklans development.

Given the current growth rate, the estimated total population and overall density at the end of the plan period (2013) of the province are 534,575 and 294 persons /square kilometer. This translates into an additional population of 39,453. Almost half of the additional

population will be accounted for by Malay and Kalibo.

2.3

Existing Settlement Pattern

The existing settlement pattern may be described as a two-level hierarchy:

Major urban area (50k 100k): With a population of 69,700 (census 2007), Kalibo is the only major urban municipality in Aklan with a

strong inter-provincial linkages to Roxas City, Capiz province, Iloilo City, Iloilo province and San Jose, Antique province, and the

Small towns (<50k): All the rest of the municipalities are in the 50,000 below range and generally have local service catchments. Two groups are noticeable:

Towns close to Kalibo. These towns poised the possibility of forming a metropolitan as Kalibo continues to grow and expands its direct sphere of influence. These towns are Numancia, Banga, New Washington, and Makato. In this hierarchy, while Banga, New Washington and Makato provide tertiary education through the Aklan State University (main, fishery and education departments, respectively), Numancia for
Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan 23

its growing light industries, vermiculture and home to the Provincial Engineering Office, as well; Kalibo, the capital town and administrative center of the province, provides most of the high order of services: markets, tertiary education, health services, and inter-municipal and provincial transportations.

Towns farther away from Kalibo. These towns are lower in density and have exhibited slower growth during the past previous census periods. Functionally, the municipality of Malay is exceptional because of Boracay Island, one of the major tourist destinations of the country which offers economic opportunities to migrants.

Although Aklan has the second highest population growth rate at 1.29 percent in 2000-2007, next to Negros Occidental at 1.56 percent, its APGR cannot be considered a rapid one, in fact, it decreased from 2.05 percent in 1995-2000 to 1.29 percent in 2000-2007; however, there is still a big possibility that its future population brought about by developments may lead to urban encroachments in the provinces prime agricultural lands, protected areas, forest protected area, and even in the environmental critical/constrained areas such as floodprone, active fault-line, and coastal zone.

From the above perspectives, the policy proposals that need to be considered in addressing encroachments are the strict

enforcement/implementation of the zoning ordinances/CLUPs of the seventeen towns, and the immediate adoption of mainstreaming of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management program, in the local developments and physical planning process.

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2.4

Summary

2.4.1 Population, Densities, and Annual Growth Rates

As of the 2007 census, Aklan has a population of 495,122 and ranks fifth among the six provinces of Region VI. The province with the highest population density in Region VI is Iloilo at 447 persons/km2. in 2007 followed by Negros Occidental with 362.1 persons/km2. Aklan ranks third with 272.4 persons/km2., a difference of 22.8 and 66.0 persons to that of the country and the region, respectively.

In terms of Annual Population Growth Rate (APGR), Aklan has the second highest growth rate of 1.29 percent from 2000 to 2007, next to Negros Occidental at 1.56 percent, and a little bit lower than the regional and the national APGR of 1.35 percent and 2.04 percent, respectively. Based on the 2007 population census of 495,122 and APGR of 1.29 percent, Aklan will have an estimated additional population of 89,472 for an estimated total population of 584,594 in 2020.

2.4.2 Population Distribution Trends

The fastest growing municipalities are located near or adjacent to Kalibo, the provincial capital and the administrative center of the province. These are Numancia, Banga, New Washington, Lezo, and Makato. Numancia is the nearest town of Kalibo; Banga is home to Aklan State University (main) and has its growing light industries along the national highway; New Washington is home to tourist attractions such as Sampaguita Gardens, Pink Sisters Convent, House of Cardinal Sin, Dumaguit and New Washington National Port, and educational institutions such as Aklan State University (fishery school) and Monfort Technical School; Lezo is home to the Aklan Electric Cooperative; and Makato, like Numancia, Banga, and Balete, is situated along the main national highway. Other fast growing municipalities are Buruanga and
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Nabas which are both adjacent to Malay, the fastest growing municipality due to Boracay Island which offers economic opportunities to migrants.

The largest municipality in Aklan in terms of population is Kalibo, the provincial capital and the administrative center of the province. It has a population of 69,700 (census 2007), accounting for 14.08 percent of the total provincial population, while occupying 2.52 percent of the provincial land area. It ranks fourth in population among the provinces capitals in Region VI. In 2000-2007, while Malay continues to exhibit the highest growth rate 3.79 percent, Kalibo continues to grow at a rate of 1.53percent

The towns closest to Kalibo poised to become part of the soon-to-be Metropolitan Kalibo, as Kalibo continues to grow and expands its direct sphere of influence. These are Numancia, Banga, New Washington, and Makato. These towns, except Banga, have been growing faster

than the provincial average of 1.29percent

2.4.3 Major Urban Centers Outside Aklan with Strong Linkages with the Province

Among the major Urban Centers outside Aklan having strong linkages with the province are Iloilo City, Iloilo for its airport, port, educational institutions, health facilities, and as the regional administrative center; Roxas City, Capiz for its airport, port, educational institutions, and health facilities.

2.4.4 Population Distribution Based on Current Trends

Based on the current trends, the additional population in 10-year time or more would likely be distributed proportionately among the municipalities near Kalibo, being the provincial capital and

administrative center of the province, and to Buruanga and Nabas,


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being adjacent to Malay, where Boracay Island is located. Population distribution is likewise foreseen among the municipalities along the national highways. If its population growth continues at the current rate of 1.29 percent, its population will likely double in size in the next 53 years, from 495,122 to 990,244 by the year 2060.
80,000 70,000 2007 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000
N.Wasington Numancia Buruanga Tangalan Malinao Libacao Madalag Nabas Altavas Banga Makato Kalibo Malay Ibajay

Figure 1. Aklan Settlement Hierarchy, Population:


2000 1995

Batan

Balete

Metropolitan Kalibo: Kalibo+Numancia+Lezo+ New Washington+Banga+Makato

Small towns (<50k population)

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Lezo

Table 7 Estimated Population and Density and Estimated Population, Aklan, 2020
Municipality Pop 2000 Pop 2007 APGR 20002007 1.53 1.04 2.15 0.90 3.79 0.66 1.74 1.58 0.33 1.53 1.32 0.13 0.72 1.15 0.35 0.62 0.74 1.29 Area (km2) Density 2007 APGR Factor 20002007 1.0153 1.0104 1.0215 1.0090 1.0379 1.0066 1.0174 1.0158 1.0033 1.0153 1.0132 1.0013 1.0072 1.0115 1.0035 1.0062 1.0074 1.0129 PGR Factor 2007 2020 1.2182 1.1440 1.3186 1.1231 1.6219 1.0893 1.2514 1.2260 1.0438 1.2182 1.1859 1.0170 1.0978 1.1595 1.0465 1.0837 1.1006 1.1807 Est Pop 2020 Est Density Add Pop 20072020 15,210 6,153 12,633 4,219 19,969 2,611 7,126 6,232 1,164 5,752 4,655 407 2,316 3,050 831 1,319 1,315 89,472

Kalibo Ibajay New Washington Banga Malay Batan Nabas Numancia Libacao Balete Makato Malinao Altavas Tangalan Madalag Buruanga Lezo Aklan

62,438 39,643 33,981 32,128 24,519 27,889 25,014 24,164 25,983 23,616 22,777 23,699 22,496 17,606 17,441 15,077 12,393 451,314

69,700 42,742 39,656 34,276 32,110 29,243 28,345 27,570 26,610 26,360 25,043 23,921 23,692 19,121 17,889 15,767 13,077 495,122

45.8 169.2 62.5 64.2 66.4 79.2 98.6 28.8 316.9 131.8 66.5 173.5 109.1 56.5 256.9 68.8 23.4 1,817.9

1,521.8 252.6 634.5 533.9 483.6 369.2 287.5 957.3 84.0 200.0 376.6 137.9 217.2 338.4 69.6 229.2 558.8 272.4

84,910 48,895 52,289 38,495 52,079 31,854 35,471 33,802 27,774 32,112 29,698 24,328 26,008 22,171 18,720 17,086 14,392 584,594

1,853.9 289.0 836.6 599.6 784.3 402.2 359.7 1,173.7 87.6 243.6 446.6 140.2 238.4 392.4 72.9 248.3 615.1 321.6

Source: NSO

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3.0

PHYSICAL RESOURCES

3.1

General Land and Water Characteristics and Resources

3.1.1 Topography and Slope

Aklan is mainly an agricultural province since almost 107,423.96 hectares or 58.74 percent of its total land area is wide plains or rolling hills devoted to rice and other agricultural crops. The remaining

74,370.68 hectares or 40.70 percent are moderately sloping to very steep mountainous areas. Its lowlands are flanked on the western and southern portions by continuous mountain ranges running towards the south from the municipality of Madalag to Libacao and Malinao.

Of the total land area of the province, 48,097 hectares are categorized with slope of level to very gently sloping; 3,082.0 or 2 percent at gently sloping to undulating; moderately sloping to rolling at 13,650 or 8 percent; rolling to moderately steep at 29,404 hectares or 17 percent; while 23,200 or 13 percent and 64,361.64 or 35 percent are categorized as steep hills and mountains to very steep hills and mountains respectively.

About 28 percent of the provincial land resources are in the relatively developable range (0-8 percent slope). Land resources within slope class of 0-3 percent are mostly utilized for agriculture and fishery while those within 3-8 percent slope class are usually planted with cultivated cash crops, annual and semi-annual crops. Majority of land resources in the municipalities of Banga, Balete, Kalibo, Lezo, portion of Altavas, Makato, Tangalan, Ibajay and Batan have these slope characteristics.

On the other hand, more than half of the provincial land resources or 64 percent are within the steep and protection-oriented slope range (18 percent and above). These are areas suitable for production and

protection forest. Proclaimed watershed and forest reserve areas such


Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan 31

as the Aklan River Watershed and Forest Reserve and the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park are within the above 50 percent slope range. Majority of land resources in the towns of Libacao, Madalag, Malinao, Nabas, Malay and Buruanga are within these slope categories.

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3.1.2 Land and Water Resources

Land Resource

Aklan has a total area of 181,794.64 hectares, of which 98.89 percent or 179,788.71 hectares is in the mainland and 1.12 percent or 2,005.93 hectares are in separate islands.

The province is endowed with several islands and islets. Based on the inventory conducted by DENRs Small Island Regional Management Committee, there are six small islands in the province. Of the total, Boracay Island with three barangays is the biggest and considered as one of the worlds top tourist destinations. Being a tourist island, it is the most popular among the six small islands. Meanwhile the province has two island barangays, Pinamuc-an in New Washington and Tabon in Batan.

Water Resources

The natural inland water resources of the province include rivers, streams, creeks, springs and waterfalls. It has one lake the Lupo-Lupo Lake located in between Caticlan (Malay) and Unidos (Nabas).

There are five major rivers in the province:

the Aklan-Dumalaylay-

Timbaban River; Ibajay River; Tangalan River; Jal-o-Magadinan-Pulijan River and Tabon River in Altavas. Of these, the Aklan-DumalaylayTimbaban River is the largest and longest river with primary waterways of 1761.6 kilometers downstream. This is the major river basin that traverses the municipalities of Libacao, Madalag, Malinao, Banga, Lezo, Numancia and Kalibo. This is within the Proclaimed Aklan

Watershed and Forest Reserve of the province with an area of 2,064 km2 located in the municipalities of Libacao and Madalag.

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Other inland water resources are springs, and waterfalls. The Basang Underground Cold Spring, Hurom-Hurom Cold Spring, Manguilo and Fern Valley are located in Nabas, Aklan. The province has also

several waterfalls that include Jawili Falls Aquaga, Magata, Dalamu-an in Malay; Tagaroroc in Nabas, Wasak-Wasak and Tigis in Buruanga; Mayubay in Libacao and Salimono Falls in Makato.

The main function of these water resources are for tourism, recreation, domestic, industrial and agricultural uses.

Marine and Coastal Water Resources

Twelve out of the 17 municipalities of the province are bordering on coastal waters, from east to west: Batan, Altavas, Balete, New

Washington, Kalibo, Numancia, Makato, Tangalan, Ibajay, Nabas, Malay and Buruanga. These are more or less 140 km long at the northeast coast of Sibuyan Sea. The municipality of Buruanga borders on the Cuyo East Pass with about 15 km long at the west coast.

Main Geological Features

Aklans land resources are made up of metamorphic; igneous and sedimentary rocks. Metamorphic rocks are mostly located in Nabas, Malay and Buruanga highlands known as Buruanga Metamorphic Complex (BMC) which igneous rocks has two types; the

plutonic/intrusive igneous rocks are not common in the province geologic features. The most common rocks are the Pakol Dioreta or Miocene which are prevalent in the hilly areas of Libacao, Madalag and Malinao. The volcanic/intrusive igneous rocks or the Mt. Baloy volcanic or early Miocene are found part of Ibajay mountainous areas, while igsawa pyroclastic or middle Miocene and the Bayuso volcanic rocks are mostly found in the mountainous areas of Libacao, Madalag and Malinao.

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There are five types of sedimentary rocks found in the province. These are: Singit Formation found in the mountain area of Balete and

Libacao; Lagdo formation found in the municipality of Madalag, Malinao, Makato, Tangalan and Ibajay; the Iday formation mostly found in Balete, Altavas and Batan; the Buenavista limestone types are most common in all parts of the seventeen municipalities of the province. These areas are the low-laying areas usually planted with agricultural crops and in the coastal zone of the province.

Mineral Resources and Reserves

The province of Aklan is rich in mineral resources. Some of these minerals are still young and extraction is not permitted for its low cost effectiveness, although many of these minerals areas are already explored.

Records from the Mines and Geoscience Bureau in Region VI show that the province has metallic and non-metallic mineral resources. Metallic minerals such as copper (gold), gold (silver) and manganese are found in the municipalities of Malay, Nabas, Ibajay, Makato, Malinao, Madalag and Libacao respectively. Non-metallic minerals

such as marble, limestone, guano/rock phosphate, silica (rock/quartz, sand) are present in Malay, Buruanga and Madalag.

Among the municipalities mentioned, Nabas has substantial quantity of silica and a potential site for cement manufacturing plant considering the availability of basic raw materials for its production. Limestone and silica deposits found in the area are adequate to supply the basic needs of one million plant capacity for a period of 20 years or more

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3.1.3 Climate and Rainfall

The province of Aklan experiences two types of climate Type I and III. Type I climate is characterized with pronounced maximum rain period. The eastern portion of the province experiences this type of climate with two pronounced seasons, dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. Type III climate is characterized with no pronounced maximum rain period with short dry season relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year.

The rainfall in the province averages from 129.5 mm to 217.11 mm, with the month of April having the least rainfall while October has the highest rainfall occurrence. The province has relatively wet climate from June to November until December.

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3.2

Land Use Potentials and Constraints

Production Land Use

Production land use refers to the direct and indirect utilization of land resource for crop production, fishery, livestock and poultry production, timber production, agroforestry, mining, industry and tourism. Lands under this category include agricultural areas, coastal and marine zones, production forest, mineral lands, industrial and tourism development areas were productive activities could be undertaken to meet the requirements of economic growth.

Agricultural Lands

Agricultural lands include those areas devoted to or are suitable for crop, livestock and poultry and aquaculture production including activities performed in conjunction with such farming operations.

The specific role of agricultural land can be described through the various production activities that take place in cropland, livestock and poultry areas and fishing ground.

Croplands

Cropland as differentiated from agricultural land and agricultural areas, are lands actually cultivated for various crops whether commercial or noncommercial located in A& D lands or public lands regardless of tenurial status.

Based on current land use data from DENR-LMB Region 6 areas classified as cropland in the province is 92,416.0 hectares or about 50.84 percent of the total land area of the province. Out of the total cropland area, 19,480.0 hectares are utilized for annual crop production and 72,986.0 hectares are utilized for perennial crop..
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In terms of land resource utilization, ideally, the amount of land designated for domestic production involves unquantifiable social impact- such as displacement or disruption experience by farmers resulting from land use conversion and other land utilization issues.

Fishpond Development

Based on the Barangay Screening Survey conducted by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS} 2000, Aklan has a total brackish water fishpond area of 5,875.0 hectares. This areas have been identified by the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) and released under the administrative jurisdiction and management of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for disposition as provided for in RA 8550.

However, existing fishpond areas are insufficient to meet current food consumption requirements. The decline in productivity is adversely affected by environmental abuse, unsustainable and unsound

agricultural production practices. Land use conflicts and unpredictable weather condition.

Tourism Development Areas

Tourism development aims to encourage and focus investment in tourism estate or integrated resort, leisure and recreation complexes and other tourism related activities. Tourism complements other economic sectors by stimulating production generating employment and encouraging private sector investments.

The province of Aklan is home to the Island of Boracay a tourist destination which was dubbed as one of the best beaches in the world. Tourism in Aklan is concentrated in Boracay, socio-economic and similar developments in other municipalities are left behind. There are
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many other point of interest in the province which may be highlighted to promote the tourism industry in the province. Some of the probable tourist attractions in the mainland Aklan are: the; life- sized tableaus depicting the 14 station of the Cross in Manduyog Hill in Aklan State University main campus in Banga, Aklan; the Ingus-Ingus Hill in Buruanga; Pangihan Cave in Poblacion, Malay Tulingon Cave and Hurom-Hurom Cold Spring in Nabas; Jawili Falls, Beach and campo verde in Tangalan and the promotion of the week long Ati-Atihan Festival as a major tourist attraction not only for the province of Aklan but the country as a whole. Lets not forget that Good Business sense tells that one should not only be where opportunities are but also where the opportunities will be.

3.2.1 Land Classification

Aklan has a total land area of 181,794.64 hectares, of which 107,423 hectares or about 59 percent are classified as A & D (alienable and disposable) and 74,370.68 hectares or 41 percent are classified as forestland. There are no longer unclassified lands of public domain in the province with the reclassification of the Island of Boracay in the Municipality of Malay. Among the municipalities, Libacao has the

biggest share of A & D lands followed by Balete. Madalag has the biggest share of forestlands.

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Table 8 Land Classification by Municipality (Hectares)


Classification Municipality Total Land Area Alienable & Disposable % share Forest Land % share

Altavas Balete Banga Batan Buruanga Ibajay Kalibo Lezo Libacao Madalag Makato Malay Malinao Nabas New Wash. Numancia Tangalan Total

10,905 13,177 6,420 7,922 6,875 16,921 4,575 2,340 31,685 25,687 6,650 6,641.64 17,350 9,862 6,250 2,884 5,650 181,794.64

10,067 10,974 6,420 5,470 4,850 9,520 4,575 1,340 17,317 6,425 4,700 3,663.96 6,850 4,202 4,991 2,884 2,175 107,423.96

5.54 6.04 3.53 3.00 2.67 5.24 2.52 1.29 9.53 3.53 2.58 1.67 3.77 2.31 2.75 1.58 1.19 58.74

838 2,203 2,452 2,025 7,401 14,368 19,262 1,950 2,977.6 10,500 5,660 1,259 3,475 74,370.68

0.46 1.21 1.35 1.11 4.07 7.90 10.60 1.08 1.43 5.78 3.11 0.69 1.91 40.70

Source: DENR-LEP

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Land Cover

The vegetative cover of Aklan based on aerial photo interpretation has an area of 73,993 hectares or 41 percent of its total land area as shown in Table 9 with the breakdown of the vegetative cover per type and land status per municipality, as validated by DENR-LEP. Table 9 Vegetative Cover Within Forestland of Aklan, 2000
Vegetative Cover of Forest Land Total Forest Land Mangrove Forest Forest Plantation Broadleafed Total Land Area Closed BroadLeaved Open BroadLeafed Forest Mixed Forest Mixed CENRO Kalibo Other Wooded Land Shrubs Wooded Grassland (natural) Grassland 120 1,400

Altavas Balete Banga Batan Buruanga Ibajay Kalibo Lezo Libacao Madalag Makato Malay Malinao Nabas New Washington Numancia Tangalan TOTAL

10,905 13,177 6,420 7,922 6,875 16,921 4,575 2,340 31,685 25,687 6,650 6,642 17,350 9,862 6,250

838 2,203

55 400

230

2,452 2,025 7,401 840 950 1,940

102 1,075 50 3,091 1,050

14,368 19,262 1,950 2,600 10,500 5,660 1,259

4,600 12,600

470

2,680 4,510 1,250 1,165

1,270

1,000

700 2,152 570

1,000

130 30

435 55 650 135

180 2,070 1,790

4,695

3,680 3,220

2,884 5,650 181,794 3,475 73,993 900 23,635 470 520 18,965 1,270 50 235 2,140 1,870 12,423 1,050 120 1,280

Source: DENR-LEP

3.2.2 Land Suitability Land suitability is the classification of land into categories based on the degree to which the characteristics of the land can satisfy the environmental requirement of specific crops without causing

deterioration. It was determined by overlaying the land classification, slope and erosion maps. Table 10 shows the description of land

suitability in the province. As shown, 16 of the 17 municipalities have areas suitable for irrigated rice/fishpond which are located in alluvial plains with 0 to 3 percent slope.
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Table 10 Land Suitability Legend


Sr

Description
Areas suitable for irrigated rice/fishpond. This is an alluvial plain with 0 to 3 percent slope

Coverage
Altavas, Balete, Libacao, Kalibo, Numancia, Lezo, Tangalan, Ibajay, Buruanga Banga, Madalag, New Washington, Malinao, Makato, Nabas, Malay and

Scc Areas suitable for cultivated annual crops with us significant erosion with slope of < 9 percent STV Areas suitable for perennial trees and vines Altavas, Balete, Banga, Libacao, Madalag, Malinao, Makato, Tangalan, Ibajay, Nabas, Malay and Buruanga Kalibo, Lezo, Numancia, Banga, Malinao, Libacao, Madalag, Ibajay, Malay and Buruanga

Sfp Areas suitable for forest plantation. It has less than 30 percent slope but not harvestable forest is present Spf Presence of harvestable forest with no serious erosion hazard, slope of <50 percent and land elevation of <1,000 meters above sea level, no limitation of the terrain Sp Areas suitable for pasture, with no serious erosion and limitation on the terrain, flooding and similar geologic hazards Ns Areas not suitable for any land uses. These are salt bed and river beds F These areas are mostly fishpond Nabas, Malay and Buruanga Batan, Altavas, New Washington, Makato, Tangalan and Ibajay Batan, Kalibo, New Washington, Numancia, Makato, Tangalan, Ibajay, Madalag, Libacao, Balete, Altavas, Malinao, Ibajay, Nabas, Malay, and Buruanga Libacao, Madalag, Balete, Malinao, Makato, Tangalan, Ibajay, Nabas, Malay and Buruanga Libacao, Madalag, Balete, Malinao, Makato, Tangalan, Ibajay, Nabas, Malay and Buruanga

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3.2.3 Protection Areas

Protection areas as defined and established under the National Integrated Protected Area Systems (NIPAS) are portion of land set aside for its unique physical and biological significance that needs conservation, rehabilitation, sustainable development and

management. It also includes areas not declared by NIPAS Law such as environmentally critical and degraded areas that requires immediate protection and restoration.

The following are the protection areas in the province:

NIPAS (National Integrated Protected Areas System) areas identified in R.A. 7586 (NIPAS Act)

Aklan River Watershed Forest Reserve is the only proclaimed watershed in Aklan by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 600 by Corazon C. Aquino. It has a total land area of 20,544.0 hectares or 89.30 percent of the area is located in Madalag where 1,835.37 hectares is reserved for the Timbaban Hydro-Power Plant. The

remaining 2,200 hectares is in Libacao side where the headwater of Aklan River is located. It is also where the proposed site of the This watershed provide for the

Dalagsa-an Hydro-Power Plant.

domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural needs of the province.

Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park proclaimed thru Presidential Proclamation No. 186 on April 18, 2002 by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It is the last significant lowland rainforest in the whole PanayNegros biological area. It strides the two provinces of Aklan and

Antique with a total area of 12,040 hectares. A total of 4,764 hectares are within the municipality of Buruanga, Malay and Nabas in Aklan and 7,276 hectares are in the municipalities of Libertad and Pandan in Antique.

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Non-NIPAS Areas

These are areas with outstanding physical and aesthetic features, anthropological significance and biological diversity but are not yet included under NIPAS. These include the following:

Landscapes and Seascape. Nature has endowed the province of its panoramic view of land formation, beaches and mountain ranges. The Aklan mountain ranges which comprise or part of Panay Mountain Ranges are viewed as the three highest mountains in Panay Island. These are the Mt. Mangtud, which is the highest at 2,060 meters above sea level, Mt. Baloy and Mt. Madya-as.

Campo Verde is significant for both terrestrial and marine conservation resources where Jawili Falls and beach are prominent landscape and seascape because of their natural and man-made verdant forests and the nearby proclaimed coral garden in Tangalan.

Mangroves.

Mangroves are defined in PD 705 as a type of forest

occurring in the tidal flats along the seacoast, extending along streams where the water is brackish. Mangroves perform important functions; they serve as nursery and feeding areas that support coastal fisheries. they minimize storm damage by acting as a buffer for coastal settlements in times of typhoons and strong waves. Further, they

provide food (fishes and shellfish) and livelihood for local communities. Mangrove areas in the province are in Batan, New Washington, Kalibo, Makato, Tangalan and Ibajay.

Slope and Elevation. These are areas classified as protection land not yet included in the NIPAS Law. These areas are slope of 50 percent and over, and more than 1,000 meter above sea level. These are fragile and vulnerable to the impact of human activities; various forms & resource extraction have it wanting equal attention, conservation and sustainable development and immediate rehabilitation. These areas
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are prominent in the mountain area of Libacao and Madalag with an estimated total area of 71.60 sq. kms.

Areas Prone to Natural Hazard

Areas subject to Earthquake Hazard.

Earthquake prone areas are

usually those areas along tectonic plate margin and active faults. The municipality of Libacao is subjected to seismic hazard because of the presence of Timbaban Faults. The Buruanga Peninsula including

Boracay island is also directly affected by two splays of Tablas Fault.

Tablas Fault is among the active fault lines that have historic records of movement and field evidence of renewed activity. Hazards posed by earthquakes are ground shaking, liquefaction, landslides, ground rupture and tsunami.

Areas Prone to Tsunami. Tsunamis are giant sea waves generated mostly by submarine earthquake. Tsunami only occurs when the

earthquake is shallow-seated and strong enough to displace parts of the seabed and disturb the mass of water over it.

Historical record shows that the 1925 earthquake occurred offshore of Aklan, and considered with the trace of Tablas Fault. Aklans ten

coastal municipalities of Batan, New Washington, Kalibo, Numancia, Makato, Tangalan, Ibajay, Nabas, Malay and Buruanga including the Island of Boracay are Tsunami potential although it is assumed to be only locally-generated. Submarine earthquake, landslides and volcanic eruption contribute to this type of hazard.

Areas Prone to Liquefaction. Liquefaction is a process whereby firm clay, free sand and silts can become liquefied and either flow as a fluid, or cause objects which they have been supporting to sink. It is an earthquake-induced hazard.

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The municipality of Kalibo, portion of Malay and Buruanga and Banga are identified to be prone to liquefaction. Coastal areas and flood

plains which are underlain by loosely compacted sediments are highly prone to liquefaction.

Areas subject to Flooding. Floods a usually attributed to overflowing of river due to excessive run-off coupled with bad channel characteristics such as steep slopes and poor drainage capacity of the river system.

The flood plain in Aklan, where Aklan River runs, is relatively narrow compared to other major flood plain in the region. The flood plains has an area of approximately 169 km2 covering the towns of Kalibo, Banga, Libacao, Madalag, Balete, Numancia, Lezo, New Washington, Tangalan and Makato.

However, the recent Typhoon Frank that hit the province on June 21. 2008 triggered the catastrophic floods which also submerged the municipality of Kalibo and poblacions of Ibajay, Malinao, Banga, Libacao, Madalag and Numancia.

Coastal Zone. Coastal zone are areas 1 linear km inner boundary reckoning from the highest tide point of the shoreline except at places where recognizable indicator of marine influences exist like mangrove, beaches, sand deposits, margin of bays, salt beds and delta tics deposits in which case, the one-kilometer distance shall be reckoned from the edges of such features. The mainland coastal or shoreline areas start from the western part of Pucio Point at Buruanga and running easterly to Mambuquiao Bay in Batan. The coastal water

includes the shoreline facing the Cuyo East Pass in the west and Sibuyan Sea on the east coast.

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Other Environmentally-Constrained Area

Severe erosion occurs mostly on marginal land devoid to vegetation cover, along river banks and coastal areas. Out of the 17

municipalities of the province, Nabas is the most severely eroded area, followed by Altavas and Balete, Madalag and Libacao.

Network (NPAAD)

of

Protected

Areas

for

Agricultural

Development

These are areas wherein some agricultural lands are protected against any form of irreversible conversion such as for urban uses. It covers all irrigated areas, all irrigable lands covered by irrigation projects, and all alluvial plains. Land identified as Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development Zone areas in the 17 municipalities of the province are areas with 6-8 percent slope highly suitable agricultural lands for sustainable food production.

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4. 4.1

ECONOMY Economic Structure

4.1.1 External Context of the Local Economy The 2000 Family Income and Expenditures Survey (FIES) showed that Aklans total family income accounted for only P8,266 Million out of the regional income of P114,428 Million. Aklan was fifth in terms of total family income with Guimaras occupying the last slot. Negros Occidental was the top earner for the region with P43,604 Million followed by Iloilo with P40,601 Million.

In the region, other services industries accounted for 39.35 percent of the total family income, followed by other sources not defined with 27.46 percent, while agriculture accounted for 18.48 percent

The same trend could be observed in Aklan with other services industries having the highest share with 2.86 percent, other sources not defined with 2.05 percent, and agriculture with 1.16 percent.

Aklans total income share was 7.22 percent ranking fifth with Capiz in the fourth place with a margin of just 0.10 percent. Negros Occidental and Iloilo had a combined share of 73.59 percent. Figure 2 Overall Distribution of the Regional Economy
Negros Occ., 38.11%

Iloilo, 35.48%

Guimaras, 1.82% Capiz, 10.05% Antique, 7.32% Aklan, 7.22%

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Table 11 Total family Income by Household Head, by Kind of Business/Industry, 2000 (in Million Pesos)
Kind of Business/Industry Community Recreational & Personal Services Mining and Quarrying Wholesale and Retail Province Agriculture Other Service Industries Total Not Defined 2,350.2 3,196.2 2,719.2 647.5 13,542.7 9,528.7 31,984.6

Transpo, Storage/ Communication Services

Manufacturing

Aklan Antique Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Negros Occ. Region VI

1,336.5 1,959.1 2491.3 182.8 4,894.6 10,285.0 21,149.3

697.1 614.0 574.9 231.1 3,563.5 2,811.3 8,492.0

155.1 27.0 99.1 14.2 750.4 622.2 1677.1

251.9 57.7 279.4 0.00 852.2 1,239.9 2,681.0

181.1 94.3 468.2 51.8 1276.7 822.8 2,894.9

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 26.7 10.5 37.2

Construction 22.9 0.00 0.00 8.7 309.8 148.2 489.6

3,271.1 2,433.0 4,857.0 950.7 15,375.3 18,135.4 45,022.6

8,265.9 8,381.3 11,489.2 2,087.00 40,600.9 43,604.2 114,428.4

Source: NSO FIES Survey 2000

Table 12 Joint Probability: Shares of Family Income (%) by Household Head, by Kind of Business/Industry, 2000
Kind of Business/Industry Manufacturing Agriculture Mining and Quarrying Wholesale and Retail Not Defined Province Other Service Industries Transpo, Storage/ Communicati on Services Construction Community Recreational & Personal Services Total

Aklan Antique Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Negros Occ. Region VI

1.16 1.71 2.18 0.16 4.28 8.99 18.48

0.61 0.54 0.50 0.20 3.11 2.46 7.42

0.14 0.02 0.09 0.01 0.66 0.54 1.46

0.22 0.05 0.24 0.00 0.75 1.08 2.34

0.16 0.08 0.41 0.04 1.12 0.72 3

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.01 0.03

0.02 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.27 0.13 0.432

2.86 2.13 4.25 0.83 13.43 15.85 39.35

2.05 2.79 2.38 0.57 11.84 8.33 27.96

7.22 7.32 10.05 1.82 35.48 38.48 38.11

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4.1.2 Distribution Pattern of Industry: Concentration and Specialization

a.

In terms of total family income by kind of business/industry in the province, the highest was in community, recreational, and personal services (9.39 percent), manufacturing (9.25 percent), and agriculture (6.32 percent). Aklan is the location of the world famous Boracay Island, the top island tourists destination. The province ranked fourth in community, recreational and personal services among the six provinces in the region in 2000.

b.

Among the industries, Negros Occidental had the highest income from agriculture with 48.6 percent of the regional income while Aklan ranked fifth in this category. Iloilo as the regional economic center ranked first in wholesale and retail,

transportation, storage and communication services, mining and quarrying, and construction. Aklan ranked third in wholesale and retail, manufacturing, community recreational and personal services, and construction and ranked fourth and fifth in other categories.

Table 13 Concentration: Total Family Income (%) by Household Head, by kind of Business/Industry, 2000
Kind of Business/Industry Manufacturing Agriculture Mining and Quarrying Wholesale and Retail Cons truction Not Defined 7.35 9.99 8.5 2.03 42.34 29.79 100.0 Province Other Service Industries 7.27 5.40 10.79 2.11 34.15 40.28 100.0 Transpo, Storage/ Communicati on 6.26 3.26 16.17 1.79 44.10 28.42 100.0 Community Recreational & Personal Services 9.39 2.16 10.42 0.00 31.78 46.25 100.0

Aklan Antique Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Negros Occ. Region VI

6.32 9.26 11.78 0.86 23.15 48.53 100.0

8.21 7.23 6.77 2.72 41.96 33.11 100.0

9.25 1.61 5.91 0.85 45.28 37.10 100.0

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 71.74 28.26 100.0

4.67 0.00 0.00 1.77 63.28 30.28 100.0

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Table 14 Specialization: Total Family Income (%) by Household head, by Kind of Business/Industry, 2000
Kind of Business/Industry Community Recreational & Personal Services Mining and Quarrying Wholesale and Retail Province Agriculture Other Service Industries Total Not Defined 28.43 38.13 23.67 31.04 33.36 21.85

Transpo, Storage/ Communication Services

Manufacturing

Aklan Antique Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Negros Occ.

16.17 23.38 21.68 8.76 12.06 2.59

8.43 7.33 5.00 11.07 8.78 6.45

1.87 0.32 0.86 0.69 1.87 1.43

3.05 0.69 2.43 0.00 2.10 2.84

2.19 1.13 4.08 2.46 3.14 1.89

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.02

Construction 0.29 0.00 0.00 0.42 0.76 0.34

39.57 29.02 42.28 45.56 37.86 41.59

100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

Figure 3 .Community, Recreation & Personal Services: Shares of Total Family Income by HH Head Business/Industry, Region VI, 2000
Negros Occ. Iloilo Guimaras Capiz Antique Aklan 0 2.16 9.39 10 20 30 40 50 0 10.45 31.78 46.25

In industry specialization, Aklans highest was in other services industries (39.57 percent), followed by other services not defined (28.43 percent), and agriculture (16.17 percent). Among the provinces, Aklans 3.05 percent in community recreational and personal services was the highest in the region so with manufacturing with 1.87 percent.

In both industry concentration and specialization, service sector dominates the provincial economy. With a thriving tourism industry, this

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56

scenario is not surprising considering that it is a service-oriented industry. Figure 4 Specialization: Aklan Shares of Total Family Income by HH Head Business/Industry 2000
45 39.57 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 8.43 1.87 3.05 2.19 0 0.29 16.17 28.43

e r u t l u c i r g A

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Aklan is well represented in industry sectors of manufacturing (1.33 percent), community, recreational and personal services (1.30 percent), and wholesale and retail (1.43 percent) while it is underrepresented in agriculture (0.87 percent), transportation, storage and communication services.

At the regional level Negros Occidental was top in agriculture with 1.28 percent. For wholesale and retail the provinces of Guimaras (1.48 percent) and Iloilo (1.18 percent) were the leading provinces. The Province of Iloilo was leading in transportation, storage and communication services (1.25 percent), mining and quarrying (1.89 percent) and construction (1.77 percent).

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Table 15 Location Quotients: Total Family Income (%) by Household head, by kind of Business/Industry, 2000
Kind of Business/Industry Community Transpo, Mining Recreationa Storage/ and l & Personal CommuQuarryServices nication ing Services 1.30 0.29 1.02 0.00 0.90 1.21 0.88 0.43 1.61 0.87 1.25 0.75 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.89 0.88

Province

Agriculture

Whole -sale and Retail 1.14 0.99 0.72 1.48 1.18 0.87

Manufacturing

Construction

Other Service Industries

Not Defined

Aklan Antique Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Negros Occ.

0.87 1.26 1.17 0.48 0.65 1.28

1.33 0.19 0.61 0.38 1.27 0.97

0.65 0.00 0.00 1.28 1.77 0.79

0.01 0.74 1.07 1.16 0.96 1.06

1.02 1.36 0.85 1.12 1.19 0.78

4.1.3 Basic Sectors and Industries

The economy of the province is growing over the past three years. In 2005, business name registration posted a growth rate of 48.3 percent with 1,139 compared with 768 in 2004. Though the Province ranked third in terms of registered establishments in 2004 and 2005 in Western Visayas, it ranked first in terms of growth rate. In year 2006, the province managed a slight increase of two percent, the only province with a positive growth rate when the other five provinces in the region had negative growth rate. Aklans booming tourism industry was a major factor for the investments positive growth. The value of investments generated for 2006 was P912 Million, nearly double compared to the 2005 figures of P502 Million or a growth rate of 82 percent The Province ranked number one in growth rate but the value of investments generated for that year made Aklan number four in Region VI. In Western Visayas, Negros Occidental had the highest value of investment, followed by Iloilo and Capiz. In 2006, Aklan had the highest growth rate of 81.7 percent in the region, but it remained fourth in the value of investments. This could mean that most businesses were in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) category. It must also be noted that most investments were spurred by the tourism industry in Boracay, wherein, there is continuous development of hotels
Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan 58

and resorts and other service-oriented businesses such as bars and restaurants, eatery and refreshment shops, boutique and souvenir shops, and sari-sari stores among others.

Agriculture The gross value of agricultural production at current prices summed up to P4.75 billion in 2005 or a growth rate of 4.75 percent from the 2004 output of P4.14 billion. In 2006, the total value of production increased to P4.83 billion or a growth rate of 1.64 percent from 2005 despite the disastrous effects of typhoon Seniang in the fourth quarter.

The recorded gross earnings for 2006 from the crops sub sector was P2.41billion, which was 11.12 percent lower than the previous years outputs. Slowing of palay production resulted to a 13.77 percent decrease on its value of production. The same was true with coconut and banana that experienced a negative growth .Though banana achieved a high growth rate of 77.87 percent in 20005 compared to 2004, it has a negative growth rate of 13.13 percent in 2006. Coconut which was among the top three agricultural crops in the province experienced a setback in 2005 (-15.83 percent) and 2006 (-9.84 percent). The most promising crop is abaca as it grew from P13.6 Million in 2004 to P18.29 Million in 2005 and P26.53 Million in 2006. With its vast potential and growing market demand, the Provincial Government is extending financial assistance by granting interest free loan to abaca farmers with a target of additional 500 hectares planted with abaca by 2010 in upland areas of Libacao, Balete, Banga, Madalag, Ibajay and Malinao.

The livestock subsector grossed P984.47 million in 2006 at current prices and posted a16.43 percent increased earnings. With higher production and prices, cattle posted a steady increase of 21.70 percent in 2005 and 27.70 percent in 2006. The gross value of hog production is up by 14.32 percent in 2006. With higher production and price

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increase, the value of goat production expanded by 2.06 percent. Carabao production output was valued at 1.94 percent higher in 2006

The poultry sub-sector grossed P389 million in 2006 at current prices or 2.37 percent higher than the previous years record. The gross value of chicken production went up by 1.83 percent while the duck soared by 6.79 percent Gross earnings from chicken and duck eggs expanded by 4.47 percent and 5.15 percent respectively.

The Fishery sub-sector earned a gross value of production amounting to P1.06 billion in 2006, a 28.03 percent increase from 2005 gross earnings. All components of the fishery sector achieved a positive increase in gross receipt. The biggest gain was posted by municipal fisheries, which grossed 31.31 percent more because of higher production and prices obtained during the year. The same was true for aquaculture with a 12.75 percent surge in gross earnings. Commercial fisheries accounted for 2.36 percent increase in its value of production.

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Agriculture-based Processing Industries

Aklans agri-based processing industries are mostly under the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) categories. These industries are assisted by the Department of Trade and Industry with loom weaving and food processing as Priorities 1 and 2. Furniture, gifts

and housewares are Priorities 3 and 4. Food processing includes meat and deboned bangus processing, confectioneries, bakeries, and seaweeds production. Total incremental employment figures in the last five years (2001-2005) reached 5,768 where the highest was observed in 2002 with 1,301 additional employments generated.

Loom weaving/fiber-based industries are found in 13 municipalities (Kalibo, Banga, Balete, Libacao, Altavas, Numancia, Tangalan, Makato, Lezo, Madalag, New Washington, Malinao, Ibajay and Malay with Kalibo as the center of weaving and Libacao, Madalag, Makato, and Ibajay as the sources of abaca fibers. Raffia fiber extraction is concentrated in Batan. The main products of loom weaving/fiber-based industries are abaca/ pia/raffia fibers and cloths, bags, fashion accessories, holiday decors and nitocrafts.

The domestic sales for these industries continue to post growths for 2004 -2006 at an annual average sale of P158 Million for the 3-year period. The food processing and loom weaving sectors contributed more than 85% to the sales generated. The local markets are Manila, Laguna, Western Visayas, Cebu and Davao.

The export performance for 2001 to 2005 was $2.087 million with an average of $417,500 for a five year period. The highest was in 2003 with $515,400 and the lowest was in 2004 with $336,800. The present international markets are Japan, US and France.

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There are major concerns that must be addressed for the agri-based industries to expand and be more competitive. The common problems are:

Quality control is relatively difficult for home-based industries and industry-wide standards are not enforced by some companies

Limited marketing activities and promotional efforts to attract domestic and foreign buyers

Dearth of technical experts on fabric constructions for loom weaving sector

Competitors from other provinces have industrial equipments Lack of common services facilities for cold storage, packaging and labeling and AAA Abattoir for processed food

Insufficient technical skills , inadequate basic tools and equipments and lack of facilities like kiln dryers, spray booth, etc. for furniture industry

Inadequate materials on market trends and limited production volume for gifts and housewares sector

Though e-commerce facilities are available, most entrepreneurs are not technically equipped for this marketing strategy.

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Tourism

Tourism is a major driver of Aklans economy. Boracay Island was promoted as a major tourist destination in the country in early 80s. Since then, influx of of visitors continue to grow. The estimated tourism receipts of P3.3 billion in 1999 has more than doubled with P9.5 billion in 2006 showing a 188 percent increase. The total tourism receipts generated for that period amounting to P51.13 billion is equivalent to 38 percent of the total regional output of P131.75 billion.

Being one of the worlds favorite tourist destination and among the eight popular beach destination in the world, Boracay is continuously becoming a haven for both domestic and foreign tourists. Foreign tourists comprise 30percent of the visitors in Boracay. Between 1999 and 2006, growth rate of foreign tourists averaged 15 percent per annum. This represented 61percent of the total foreign visitors in the region.

Aklan is the anchor of tourism industry in Region VI with 37percent share of visitors followed by Iloilo with 26 percent and Negros Occidental with 19 percent. Antique has the least share of visitors with 1.7 percent and Capiz with 2.3percent.

Despite the positive growth of the tourism industry, several issues must be addressed; Boracay being and island has fragile ecosystem and unregulated development will lead to unrepairable damages and encroachment in protected areas Better institutional linkages and cooperation among stakeholders in preserving the natural beauty of the island Better promotional packages of rival destinations Promotion of other tourists attractions in the province to spread the economic gains in other areas other than Boracay.
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4.2. Industries with Potentials for Contributing to Economic Growth

4.2.1 Industries with Competitive Advantages

Tourism

In 2006, Aklan, along with Palawan, Laguna and Cebu are the top tourist destinations in the country. In comparison with other provinces in the region, Negros and Iloilo are considered Aklans closest competitors. Negros is known for its adventure destinations like Mt. Kanlaon and Mambukal Hot Springs, the Maskara Festivals and delicacies. Iloilo on the other hand is famous for its old churches, sumptuous delicacies and the Dinagyang Festival.

The tourists arrivals in Boracay continue to record a positive growth. From 181,813 in 1999 it increased to 634,263 to 2008. The domestic tourists registered an average growth rate of 15.10 percent while the foreign tourists grew at an average of 15.72 percent. This booming tourism industry made Boracay as a good source of revenue for the government. More than 40 percent of the total revenue collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Aklan is from the island. As of 2006, there are 2,096 business establishments in the island such as hotels and resorts, restaurants, diving shops, etc.

While Boracay is well promoted world-wide, other tourists spots in the province are left behind. Other areas adjacent to Boracay have potentials as eco-tourism destination, in the offing for development. The expansion of tourism sites will spread the development in other municipalities of the Province. Moreover, to achieve the target of one million tourists by 2013, to accommodate the growing tourists arrivals, and to maintain its position as the anchor of tourism industry in the region, several concerns must be addressed.

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Key requirements Improvement of transportation facilities like roads, ports and airports; Well developed promotional and marketing strategies; Improved accommodation facilities for emerging and alternative tourism sites; Proposed investment priority projects:

a. Improvement of Caticlan Airport and Kalibo Airport to accommodate direct international flights; b. Improvement and expansion of Caticlan Jetty Port c. Construction of Marina Project and Wellness Center in Caticlan; d. Improvement of roads leading to emerging eco-tourism sites; e. Improvement of tourism facilities in Kalibo, Tangalan, Ibajay, Nabas, Buruanga and mainland Malay Aquaculture

Aquaculture production in the province of Aklan has been increasing from 2004, 2005 and 2006 with 9,719.3 MT, 10,252.12 MT and 10,216.06 MT, respectively. The 2006 production is about 7.7 percent of the total aquaculture production in the region and ranked fifth among the provinces in the region. The value of production was P693.4 Million for the same year. Aquaculture production in Aklan includes bangus and prawn. Other minor production includes tilapia and fish cage grouper. The municipalities of New Washington, Batan and Makato are the top producers in aquaculture. Other municipalities with fishpond areas are Ibajay, Balete, Kalibo and Numancia. Considering that eleven out of seventeen municipalities in the province are coastal, there are potential areas for expansion.
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While the aquaculture production of the province is less than 10 percent of the regions total production, its market is expanding with an increasing demand for these products in Boracay, Manila and Iloilo.

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Key Requirements

Development of areas suitable for fishpond development Adoption of appropriate technology for production enhancement Availability of good stock of fingerlings

(Insert Map of fishpond areas)

Proposed Priority Projects Establishment of hatchery Financial Assistance to fishpond operators Expansion of tilapia culture and propagation of panggasius

4.2.2 Declining Industry

Palay Production

Palay production is the leading agricultural sector in the provinces economy. Palay production of Aklan in year 2005, 2006 and 2007 was 150,432 MT, 136,155 MT and 141,524 MT, respectively. Although palay is the leading agricultural product of the province, its production has been declining for three consecutive years. In terms of area planted to palay, the municipalities of Libacao, Ibajay and New Washington exhibited the largest area with 1,867 ha, 1,574 ha, and 1,421 ha, respectively. However, the Municipality of Lezo showed the highest yield of 3.4 MT per hectare or 3.3 percent above the provincial average yield of 3.29 MT. Palay production employs locally sourced labor. On a hectare basis, one cropping system of palay employs at least 15 laborers composed of

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seasonal laborers and some are members of the household. There is sufficient supply of local laborer for palay in the province. In comparison with other provinces in the Region, Aklan ranks fifth in palay production with 7.10 percent share of the total palay production for Western Visayas in 2007. The Province of Iloilo accounts for 41.33 percent of the total regional palay production. In terms of yield, in 2007, Aklans yield exhibited the highest with 3.29 MT per hectare as compared with the 3.31 MT regional average yields of rice per hectare. The data on employment on agriculture sector from 2000 to 2002 has been declining. From 42 percent employment rate in 2000 it was recorded at 32.4 percent in 2002. One of the major obstacles that limit the palay production in the province is the high cost of production. Prices of fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and even the good seeds are increasing. Another factor that limits the expansion of rice production is the small landholding of the farmers. Small land area limits the potentials of the production of rice. Lack of irrigation system has also been identified as a key constraint in palay production efficiency. Key requirements Subsidized price of farm inputs such as pesticides, fertilizers Provision of post harvest facilities Rehabilitation and expansion of area of coverage of irrigation facilities Availability of good seeds

Proposed Investment Projects Construction of Aklan River Irrigation System (ARIS) Rice Hybridization Capital Assistance to Farmers

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4.3

Local Factors

Physical Resources The Province of Aklan is blessed with bountiful natural resources such as vast tract of land with rich and fertile soil that is suitable for production of palay, pineapple, mango, etc. abundant water resources such as rivers and streams that are possible sources of irrigation water and even electric power. The province has swampy areas that are potential for fishponds expansion. Aklan is among the countrys top abaca producer with plantations mostly located in the municipalities of Libacao, Balete, Makato, Ibajay, Madalag, and Malinao.

Our beaches located in the western side of Aklan specifically in Nabas, Tangalan, Malay and Buruanga are among the best in the world and suitable for tourism development.

Human Resources The province has also enough human resources that can provide technical assistance to farmers. There are vast rice technology practices available that can be provided by government, nongovernment organizations and even educational institutions. The expanding tourism industry has provided employment opportunities specifically the service-oriented jobs. Local university and colleges are now offering courses that will provide the locals the necessary skills needed by the industry.

Knowledge Resources The leading academic institution in the province is Aklan State University. Its main campus in Banga and several campuses

throughout the province provided the much needed manpower skills and technological breakthroughs. Other academic institutions are

Garcia College of Technology, Aklan College, Northwestern Visayan Colleges, and six special vocational schools and five technical schools under the supervision of TESDA.
Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan 73

The industries are assisted by government agencies for skills development technology upgrading, product diversification, marketing strategies and quality control.

Access to information technology such as the internet was facilitated by major telecommunication companies such as Globe Telecom and Smart Communications. Other providers such as Bayantel is also

present in the Province. Internet cafes are found in the capital town of Kalibo and in the capital barangays of other municipalities.

Capital Resources Several banking and financial institutions are also present in the province Presently, the province has16 commercial banks, 1 thrift bank and 21 Rural Banks which are located in most Poblaciones of the municipalities. These commercial banks are located in Kalibo, Caticlan and Boracay. Aside from banks, there are several financial intermediaries in Kalibo. Automated Teller machines (ATM) are also available in Kalibo and Boracay.

Infrastructure Resources Infrastructure developments like the expansion of Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Caticlan, Malay and the upgrading of Kalibo Airport will further improve the tourism industry. Kalibo Airport can now accommodate direct flights from other Asian countries. The RORO facilities have also provided easy and cheap access to transportation that further open the tourism market to local tourists. In the pipeline is the MARINA project in Caticlan and Boracay. This project is estimated to cost P500 Million and will involve land reclamation, pier expansion, building of 100-room hotel and wellness center and the construction of a cable car transport system. The upgraded and new facilities will enhance the competitiveness of the tourism industry as it will be promoted not just for recreation but will tap the market for medical tourism and high-end clients. The province is also promoting other ecoProvincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan 74

tourism sites that will serve as alternative tourist destinations to Boracay.

Much improved communication facilities have opened them to ecommerce transactions that will result to efficient and easy business dealings. Strong Republic Nautical Highway made the transport of products much cheaper and easier.

4.4

Summary

4.4.1 Economic Structure

The top three industries of Aklan in terms of contribution to regional industry were identified as: community, recreational and personal services (9.39 percent), manufacturing (9.25 percent) and agriculture (6.32 percent).

In industry specialization, Aklans highest was in other service industries with 39.57 percent and ranked fourth in this category in the region.

4.4.2 Industries with Best and Declining Potentials

Tourism is considered the industry with best potential with Boracay Island as the center of tourism growth. With growing demand, aquaculture enjoyed an increased production output.

In agriculture, palay has the highest value of production though its output has been declining for three consecutive years.

4.4.3 Local factors Aklan has rich natural resources like lands suitable for agricultural production. The water resources such are rivers are suitable for
Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan Province of Aklan 75

irrigation and electric facilities. The swamps are suitable for aquaculture and the beaches are potentials for tourism development. The province has enough well trained human resources that can provide for the demand of industry development. There are state universities and private educational institutions that will provide the much needed skills for the growth of the economy. Several telecommunications companies provide the much needed

communication facilities especially in information technology. There are 16 commercial banks, 1 thrift bank and 21 rural banks in the province. Automated teller machines can be accessed in Kalibo and Boracay. Improvement of transport facilities such as the upgrading of Caticlan Airport and Kalibo Airport will further improve the tourism industry. RORO facilities provide easy and cheap transport of commodities.

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5.

TRANSPORTATION, ACCESS AND CIRCULATION

5.1

External linkages

5.1.1 Description of External Linkages

Aklan is so strategically located right in the middle of the Philippine archipelago that it is easily accessible through land, air and water routes.

Access through Land. Traveling by land, Aklan is accessible through private-owned and public utility vehicles like inter-provincial buses and vans, which ply the regional route of Western Visayas. Considering normal road conditions, Kalibo, the capital town of Aklan, is about four hours from the regional hub of Iloilo City, one and a half hours from Roxas City, and four hours from San Jose, Antique. Caticlan in Malay, which is the jump-off point to Boracay Island, is approximately one and a half hours trip from Kalibo.

The road from Bagumbayan in Buruanga, west of Aklan, leading to the boundary at Libertad in Antique, is a national highway made up of gravel. San Jose, the capital town of Antique, which is accessible through this route, is 123 kilometers away from Poblacion, Malay, Aklan, where both of the Caticlan Jetty Port and the Caticlan Airport are located. The Caticlan airport is now internationally known as the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, are found.

The Province of Antique is likewise accessible through another route from Aklan province, that is, by passing through the Aklan-Antique boundary in Solido, Nabas and Pandan, Antique, the latter being 46.326 km away from Kalibo to the boundary, and 71 km from Kalibo to Pandan in Antique.

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Buruanga is the entry and exit point in Aklan in the west while Altavas serves as entry and exit point in the east of the province. The national road in Barangay Cabangila, Altavas, east of Aklan, leading to the boundary in Barangay Damayan, Sapian, Capiz, which is 47.205 km. from Kalibo, is currently being concreted. Known as the Aklan East Road Project, it is 86 percent accomplished as of September 8, 2008. Another road links Barangay Tibiao, Altavas, Aklan to Barangay Lucero, Jamindan, Capiz, which is 48.550 km. away from Kalibo at the boundary.

Access through Water. As part of Panay Island which is surrounded by coastal waters, Aklan is accessible by sea. When traveling by sea, Caticlan in Malay, Aklan may be reached by ship in 14 hours from

Manila; Dumaguit in New Washington is accessible in 15 hours from Manila. Aklan has seven functional sea ports:

The Dumaguit Port in Barangay Dumaguit, New Washington, now classified as a national port under the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) supervision

Caticlan Jetty Port in Barangay Caticlan, Malay, is already considered as one of the busiest port in the country due to Roll-On-Roll-off operations

Cagban Jetty Port in Barangay Manoc-manoc in Boracay Island, Malay under the supervision and control of Provincial Government of Aklan. The world-famous Island of Boracay is reachable by 15 minutes on motorized bancas and other light crafts from the mainland.

New Washington Port in Barangay Poblacion, New Washington, a municipal port used by commercial and cargo vessels; Batan Port in Batan, the Colong-colong Port in Ibajay and Alegria Port in Buruanga are all municipal ports.

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While Malay remains to be the entry/exit point whether by land or by sea to the north of the country, New Washington serves the same purpose. It is worthy to note that Aklan still has no direct sea travel link with the Central Visayas and the Mindanao regions. As yet, passengers from Aklan bound for the southern part of the country shall have to pass through Iloilo Citys ports.

Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH). The SRNH is a priority project of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo which makes use of the Roll-on-Roll-off (RORO) services that combine land and inter-modal trunk routes to connect all the major economic centers of the Philippine archipelago through innovative, efficient and affordable means. It has 22 links involving 41 sea ports, among which is the Caticlan Jetty Port in Malay, Aklan.

Aklan is part of the SRNH route which covers 919 kilometers of land travel and 137 nautical miles of sea travel interconnecting 17 provinces and cities, namely: Oriental Mindoro, Tagaytay/Cavite, Marinduque, Romblon, and Batangas in Luzon; Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Capiz, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras and Siquijor in the Visayas, and Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte and Dapitan City in Mindanao.

All the Poblacion of the 17 municipalities of Aklan are well connected with that main highway.

Access through Air. Aklan has two airports that connect the province nationally and internationally.

The Kalibo International Airport in Pook, Kalibo serves as the premier entrance via air from Manila and other key cities within and outside the Philippines. It was used to be known as the Kalibo Airport and now officially known as the Kalibo International Airport, with the effectivity of Republic Act No. 9497 which created the Civil Aviation Authority of the
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Philippines (CAAP). Its key destinations are Manila-Kalibo-Manila and Taipei-Kalibo-Taipei, with two trips per day every Wednesday and Saturday of the week. It can accommodate An Airbus with 180 passengers and the B737, with 170 passengers. Its average aircraft traffic is four times daily while average passenger traffic is 400 persons daily.

The Godofredo P Ramos (GPR) Airport, used to be the Caticlan Airport, located in Caticlan in Malay, Aklan, is considered as principal class 2 airport by CAAP standards. It is located approximately 66 km northeast of Kalibo and serves key destinations such as Manila, Mactan in Cebu, and Clark in Pampanga. Usual types of aircraft that use the base are those that can accommodate 19 to 50 passengers. The GPR Airport is an important gateway to Boracay Island. It has ATS/ANS facility that contributed to the fast and consistent surging of air traffic.

5.1.2 Linkages and/or Facilities that should be given High Priority for Improvement

Improvement of Godofredo P. Ramos Airport Terminal Building and Runway

The terminal building of the GPR Airport in Caticlan, constructed and utilized in 2005, is not adequate to accommodate the daily volume of passengers coming in and going out of the area. By 2009, only one half of the total number of passengers can be efficiently accommodated due to airport congestion, both in the ramp and terminal building area. The 7,500 square meters ramp of the airport has to accommodate at least 15 light to medium aircrafts during peak hours resulting in congestion of average of 500 passengers in the terminal area.,

The runway is likewise too short for landing/take-off, considering the type of aircrafts currently using the facility. (DO328, BAe146,
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Bombardier (Q300), and ATR72. Already, aircraft accidents were associated with this physical limitation. The fast-paced boom of Boracay demands that the operational needs of the passengers, personnel and facilities be addressed within a reasonable period of time; otherwise, airport safety, efficiency and daily operations shall be jeopardized.

A medium term development plan has been proposed for this purpose, covering the period 2009-2013. The proposed BOT project for Godofredo P. Ramos Airport is on negotiation process.

Rehabilitation of Panay Railway

On July 1, 2008 Governor Carlito S. Marquez was requested to endorse the Panay Railway Rehabilitation Project, by the project funder, the China Shenyang International Economic and Technical Corporation.

Panay Railways, which operated until the late 1980s, is being proposed for rehabilitation and revival of its operation. This 117-km line, starting from Iloilo City and ending at Roxas City, traverses the whole island of Panay in a northeastern direction connecting the major economic hubs of Panay.

The proposed rehabilitation project also includes an extension to Kalibo and Caticlan (Phase 2) and the integration of the railway line with the New Iloilo Airport of International Standard in Sta. Barbara, the Roxas Airport, the Kalibo International Airport and ends on Godofredo P. Ramos Airport. This will provide locals and foreigners alike an easier access to Boracay, a world-class tourist destination. The railway system will result into economic development along the countryside, hence, further decongesting the major cities. Furthermore, its socioeconomic benefits will translate into the improvement of the standard of

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living of the islands general populace and a sound development of tourism.

Complete rehabilitation-reconstruction of the tracks, bridges and stations is necessary to enable the operation of the system. Since the line ceased operation in the mid-80s little or no maintenance work has been done on these structures. Throughout the alignment, the supporting sub-base of the tracks has shown eroded condition. In addition, most of the track elements are either in deteriorated condition or have been stolen. Inspection works have also shown that some stations are generally in good structural condition but would require some architectural works.

Once the railways is completed until Caticlan Tourist can reach Boracay through all four airports on the island in comfortable and airconditioned double deck coaches with a snack bar in each train and a nice view of the landscape. Access to Caticlan jetty port will be between 145 minutes from Iloilo International airport and 40 minutes from Kalibo.

This enables the establishing of charter flights to Boracay via Kalibo international airport from planes like Boeing 737 or Airbus 320 type any further investment in the expansion of Godofredo P. Ramos Airport . Caticlan airport can be used for small aircrafts and general aviation.

5.2

Internal Circulation

5.2.1 Description of Internal Circulation Routes

Road

National roads are maintained by the DPWH, while the provincial roads are generally maintained by the PEO. The municipal and barangay roads are maintained by their respective local governments. Roads
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maintenance is funded by the local government units concerned from various sources.

In 2007, Aklan has a road network totaling 456.54 kilometers, of which 161.059 km are officially classified as national (arterial) roads; and, 295.481 kilometers are categorized as provincial (sub-arterial or secondary) roads. Half of the provincial roads are still classified as gravel (50 percent), while 47 percent are now concreted, and 3 percent are asphalted.

As of 2007, almost half of the existing national roads in the province have been concreted (49 percent), less than half (41 percent) asphalted, with the remaining ten percent classified as gravel.

Figure 5 Roads by Surface Type

Source: DPWH Aklan

Source: PEO-Aklan

Tricycles are the main means of transportation within the town proper of Kalibo and the adjacent municipalities. In most parts of the province, public utility jeepneys and mini-buses are being used as the main mode of land transport from one municipality to another. Bus lines are likewise available to provide inter-province land transportation in the Island of Panay. There are also colorful jeepneys, air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses, vans, tricycles, and even motorbikes covering specific routes, which have designated terminals.
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Using the 1km/1000 population index as standard, it is evident that the total provincial road network of 456.540 km is adequate for total provincial population of 495,222 in 2007, notwithstanding the other municipal and barangay roads which were not included in the total provincial road network figure of 2008 herein cited.

Bridges

There are 79 bridges in Aklan with a total length of 2,803.78 linear meters. The longest and the oldest of these is the Kalibo-Numancia Bridge, a concrete bridge spanning 420 meters from end to end. It connects the capital town of Kalibo, not only to the neighboring municipality of Numancia, but to the rest of the municipalities in the western side of Aklan. Once damaged, no other alternative bridge is capable of handling the land traffic along this route.

5.2.2 Priority Internal Routes and Linkages that Need to be Improved

While all the town capitals have access to the national highway, some portions of the roads are still of gravel and need improvement. Many roads need rehabilitation and maintenance. Occasional natural calamities and heavy traffic, particularly those caused by trucks, contribute to the wear and tear of the road surface.

The priority internal routes and linkages that need to be improved are the concreting of Banga-Libacao road, concreting of Malinao-Madalag road, Re-Blocking/Asphalt overlaying of Numancia-Lezo road,

concreting of Tangalan-Jawili-Naisud road, rehabilitation of KaliboNumancia bridge, construction of Kalibo circumferential road,

construction of Kalibo bridge II and rehabilitation of Mobo bridge.

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5.2.3 Proposed New Routes and Transport Facilities

In the Feasibility Study undertaken by the DPWH, the construction of the Kalibo Circumferential Road was envisioned to function as an alternate road as well as a bypass or diversion road for Kalibo. The study showed that Kalibo was already experiencing road capacity problems resulting to traffic congestion. This was so since Kalibos road network is mainly confined in the town proper where the conurbation has been taking place.

The proposal requires the construction of 10.5 km of new roads and a major 522 meter bridge structure to be known as Kalibo Bridge II; while the 420 km--long existing Kalibo-Numancia Bridge shall have to be rehabilitated and widened from two to four lanes at a cost of Php 240.90 million.

The circumferential road starts at the East Section, from the Kalibo International Airport in Barangay Pook along the Kalibo New Washington Road up to the proposed Kalibo Bridge II in Barangay Tigayon, Kalibo, Aklan. The bridge shall connect the road to the West Section in Barangay Mina, Lezo, Aklan passing through Barangay Carugdog and reconnecting to the national highway in Barangay Cogon, Lezo, Aklan. This alternative route from the airport bypasses the town proper of the municipalities of Kalibo and Numancia which suffer heavy traffic due to the absence of another route.

Likewise, the Governor Carlito S. Marquez and Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores are proposing for the construction of a new parallel bridge as an alternative route bridge to the existing age-old Kalibo-Numancia Bridge.

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6.

INCOME, EMPLOYMENT, SERVICE ACCESS AND POVERTY

6.1

Employment/Unemployment

Aklans employment rate had increased from 87.7 percent in 2000 to 93.6 percent in 2003 at an average annual rate of 1.97 percent for the four-year period. Aklan ranked fifth in terms of employment in Region VI in 2000 but showed an improved standing, ranking second in 2003 with the province of Capiz as the consistent topnotcher. The provinces employment rate was higher than the regional figure of 91.3 percent in 2003.

While the employment rate increased, the unemployment rate decreased from 12.4 percent in 2000, the second highest in the region, to 6.4 percent in 2003. Again, Capiz had the lowest rate, followed by Aklan and Negros Occidental. Aklans unemployment rate in 2003 was also lower by 2.3 percent than the regions rate of 8.7percent

Table 16 Employment/Unemployment Rate, 2000-2003 Area Employment Rate 2000 Region VI Aklan Antique Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Negros Occidental 88.9 87.7 89.1 94.4 92.7 89.8 87.1 2001 88.7 89.7 86.6 94.2 89.6 86.6 90.0 Unemployment Rate 2003 8.7 6.4 17.7 5.5 9.2 11.1 7.0

2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 91.2 90.9 90.9 93.9 88.0 89.3 92.2 91.3 93.6 82.3 94.5 90.8 88.9 93.0 11.1 12.4 10.9 5.6 7.3 10.2 12.9 11.3 10.4 13.4 5.8 10.4 13.4 10.0 8.8 9.1 9.1 6.1 12.0 10.7 7.8

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6.2.

Family Income

The total family income of the Province of Aklan has grown from P5.7 billion in 1994 to P7.7 billion in 1997 and P8.6 billion in 2000. The 2000 total family income of the province was 0.39 percent share of the total family income of the Philippines and 6.48 percent of the total family income of Region VI. In the region, the province with highest total family income in 2000 was Iloilo, followed by Negros Occidental, Capiz, Antique, Aklan and Guimaras in that order. The annual average growth rate of Aklan from 1994 to 1997 was 12 percent but it slowed down to 3.6 percent from 1997 to 2000. The same was true for all the provinces in the region as the country was affected by the Asian economic slowdown in 1997.

Table 17a Total Family Income, Region VI, by Province 1994, 1997, 2000
Area 1994 Philippines Region VI Aklan Antique Capiz Iloilo Guimaras Negros Occ. 1,060,709,593 72,625,996 5,717,576 3,870,298 5,893,481 17,036,113 23,824,288 Total Family Income (000) 1997 1,748,060,769 108,460,218 7,779,360 8,161,827 12,394,520 24,317,609 1,827,289 31,586,381 2000 2,199,431,875 132,805,985 8,609,265 8,755,803 13,022,037 32,095,069 2,638,452 31,208,300 Annual Average Growth Rate (%) 199419971997 2000 21.6 8.6 16.4 12,0 37.0 36.8 14.2 10.7 7.5 3.6 2,4 1.7 10.7 14.8 (0.40)

Source: NSCB (RSET)

In terms of average annual family income, Aklan registered an increase of 24 percent in 1997 from its 1994 level with an annual average growth rate of 8percent The figures for the period 1997 to 2000 registered a lower growth of 14.08 percent or an average annual growth rate of 4.7percent Though the Province ranked fifth in the total family income, it ranked third in the average family income. Iloilo has
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the highest average family income followed by Guimaras. The 2000 average family income of the Philippines was P144, 039 or 30.87 percent higher than that of Aklan. The regional figure was P109, 600 or 9.15 percent higher than that of the province. Table 17b Average Family Income, Region VI, 1994, 1997, 2000 Area Average Family Income (000) 1994 1997 2000 Average Annual Growth Rate (%) 199419971997 2000 16.0 5.6 11.8 8.0 31.4 15.5 14.0 6.5 8.8 4.7 4.8 12.8 10.5 12.2 3.1

Philippines Region VI Aklan Antique Capiz Iloilo Guimaras Negros Occ

83,161 64,078 70,376 42,706 46,880 58,883 56,601

123,168 86,770 87,276 83,005 87,905 83,715 74,003 67,665

144,039 109,600 99,568 94,917 99,313 110,114 101,125 73,923

Meanwhile, the Real Per Capita Income in the Province declined in 2000. The Real Per Capita Income in 1994 was P14, 239.00, P16,806 in 1997 and only P13, 134 in 2000. For 1994 and 1997, Aklan ranked first in this category but in 2000, it slid down to fifth place. This would mean that the Aklanon families could buy less compared to families of four provinces in the region.

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Table 17c Real Per Capita Income/Province (1994,1997, 2000) Province Aklan Antique Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Negros Occ. Real Per Capita Income (in Php) 1994, 1997 & 2000 1994 Rank 1997 Rank 2000 Rank 14,239 1 16,806 1 13,134 5 9,289 9,399 12,070 12,071 12,256 6 5 4 3 2 16,718 15,206 14,440 15,678 12,320 2 4 5 6 6 16,304 13,706 16.072 11,723 11,723 2 4 3 1 6

Source: NSCB (CIF 2007)

6.3

Social Services

National Statistical Coordinating Board (NSCB) estimates that Human Development Index (HDI) in 2000 in all provinces in the country showed that Aklan ranked 42nd with HDI of 0.571 percent. In Region 1V, Iloilo province ranked 1st compared to the other provinces in the region, Aklan ranks 4th while Negros Occidental and Capiz has lower HDI percentage.

In terms of life expectancy NSCB record shows that Aklan has an average of 65.89 percent in 2000, compared to other provinces in region Vl. Aklan ranks 5th with Iloilo having the highest and Antique shows the lowest average of life expectancy.

6.3.1 Health

Hospital Bed-Population Ratio

Aklan has eight government and three private hospitals with a total bed capacity of 205 serving a total population of 495,122 as of 2007 with a ratio of 1:950. With a standard ratio of 1:500,the province still needs 469 hospital beds.

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Almost all the provinces in region V1 have an unmet need of bedpopulation ratio. The Province of Aklan is on the process of completing the requirements in upgrading the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital from second level to tertiary level hospital.

Doctor-Population Ratio

There are 62 doctors in eight government hospitals and 19 municipal health officers serving the 17 municipalities of the province or a total of 81 doctors serving the entire population of 495,122 of the province of Aklan as of 2007. The existing provincial doctor-population ratio is 1: 6113 compared with the national standard of 1:20,000 populations. Currently the existing doctors are more than enough to maintain and provide basic health services to the populace.

Percent of Infants with Low Birth weight

Majority of the newly born infant were more than 2, 500 grams. In 2007, 94.47 percent or 9,459 infants born more than 2,500 grams and only 5.53 percent infants were less than 2,500 grams. It was observed that the figure of 553 infants who were born below the normal weight is quite high. Pregnant women are generally vulnerable and are exposed to health risks and as such, they need close monitoring and care. It is important that they receive adequate prenatal care during the duration of their pregnancy and provided with adequate iron supplementation.

For two consecutive years from 2006-2007, the top five municipalities with infants with low birth weight for two consecutive years are the municipalities of Malay with a total number of 124 and 129 respectively, Makato - 29 and 112 child for two years, Banga Numancia - 87 and 74, Ibajay - 46 and 63. 24 and 68,

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Morbidity Rates by Leading Causes

The province has to address the prevention of communicable diseases as these are always the top leading causes of morbidity. These are URTI, diarrheas, pneumonia, bronchitis, influenza, parasitism, skin diseases and TB respiratory. The prevalence of communicable diseases is generally increasing and the burden from these diseases is still very high and would remain a major concern of the provincial health services.

Proportion of Deaths of Children 0-5 Years Old

In 2007, the province has registered 118 deaths of children under 5 years old at the rate of 11.78/1000 live births. The leading causes of death are Pneumonia, Sepsis and Pre-maturity.

Nutritional Status of 0-59 Months Old Children

In 2007, majority of the children who were 0 to 59 months were normal in weight. There is a downward trend in terms of prevalence rate of malnutrition in Aklan. Malnutrition is no longer a big problem among children between 0 to 59 months old. There is a monthly monitoring of weight of children conducted by the Barangay Nutrition Scholars in all LGUs, a twice a year Vitamin A supplementation program and special events conducted for this project. This is the result of making nutrition a priority program for all LGUs.

In 2007, the Prevalence Rate (PR) of malnutrition in six municipalities were above 10 percent among 0-59 month old children weighed. These were in the municipalities of Balete with 17.75 percent, Makato with 16.06 percent, Tangalan with 15.73 percent, New Washington with 13.32 percent, Nabas with 11.43 percent and Altavas with 10.20 percent. The common causes of malnutrition in children ages 0-59

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months in the provinces are; lack of food because parents are unemployed or have no regular source of income. In Western Visayas, Aklan ranked 5th in terms of malnutrition with 9.85 percent. Antique ranked first, while Negros Occidental has the least number of malnourished children.

Crude Death Rate

Aklans Crude Death Rate (CDR) averages 6.05 per 1,000 population from 2005-2008. The highest was in 2006 with 6.88 and the lowest was in 2005 with 5.54. The municipalities with high rate for a period of four years were Kalibo with 8.72, Batan with 6.63 and Lezo with 6.54 per 1,000 population. Those municipalities with low crude death rate were Madalag (3.34) Buruanga (4.27) and Libacao (4.52). During the same period, there were more male deaths compared to female with a ratio of 10:15 female to male death ratio. This is consistent with the fact that males have shorter life expectancy than females because males are more expose to health hazard compared to females.

In Region VI, Aklan ranked second in CDR from 2000 to 2006 with an average crude death rate of 5.53 per 1,000 populations for the period which is higher than the regional figure of 4.47. Among the six provinces in the region, Antique has the highest crude death rate with 5.57. Guimaras has the lowest rate with 3.97 per 1,000 populations.

Maternal Mortality Rate

Maternal Mortality or deaths of women during pregnancy, at childbirth, or in the period after child birth is one of the important indicators on health. Based on the reported maternal mortality rate (MMR) from 2003 to 2007, records shows that from 105.74 maternal mortality in 2003 it went up to 122.20 in 2004 or an increase of 16.46. The improvement of health services in the province in 2005, maternal mortality was reduce
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from 122.20 in 2004 to 38.74 in 2005, however in 2006 it increase again to123.98 maternal death per 100,000 livebirths. This is cause by pregnancy related diseases. Given this situation, the provincial government provides priority concern to improve its health services.

The top five causes of maternal deaths are toxemia of pregnancy, uterine atony, post partum hemorrhage, hypovolemic shock and heart diseases.

Among the municipalities with high maternal death were Banga, Batan, Balete, Kalibo and Makato. These municipalities are given priority concern when it comes to maternal death. The seesaw trend in maternal mortality is due to a non-sustainable intervention or a lassie faire management of the program.

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6.3.2 Education

The achievement level (Mean Percentage Score) of the Division of Aklan for SY 2007 2008 is 53.50 percent. This is higher than that of the regional mean percentage score of 52.28 percent. In SY 20062007 the Division of Aklan attained a higher mean percentage score of 58.47 percent which is higher than the regional mean percentage score of 53.76 percent. However, compared to the National Standard of 75.0 percent, the province is still below the standard.

The achievement level of the in secondary school in SY 2007-2008 is 58.83 percent which higher than the regional average of 45.35 percent. Guimaras and Antique has an average of 56.01 and 50.57 percent respectively, while Roxas City has the lowest Mean Percentage Score of 36.52 percent.

Literacy Rate

The overall functional and simple literacy rate of the province is 96 percent . Almost all municipalities both in elementary and secondary levels, reached the percentage of 90 percent. In Region Vl, Aklan ranks 2nd with an average of 92.7 percent in terms of simple literacy rates for household population 10 years and over. Iloilo ranks 1st with an average of 92.9 percent followed by Negros Occidental and Capiz with 91.1 and 88.2 percent respectively while Antique is the lowest with 88 percentage. However, Aklan registered a highest percentage in male literacy rates of 93.9 percent followed by Iloilo with 91.6 percent while Antique got the lowest with 86.4 percent. For female literacy rate Iloilo has the highest percentage of 94.2 percent while Antique has the lowest with 89.7 percent.

For household population of 10 to 64 years old and over, Iloilo has the highest percentage of 80.9 percent followed by Aklan with 79.8
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percent, Antique 75.0, Negros Occidental 74.8 percent respectively while Capiz got the lowest with 69.5 percent. On sex disaggregation, Iloilo rank 1st with 83.6 percent followed by Aklan 83.0 and the lowest is Capiz with 76.5 percent male functional literacy rate. On the other hand, Aklan has the highest percentage of 86.6 percent compared to Iloilo province with 86.4 percent while the lowest is Negros Occidental with 81.9 percent.

The major break through taken by the Department of Education DepEd) are manifested in the figures above. Significant gains have been achieved since the introduction of free education in both the elementary and secondary levels.

Among the interventions taken by the Department of Education to increase access to basic education were: the establishment of schools in school-less barangays organization of multi-grader classes;

completion of complete elementary education; institutionalization of the drop-out intervention program, administration of Philippine Education Placement Test; creation of teacher items by the Local School Board.

Also in the field of non-formal education, the Department of Education is currently undertaking the Alternative Learning System programs aimed at reducing the illiteracy rate at 2 percent and assisting in providing access to education in consonance with education for all (EFA) Goal 2015 drive.

To date, for the province of Aklan has a total 323 elementary schools, 196 complete elementary and 127 primary schools with a total enrollment of 76,323.

For secondary level, there are 66 schools, 44 regular curriculum, 6 extension schools, 9 integrated schools, 5 vocational schools, 1 comprehensive school and 1 regional school science with a total of 33,666 enrollments.
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Elementary Cohort Survival Rate

For the last five years from SY 2003-2004 to SY 2007- 2008, the cohort survival rate was below 80 percent. Correspondingly, 20 percent of the elementary pupils did not graduate in the SY 2007-2008. Out of the 17 municipalities of Aklan, the top five with low cohort survival rate were in the municipalities of Madalag 57.3 percent, Libacao 57.5 percent, Malay 67.14 percent, Malinao 62.62 percent and Altavas 68.84percent. The most common reasons for this are the financial problem of the family, requiring their children to be absent to work to augment the family income, the attitude of both parents and children towards education, malnutrition and the distance of their houses to the school causes the prevalence of absenteeism.

The Food-For -School Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development was tied-up with the Department of Education to encourage the pupils in going to school. School doctors, nurses and dentist has a regular check-up to pupils to ensure the health and nutritional status of the pupils. However the program is not being sustained by the departments implementing it.

In Western Visayas, the cohort survival rate on SY 2006-2007 was only 62.21 percent as compared to that of the provinces accomplishment of 80 percent. The Department of Education must continue and maintain their advocacy program to all parents to give priority to the education of their children.

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Secondary Cohort Survival Rate

In SY 2007-2008, the cohort survival rate of the province for secondary education was only 76 percent. This means that out of the student enrolled during the school year, 24.0 percent have not graduated. Out of the 17 municipalities, four municipalities have a low cohort survival rates, namely; Batan with 64.03 percent, Buruanga with 66.44 percent, Malay with 67.06 percent and New Washington with 67.40. The common reason of low cohort survival rate in the secondary education is because of economic status of the family and that their children are required to earn a living for the survival of the family.

The regional data shows that the cohort survival rate for SY 2006-2007 was 60.61 percent compared with the provinces 76 percent. The increase in number of integrated schools and national high schools and provide free education to deserving students especially the poor has contributed much in the increase in secondary educations cohorts survival rates.

Elementary Classroom Pupil Ratio

In SY 2006-2007, DepEd data shows that out of the 17 municipalities, only three municipalities were above the required standard classroompupil ratio of 1:40-45. These are the municipalities of Malay with a ratio of 1:49.97, Malinao with 1:59.44 and Nabas with 1:62.58. The construction of additional classroom in the municipalities of Malinao and Nabas in SY 2007-2008, the municipality of Malinao now has 1:25.12 classroom-pupil ratio and Nabas has further improved with 1:42.03 which are within the national standard.

However, in SY 2007-2008, data shows that Malay has registered an increase of enrollees which resulted to a much higher classroom-pupil ratio of 1:53.44 as compared to SY 2006-2007 classroom-pupil ratio. This shows that the Department of Education and the local government
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units must prioritize the construction of additional classrooms to accommodate its increasing student population. Compared with the regions classroom-pupil ratio of 1:31. Aklan still needs 18 unit classrooms to meet the maximum standard ratio.

Secondary Classroom Pupil Ratio

In SY 2007-2008, out of the seventeen municipalities, ten has classroom-student ratios above the national standard of 1:40-45 classroom-student ratio. These municipalities were Ibajay has 1:48.20, Kalibo with 1:58.16, Lezo 1:84.00, Madalag 1:49.57, Makato 1:68.58, Malay 1:70.51, Nabas 1:56.28, New Washington 1:56.59, Numancia 1:51.65 and Tangalan 1:45.82 respectively. The data shows that additional classrooms are needed to accommodate the increasing number of secondary students population. The province needs a total of 61 classrooms based on the data for SY 2007-2008.

Elementary School Participation Rate

In SY 2006-2007 and SY 2007-2008, the Divisions Mean of participation rate for elementary education was 81.15 percent and 77.16 percent respectively. The Division mean of the province were below the Regional Mean of 86.76percent. This is because children ages 6 to 11 years old were not all enrolled in elementary school level and not all 6 years old children were enrolled in Grade I, while some children ages 6 years old were still in preschool.

Secondary School Participation Rate

In SY 2006-2007 and SY 2007-2008, the Division Mean of participation rate for secondary education was 51.27 percent and 46.77 percent respectively. This participation rate of the province is far below the national target of 100 percent.

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6.3.3 Housing

The data show that 95.65 percent of household occupied single houses and only 0.42 percent occupied duplex residential houses. As to the total percentage distribution of household by type of housing units, 95.52 percent of the household have their own houses.

Housing Backlog

Out of the 87,883 household in 2000, 86,600 or 99 percent occupied housing units regardless of its type of building. The province has a housing backlog of 1,283 or 1.5percent.

It was noted that there are getting more informal settlers in the urban centers with some units having double occupancy or two families in one roof. This could be attributed to the worsening economic condition of the Aklanons with many can no longer afford decent housing facilities.

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6.3.4 Security

Crime Rate by Type

The total Crime Volume (CV) for the Province of Aklan for the period 2003 2007 was highest in 2004 with 982 and lowest in 2006 with 798. For the same period, crime solution efficiency was highest in 2007 at 97 percent and the lowest was in 2006 at 93 percent Among the municipalities with high crime volume reported were Kalibo with a total of 578 for the past five-year period, followed by Malay with a total of 517 (for both the Boracay Special Tourists Police Office (BSTPO) with 470 and 47 for the mainland police office) and Ibajay with 340.

Police Force Per Capita

In 2007, there were 522 policemen serving the entire province of Aklan. These include the 384 policemen assigned in the 17 municipalities, 67 assigned in Boracay (BSTPO) and 71 assigned at 601st Police Mobile Group. With this number of policemen serving the population of

495,122, the 2007 police to population ratio was 1: 948 which is above the national standard of 1:1,000 population.

However, looking at the data on the actual number of policemen assigned in the 17 municipalities, 15 municipalities had a ratio below the standard. This showed that an additional 111 policemen are needed to complement the security needs of the different municipalities in the province. Boracay Island, being a tourists destination has 67 policemen to serve not just the population of 18,229 for the three barangays that comprises the island but the tourists that visit the island

Fire Protection Per Capita

Aklan has a total of 101 firemen, 91 of which are assigned in the different municipalities and 10 are assigned at the Office of the
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Provincial Marshall, serving the total population of 495,122. The ideal firemen-population ratio is 1:2000 and with the present scenario, the province still needs 158 firemen to serve the entire population.

Only seven municipalities have existing fire stations.

These are

Altavas, Balete, Ibajay, Kalibo, Numancia, New Washington. In Malay, the fire station is in the Island of Boracay. For the last three years, the island had the highest number of fire incidents. Except for the municipality of Kalibo, that has three fire trucks, each station has one fire truck.

For 2006-2008, there were 66 fire incidents or an average of 22 incidents for the three-year period, with the highest of 30 incidents in 2006. Most of these incidents were accidental. For the same period, it can be noted that the incidents were declining.

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6.4

Utility/Infrastructure Services

6.4.1 Water and Sanitation

The Metro Kalibo Water District (MKWD) supplies potable water not only to the households in the 16 barangays of Kalibo but also the nearby towns of New Washington, Banga, Balete and Batan. The latest expansion was in September 2007, with 29 residences of an isolated islet barangay called Pinamuk-an in New Washington, Aklan starting to be served with potable water. Also, in December of the same year, three barangays in Batan, Aklan were able to avail of MKWD services. These are the far-flung cluster barangays dubbed as CAMACA short for Camaligan, Magubahay and Caiyang.

The Metro Kalibo Water District has six pumping stations; four of them are located in Kalibo namely, Libtong, Manabayan, Tinigao and Tigayon Pumping Stations. The other two pump stations are located in Banga Aklan, the Palale & Cupang Pumping Stations. Out of six pumping stations, only four are operational. MKWD sourced its water from deep wells which are pumped directly to the system. The average daily water production is 14,000m3/day or 14,000,000 liters/day.

The existing Level III water supply facilities in the province are primarily provided by the Local Water Districts in Kalibo and Numancia. Metro Kalibo Water District also manages the Altavas Water System and the New Washington Water System. Numancia Local Water District also manages the Makato and Lezo Water Supply Systems which serve a total of 20 barangays. Other Level III water supply projects are also found in Ibajay, Libacao and Malinao.

In 2007, households with access to safe water facilities were 86,324 or 89 percent of the total number of households. Only 11 percent or 10, 683 households got their water supply from doubtful sources. However looking to the figure, there is still large number of households that has
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no access to safe water facilities. This shall be given more attention by the province to provide adequate source of water facilities

Four out of seventeen municipalities have high rates of household without toilets. These municipalities are Ibajay with 12percent, Libacao - 11percent, Madalag - 10percent and Nabas -11percent. This result is due to lack of proper monitoring and funds in provision of toilet facilities for the indigent households in the barangays.

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6.4.2 Power

Power supply in Aklan is supplied by the National Power Corporation which provides 24MW from its source at Palimpinon Geothermal Plant in Negros. Power is transmitted through the Dingle Power Grid in Iloilo, which in turn supplies the power need of the Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO).

Another source is Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC), an independent power producer which supplies 16MW power to the province. GBPC maintains two diesel power plants: one stationed in Mabilo, New Washington, Aklan, (5 MW) and another at Unidos, Nabas, Aklan (12.5 MW). The total demand of power in Aklan is 30MW.

AKELCO operates substations in Andagao, Kalibo (2-10MVA), Nabas (5MVA), Lezo (5MVA), Altavas (5 MVA), and Caticlan (10 MVA). Construction of the 30 MVA sub-station in on-going at Barangay Manoc-Manoc, Boracay, Malay, Aklan. This new substation in Boracay shall address power problem in the island and accommodate everincreasing power demand therein.

AKELCO currently serves 17 towns of Aklan, two towns of Antique and one barangay of Capiz. A total of 382 barangays are served within the 19 towns of the AKELCO coverage area, 15 of which are waived due to the presence of micro-hydro and solar electric plants.

Of the 367 potential barangays, about 363 are already energized (98.91 percent) by AKELCO, including one barangay in Sapian, Capiz. The total number of registered member-consumers is 99,487 while total number of house connections is 96,828. As of June 2008, AKELCO data show that 90, 101 households are supplied with power.

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There are two proposed hydropower projects in Aklan which have been found to be feasible but lack funding source. The Timbaban Hydroelectric Power project in Maria Cristina, Madalag, Aklan could generate more than enough of the power requirement of Aklan to service other provinces with its excess power output. The same is true with the proposed Dalagsaan Hydro Electric Power in Libacao, Aklan.

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6.4.3 Drainage/Flood Control

While Aklan River serves as the major natural drainage in the province, it is likewise the source of floods which inundated farms and built-up areas with the periodic rise of water, the latest and the most devastating of which was the flashflood which ensued immediately after Typhoon Frank hit Panay Island on June 21, 2008. It was the worst in a span of three decades, crippling all socio-economic activities particularly in the provincial capital of Kalibo. The typhoon, which caused flashflood with mudflow, wrought damage in agriculture, infrastructure and public utilities worth P2 billion. Also, 52 persons were dead, 1,047 injured and 7 were missing. About 11,000 houses were totally damaged, 43,000 partially damaged and a total of 82,821 families were affected.

The Municipality of Kalibo is currently preparing a Drainage and Flood Control Master Plan to prevent the repetition of the effects of the infamous mudflow incident. As for the provincial government, it has joined forces with the Department of Public Works and Highways and other local governments in pursuit of the dredging of the Aklan River, at the same time, taking bolder steps for the reclamation of land along the Aklan riverbank. Hydraulic and topographic surveys for nine (9) kilometers length from the mouth of Aklan River has been completed and by a Task Force- a partnership of the LGUs. It has even commissioned a privately owned survey corporation to help in the project.

As for the other municipalities, river control systems/flood control devices have been installed to address the recurring flooding problem with the establishment of Numancia, Banga, and Libacao river control projects.

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6.4.4 Irrigation

Aklan has a total land area of 181,794 hectares of which, 35,437 hectares are arable lands and 12,193 hectares are considered potential area for irrigation development. As of December 31, 2007, the combined existing National Irrigation System, Communal Irrigation System, and Pump Systems reached 230, covering a total of 7,966.97 hectares of service area.

Communal irrigation projects are scattered in farm areas provincewide, with farmers associations maintaining these projects. Small water impounding and management projects are non-existent in the province.

Irrigation areas in the province are served by two major irrigation systems, namely: Aklan River Irrigation System which serves the seven beneficiary municipalities of Banga, Kalibo, New Washington, Lezo, Malinao, Numancia and Makato; and, the Panakuyan River Irrigation System which serves Ibajay.

6.4.5 Solid Waste Management

The Provincial Government has tentatively identified an area in Cabangila, Altavas to serve as the provincial dumping site. The approval of the proposed site is subject to consultation and public hearing. Of the total municipalities, five have open dumpsites - Altavas, Balete, Batan, Buruanga and Ibajay; two have controlled disposal sites - Kalibo and Banga; three have temporary disposal sites - Makato, Numancia and Lezo; four practice open dumping - Libacao, Madalag, Malinao and Nabas; New Washington has a controlled dumpsite and an open dump; Tangalan has no dumpsite; Malay has a proposed land fill site with ECC issued and Boracay practice waste segregation and implements no segregation-no collection of residual waste policy.

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6.5

Other Services and Facilities

Disabled Persons

In 2007, the total numbers of disabled persons in the province were 3,876. The most number of disabled persons is in the municipality of Ibajay (594) and Tangalan (424). In each municipality, there is an existing disabled persons organization.

For several years, the Association of Disabled Persons Aklan Chapter has been given skills training program and livelihood assistance of the provincial government of Aklan through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and they established a canteen in front of the provincial capitol building for them to earn their association and their

members who are working in the canteen.

Access facilities for differently-abled persons have been provided in various establishments and hospitals in the province. However, they are still in need of additional skills training program and livelihood assistance as well as wheelchairs, crutches, canes and training on the use of Braille system for blind members.

Senior Citizens

There were 19,952 senior citizens registered in the province in 2007. The top five municipalities with the biggest number of senior citizens registered are the following: Ibajay (3,303), New Washington (3,000), Malinao (1,511), Banga (1,297) and Malay (1,276).

Of the eight existing senior citizens buildings throughout the province, considered model senior citizens buildings are in the municipalities of Kalibo, Malay, New Washington and Numancia while the other four centers were being utilized for senior citizens affairs. All 17 municipalities have organized senior citizens and each president sits
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as an officer of the Provincial Federation of the Senior Citizens. The LGUs of the remaining nine municipalities with no senior citizen buildings are encouraged to put up their own.

Special Education

Of the total municipalities of Aklan, only four have SPED Class: Banga Elementary School, Elementary School of Kalibo II, Numancia Integrated School and Altavas Elementary School. These SPED classes are intended for special children with physical and mental

disabilities. There were teachers who trained and handled classes for special pupils.

There is a need for classrooms and trained teachers for Special Education classes.

Womens Center

Aklan has one Womens Crisis Center located at DRSTMH Compound in Kalibo, Aklan. The Center accepts walk-in clients for 3 to 5 days and then transfers them to the Regional Center for Women in Iloilo City. The provincial Government allocated a yearly budget to operate this Comprehensive Center for Women. Three social workers man and manage the operation. The Center is open 24 hours a day.

The Womens Crisis Center is also the venue of different skills training program of the province like food processing, baking, hair dressing and other health programs that the recipients were the disadvantaged

women especially those battered and abused women. To continue the existing program of the province, additional funds will be solicited from NGOs and POs, as well as, the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) in terms of capability building, advocacy and education for the GAD Commission of Aklan.

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Separate Detention Cells For Youth Offenders And Women:

Not one of the 17 municipalities has separate detention cell for youth offenders and women. However the Aklan Provincial Rehabilitation

Center has allocated two cells - 1 for youth offenders and the other for women inmates. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology has

also two detention cells to accommodate youth offenders and women inmates.

With this, there is a need to construct separate cells for women and youth offenders by the Local Government Units.

Womens Desk

As of 2007, there were 41 Womens Desks operating in the province of Aklan. All municipalities had established womens desk coupled with trained Policewomen to advocate/promote the elimination of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC). These women police needs continuous education and updates on Gender and Development Program in order to effectively implement VAWC.

Poverty

Aklan was included in the list of 24 poorest provinces in the country in 2006. The provinces poverty situation showed no improvement. Poverty incidence of families increased by 9.1 percent and of population by 10.2 percent. Between 2003 and 2006, the income gap increased by 1 percent, which means that on the average per capita income of poor Aklanon is 27.4 percent short of the poverty threshold. The poverty gap and the severity of poverty also increased with 1.4 percent.

Out of all municipalities of Aklan, the top five municipalities with high poverty incidence are the municipalities of Madalag with 0.7558,
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Libacao with 0.7462, Balete with 0.6359, Malinao with 0.5980 and Buruanga with 0.5959. The poverty incidence is the proportion of families/individuals with per capita income/expenditure less than the per capita poverty threshold to the total number of families/individuals. This could mean that most Aklanons were not able to earn income that could meet the basic food and non-food requirements of the family. Some factors that contributed in the increase of poverty incidence in the province are the lack of employment opportunities, big family size and the existing high cost of living.

Human Development Index (HDI)

Human Development Index is the estimate of the standard of living in terms of life expectancy, enrolment and functional literacy rate and the real per capita income. Aklan ranked second in HDI in 1994 but it slid down to third and fourth in 1997 and 2000 respectively. While Iloilo has been consistently number one with Guimaras occupying the second place for 1997 and 2000 and Antique improving its status from number six in 1994 to be among the top three in 2000. Aklan, Negros

Occidental and Capiz occupied the bottom three positions with Aklan as number four, Negros Occidental, number five and Capiz at number six.

The HDI result in 2000 showed that Aklan ranked fourth in life expectancy. The province performed better in enrolment rate ranking third and in functional literacy rate being second to Iloilo. The real per capita income of P 13,134.00 was the second lowest in the region with Negros Occidental as the province with the lowest per capita income.

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70% up 60%-69.9% 50-59.9% 40-49.9% 30-39.9% 20-29.9% 10-19.9%

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Table 18 Local Service Standards SERVICES SOCIAL SERVICES Education and Culture Elementary Classroom Teacher Library STANDARD

1 per 40 pupils 1 per 40 pupils Separate building or room, welllighted, ventilated, free from noise, accessible and centrally located 1 per 500 or less pupils Teacher-Librarian Full and part-time teacher-librarian 1 each per 5001-1,000 pupils Full-time librarian and part-time teacher-Librarian 1 per 1,000-2,000 pupils Full-time librarian 1 for every additional 1,000 pupils Secondary Classroom 1 per 40-45 students Teacher 1 per 40-45 students Library Separate building or room, welllighted, ventilated, free from noise, accessible, and centrally located Librarian/Teacher-librarian 1 per enrollment of 500 or less students Full-time and part time teacher501-1,000 students librarian Full-time librarian and part time 1,000-2,000 students teacher- librarian Full-time librarian Additional 1,000 students Sports and Recreation Municipality Park

Sports and Athletics

1 park with a minimum of 5,000 sq. meters in area per 1,000 population and maximum walking distance of 100-150 meters Public playfield/athletic field with minimum of 0.5 hectare per 1,000 inhabitants 1 sports facility per barangay Presence of natural, undisturbed and scenic areas suitable for recreation, scientific and ecological significance consisting of forest, water resources and other land forms

Natural Environment Area

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SERVICES Health Medical and allied personnel

STANDARD 1 Govt physician/20,000 population 1 Public Health Nurse/20,000 popn 1 Rural Health Midwife/5,000 popn 1 Government Dentist/50,000 popn 1 Rural Sanitary Inspector/20,000 popn 1 Barangay Health Worker/20 HH 1 Barangay Nutrition Scholar/ Barangay 1 Health Educator/50,000 population 10 bed capacity 25 to50 bed capacity

Primary Hospital Secondary Hospital (ProvincialDistrict) Medical Transport Ambulance Service Vehicle Protective Services Police Force Fire Protection Service

1 per LGU 1 per LGU 1 per 500 population (urban) 1 per 1,000 population (rural) 1 per 2,000 population 14 Firemen per Truck 1 Fire Truck per 28,000 population 1 Jail per LGU 1 per LGU

Jail Services Welfare Services Womens Desk Office of Senior Citizens Affairs Day Care Center/Feeding Center Rehabilitation Center (for victims of drug abuse, vagrants, victims of disasters, calamities, child abuse, etc.) Adult Community Education Program Environment Protection Solid Waste Management Pollution Control

SERVICES Public Buildings and Facilities Municipal Hall/Provincial Captol Socio-Cultural Center Museum Barangay, Municipal and Provincial Library r Reading Center

100% collection and disposal Absence of air, water and industrial Pollutants 100% free from toxic and hazardous substances STANDARD Presence

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ECONOMIC SERVICES Infrastructure Services and Existing Road Network Provincial Road Connecting all component municipalities (except island municipality) Connecting major clusters of population to the town proper Connecting all barangays to municipal or provincial road

Municipal Road Feeder Road (barangays road, rural road, or Farm-to-market road) Water Supply (municipality) Level I

Level II

Level III

Sewerage Services (municipality) Market and Slaughterhouse

Point source (such as rain collector, wells and springs generally for rural areas where houses are scattered too thinly to justify a distribution system) Communal faucet system generally for rural areas where houses are clustered densely enough to justify a piped distribution system to a number of households Piped system with individual connection in urban areas, with average output of 150 liters per person per day Existence of functional sewer system Absence of stagnant water formation Accessible from all directions and through all modes of transportation Site located in urban area Standard Sections and Facilities Wet section Semi-wet section Dry goods section Storage facilities Eateries Parking space Running water Proper lighting Proper ventilation Drainage Treatment plant or settling pond

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7.

LAND USE AND PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK

7.1

Existing Land Use, Trends and Potential Expansion

7.1.1 Existing Land Use

Land Use is the way in which an area of land is actually being put to use. Table 19 shows that of the total land area of the province of 181,794.64 hectares, 32 percent are being utilized for agriculture, 24 percent for production forest and 19 percent for protection forest. Grassland also covers 19 percent. Mangroves have the least share at only 0.23 percent. Table 19 Existing Land Use Land Uses Areas In Hectares Built-up Agricultural Fishpond Production Forest Protection Forest Grass Land Bodies of Water Mangroves TOTAL
Source: DENR-LMB

% Share

1,485.0 58,904.96 9,200.00 42,720.0 34,389.68 33,616.0 1,055.0 424.0 181,794.64 100.00

.82 32.40 5.06 23.51 18.72 18.50 0.58 0.23

Pursuant to EO 1064, Boracay Island was reclassified into alienable and disposable land and forestland. It used to be an unclassified lands of public domain. Alienable and disposable land consist an area of 628.96 hectares, while forestland is 377.68 hectares.

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7.1.2 Trend

Based on the analysis of the situation, the trend of development are usually along the national and provincial roads. There is also an

observed conversion of prime agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses such as residential and commercial purposes. The construction of farm-to-market roads causes also the changes in land uses in agricultural areas.

Compared with the existing land use in the old PPFP, there is also an observed increase in densities of population and expansion of built-up areas to accommodate such increases. The expansion of built-up

areas sometime encroaches in protected areas, particularly prime agricultural lands, protection forests and environmentally-constrained areas.

7.2

Physical Framework

The framework is a guide for future physical developments with several general components such as settlements, production, protection, and transportation/infrastructures that is vertically similar Regional Physical Framework Plan (RPFP) and the comprehensive Land use Plan (CLUP).

7.2.1 Initial Settlements Growth The initial settlement growth considers the existing built-up areas and the future trends of expansion of settlement areas. The approximate future settlements/built-up areas based on the demand for land, how existing settlements are expected to grow and expand geographically are delineated. This involves revising Map 24 as to consider future trends. The hierarchy of settlements and the approved comprehensive land use plans of municipalities and the Regional Physical Framework Plan were made as reference in projecting the initial growth plan of the province.
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7.2.2 Initial Settlements and Protection Land Use

The following are the criteria considered in identifying settlement/builtup expansion are as part of the process of integrating and reconciling the demand and supply for land:1) areas along the established urban growth centers; 2) areas within the 0-3 percent to 3-9 percent slope range; 4) accessible from existing built-up areas and other employment centers through existing or proposed roads and other transportation facilities; 5) within A &D lands but not in environmentally-critical areas;6) not in other protection areas; and 7) consistent with the Municipal land Use Plan.

This involved the identification and resolution of existing and potential land use conflicts such as: those built-up land uses encroaching into agricultural and other production areas; built-up land uses encroaching into protection areas; built-up land uses encroaching into protection areas in built-up areas; agricultural and other land non-built-up production areas encroaching into protection areas within production areas; and, agricultural and other non-built up production areas encroaching into forest protection areas.

Land use conflicts among ecological space, agricultural lands and builtup areas have resulted in competing and overlapping of land uses.

Records from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Central and Regional Offices shows that in the province of Aklan a total of 153.45379 hectares were approved for conversion. Of this 39.4455 hectares or 25.71 percent were converted into residential/socialized housing, 99.672 hectares or 65.14 percent were or into 5.86

tourism/commercial/resort/recreational,

8.99179

hectares

percent were devoted to memorial parks, 2.2473 hectares or 1.46 percent were for institutional development and 2.8020 hectares or 1.83 percent is for industrial purposes.

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Overlaying the settlements map with the protection areas map, existing and potential land use conflicts were identified as shown in Map 26.

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7.2.3 Overall Physical Framework

Settlements Framework

The population distribution trend shows that the fastest growing municipalities are located near or adjacent to Kalibo, the capital town. These are Numancia, Banga, New Washington, Lezo and Makato. These towns poised to become part of the proposed Metropolitan Kalibo as it continues to grow and expand its direct sphere of influence. However, aside from the municipalities mentioned, the municipality of Malay still tops the fast growing municipalities as it continues to attract migrants because of Boracay Island which offers economic

opportunities to migrants. Moreover, migration towards the urban centers has surged in the past decades with many people choosing to live in urban areas because of economic and educational opportunities and better facilities.

The increasing urban population, density and demand for urban services, growing demand for built-up areas resulting to continuous conversion of agricultural areas to residential and other urban uses, expanding informal settlement areas in urban centers most especially in environmentally-critical or hazard prone areas of Kalibo and Numancia and escalating level of congestion, pollution and waste disposal problems are being felt by the Aklanons as it become urbanized.

In view of this, the province will encourage LGUs to formulate laws, rules, regulation and ordinances geared towards growth of towns to accommodate larger population in existing and proposed settlements to avoid urban sprawl, provide proper and humane relocation and resettlements to address the housing needs of informal settler, encourage and strengthen government and private partnership to provide mixes of housing types which will enable a high level of hours
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and lot ownership, maximize the use of urban and urbanizable lands intended to enhance residential development through infilling,

classification and re-development, and pursue the objectives of food security/sufficiency by protecting key agricultural production areas. Likewise, it will pursue the preservation of irrigated and irrigable agricultural lands highly suitable for food production.

Using the formula of additional population from 2007 to 2013 multiplied by 0.006 hectares (or 6 hectares of land required for every 1,000 population), the estimated land need for settlement expansion would be about 236.72 hectares.

Protection Framework

The province of Aklan has two proclaimed protected areas considered under NIPAS; the Aklan river Watershed and Forest Reserve and the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park.

Overlaying the settlements map with the protection areas map, existing and potential land use conflicts were identified. The resulting map is Map 26. The following are the identified land use conflicts:

Land Use Conflicts

a.

built-up land uses encroaching into prime agricultural lands and flood prone areas of Kalibo, Numancia, New Washington, Ibajay, Balete, Malinao and Makato;

b.

illegal settlers encroaching in river banks leaving no buffer zones in Kalibo and Numancia;

c.

landslides along the

Strong Republic Nautical Highway from

Nabas to Malay due to deforested/degraded steep slopes;

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d.

soil erosion that cause flash floods that submerged Poblacion, Libacao and some barangays near the river banks; Poblacion, Madalag and its other low-lying barangays; Poblacion, Banga and some barangays near the Aklan river, seven barangays near the Aklan river in Malinao; Lezo and some barangays and all barangays of the municipalities of Numancia and Kalibo; and Poblacion, Ibajay and its low-lying barangays.

e.

encroachment of settlement of the claimants of ancestral domain in Dalagsaan, and Sitio Taroytoy in Manika and Oyang, Libacao;

f. g.

Areas declared as A& D within protected areas Mining exploration in forested areas of Tagororoc in Nabas, Buruanga, Nabas, Madalag and Libacao;

h.

Upland settlements and farming and other unauthorized economic activities; buffer zones are yet to be established and demarcated on the ground;

To address these concerns, the province will define appropriate urban development limits to prevent encroachment in disaster-prone and other environmentally critical areas as well as in those in areas that pose extreme danger to people, whether direct or indirect. It will also provide buffer zones in waterways easements, protection lands and ECAs. The implementation of these will be done through the municipal ordinances.

Other concerns that it will address is the resolution of provincial boundary conflict in coordination with the Province of Capiz. Three barangays of Libacao are included in the provincial map of Capiz. Finally, the province will pursue the demarcation of Ancestral Domain claimed by the Aklanon-Bukidnon

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Production Framework

Croplands

The agriculture sector plays an important role in the development and progress of the Province of Aklan, including the alleviation of poverty and equitable access to opportunities of its populace. The province has 19,480 hectares cultivated to annual crops and 72,936 hectares for perennial crops.

Palay production and aquaculture are the leading agricultural contributors to the provincial economy, though compared with the other provinces in the region, it only ranks fifth in palay production.

The province is confronted with development constraints of rapid decreasing area of prime agricultural lands due to conversion into nonagricultural uses, high cost of farm inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and seeds constraint farmers to practice high level management in agriculture, rapid loss of top soil and soil nutrients due to haphazard farming practices in the upland and natural calamities, infestation of abaca diseases that affects the abaca plantation in Libacao and overlapping boundaries, and lack of appropriate measures which could protect prime agricultural lands. The absence of standard geographical units as basis for generating information has further contributed to this problem as well as the non-compliance of Local Government Units in updating their Comprehensive Land Use Plan resulting to the proliferation illegal settlement in highly critical areas such as on riverbanks, prime agricultural lands and the closure of natural waterways.

To address these concerns, it encourage LGUs to give priority to identified marginal agricultural areas in land reclassification and encourage expansion of production activities in steep slopes and ECAs.
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Fishery Areas

The province will continue its efforts in protection and conservation of fishery areas. It will encourage rehabilitation of marine ecosystem by regulating illegal fishing activities, siltation due to forest degradation and water pollution caused by agricultural and domestic waste. It will intensify mangrove rehabilitation activities and establish communitybased fish sanctuaries and improve fish habitat through the provision of fish shelter and installation of artificial reefs in suitable depleted areas.

Mineral Lands

The province of Aklan like other Provinces in Western Visayas has great mineral potentials, either metallic or non-metallic. Various economically important mineral are known to exist. However, there is need for a long-tern mineral exploration and development program aimed at assessing mineral potential believed to contain the various mountainous and placer areas significant primary and secondary mineral deposits. Metallic minerals such as copper and gold are present in Buruanga, peninsula and non-metallic deposits such as clay, silica rocks and guano are present in the areas of Buruanga and Nabas.

The province will support and ensure the sustainable mining operations within its jurisdiction, particularly on the exploration, development and utilization of the provinces mineral resources.

Tourism

The province of Aklan is endowed with beautiful landscapes and seascape. Its most precious gem is Boracay Island which is considered as one of the finest beaches of the world, with fine powdery sand and pristine clear blue waters. It is considered as one of the major tourist

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destination of the country. Initial, inventory and classification of historical, archaeological sites, cultural, religious and cultural sensitive areas for development and promotion of its rich cultural heritage resources and treasures. The indigenous culture and ethnic dances and handicrafts in mainstream tourism package to revitalize and reintegrate the indigenous/ local culture, arts, dances, handicrafts and sports of the province. The Ati-Atihan Festival may be developed further as a unique culture experience in the province and can be another complementary product to the tourist attraction.

However, in spite of this, there are still issues and conflicts in the development of tourism industry in the province. In particularly the construction of building and other tourism-related projects mostly does not conform with the land characteristics of Boracay and its other tourism areas leading to a negative modification of marine, forest and mountain wildlife habit areas.

In view of this, the province, through zoning, shall ensure that tourism development should be based on the actual management of resources and must be sensitive to the local customs and traditions, integrate tourism development standards in the zoning ordinances and other land regulatory measures to ensure compliance particularly in the construction of tourism facilities and strictly implement the Provincial Tourism Code, and finalize and complete the Boracay Environmental Master Plan, Boracay Comprehensive Land Use) to promote balanced development in the area in coordination with mandated national line agencies. The province will also take steps to harmonize various plans and local regulations relating to tourism-development.

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Transportation/Infrastructure Framework

The main goals of infrastructure development are to have efficient transportation, reliable supplies of essential services such as power, water and communications and the provision of other basic utilities in support of the development of an efficient, responsive, safe and ecologically-friendly built environment. Better mobility means more improved economic integration while adequate utilities translate to a more favorable environment for food production and tourism. Social services and facilities are basic requirements of development.

There is still inadequate farm-to-market roads, power supply and social infrastructure facilities in the province as well as the need to upgrade existing airports and seaports and RORO facilities. On power supply, there is a need to construct hydro-power plants to ensure sufficient power supply in the province and the region as well and reduce power rates to attract more investors. In view of this, the province will support the upgrading of Kalibo and Caticlan airports and seaports especially the Caticlan jetty port expansion to promote tourism activities in the province, encourage investments in integrated inter-modal transport

systems on areas not yet covered, and upgrading and maintenance of existing systems, including the road links along the nautical highway to support inter and inter-regional linkages.

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DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, GOALS, OBJECTIVES/TARGETS

1.

Development Issues and Problems

The

analyses

of

development

indicators

under

the

Planning

Environment led to the identification of development issues and problems presented in Figure 13 (Problem Tree). These development issues and problems are interrelated in terms of cause-effect relationships as shown in the figure.

The three overriding problems in the province are related to the Index of Human Development, namely: income (high poverty incidence), education (unmet standard mean percentage score of learners), and life expectancy (provincial average life expectancy of 65.8 years is below the national average of 67 years) which are also interrelated. High poverty incidence is affected by low productivity in agriculture and fishery, Aklan being an agricultural based economy. It is also

contributed by low employment and low productivity in manufacturing and tourism industries that have strong backward linkages to agriculture and fishery in the province. There is also high cost of power in the province due to lack of base power source.

The unmet standard mean percentage of score of learners in the province is the effect of low performance of learners caused by inadequate quantity and quality levels of educational facilities and instructional materials due to inequitable allocation of resources such as classrooms, schools facilities, textbooks, and competent teachers. The occurrence of natural calamities like big typhoons would aggravate the allocation problem.

On the other hand, low life expectancy is directly affected by high crude death rate that is caused by high maternal mortality rates as well as by other causes of mortality resulting from poor nutrition, inadequate water/sanitation facilities, a high incidence of road accidents, and
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encroachment of settlements in disaster-prone areas in urban centers, especially along the provincial and national roads. Inefficient implementation of immunization and maternal care programs contribute to these especially in the face of lack of personnel and hospital amenities.

Environmental degradation is a root cause that can lead to low agriculture and fishery productivity through its effects on road deterioration, irrigation water supply, high cost of inputs due to lowering of soil quality and increasing transport costs. It can also aggravate the effects of natural calamities to the people. Illegal land conversion,

especially of prime agricultural lands into non-agriculture uses, contributes to environmental degradation as well as reduces agricultural production.

Encroachment of households and settlements into hazard-prone areas in the urban center especially Kalibo and along the provincial and national roads could be due to low productivity in the rural areas and the pull factor of employment opportunities in the urban areas. This also contributes to population congestion leading to higher risks to the incidence of malnutrition, urban blight and even road accidents.

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Figure 6 Problem Tree


High poverty incidence Unmet standard mean percentage score of learners Low life expectancy

Inadequate employment opportunities

Low productivity Low performance of learners

High crude death rate

Stiff competition in tourism from other areas

Lack of marketing and promotion

Insufficient raw materials for agriindustries

High cost of power

Teachers not handling his/her specialization esp. in secondary level

Classrooms backlog esp. in new schools

Mortality due to causes like communicable and chronic diseases

High MMR

High incidence of road accidents

Inadequate power supply Lack of operating capital for agri-industries Declining agricul-tural production, esp. rice Inadequate and inequitable allocation of resources (teachers, classrooms, furniture, textbooks) High malnutrition among school children

TT2+ coverage below the national target

Low full immunization coverage

Insufficient farm to market roads

High cost of agricultural inputs

Insufficient irrigation water

Illegal conversion of land for non-agricultural uses Low birth weight

Hospital bed to population ratio below standard

Lack of medical personnel

Rapid deterioration of roads

Many houses need repair

Many households with no access to safe water and sanitary facilities Increasing juvenile delinquency esp. in Kalibo and Boracay

Big damages of typhoon Frank to land, infrastructure and houses

Traffic congestion in urban areas

Environmental degradation

Encroachment of settlements in disaster-prone areas in urban centers esp. in Kalibo

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Figure 7 Summary of the Aklan Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan 2008-2013

Progressive Aklan whose empowered citizens live amidst a well-anchored vibrant economy where agri-eco tourism developments are globally competitive, gender-responsive, environment-friendly, equitable, self-sufficient, and sustainable

1. Reduce poverty incidence

2. Increase life expectancy equal to or better than the national level

3. Achieve or exceed the national standard of performance of learners

1.1 Increased yields of major agriaqua commodities esp. rice, bangus, prawn, pia, and abaca in the whole province

1.2 Prevent unnecessary & illegal conversion of prime agricultural lands in the towns of Lezo, Kalibo, Numancia, Nabas, Makato & New Washington

1.3 Protect households in the river shore communities of Libacao, Ibajay, Madalag, Banga, Numancia, Lezo, Kalibo, and Balete

1.4 Reduce illegal poaching of trees in the upland areas of Libacao, Madalag & Balete; malpractice of waste disposal in Aklan Rivers System and Kalibo Drainage System; improper upland farming in Libacao, Balete, Madalag and Ibajay; air pollution in the major thoroughfares of Kalibo; water pollution in all rivers in Aklan, Batan Bay & seashores of the coastal municipalities

2.1 Reduce MMR to meet MDG target in the municipalities of Banga, Batan, Balete, Kalibo, and Makato and Reduce mortality due to communicable and chronic diseases and road accidents in the whole province

3.1 Increase Mean Percentage Score (MPS) of learners from 54% to 75% by 2013.

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1.1.1 Focus prodn of raw materials w/ strong forward linkage to industry based on OTOP. 1.1.2 Provide Infrastructure and technical support to major agri/aqua commodities. 1.1.3 Encourage public-private collaboration in financing agri/aqua prodn initiatives including research and developments.

1.2.1 Encourage urban expansion to environmentally compatible areas. 1.2.2 Improve agricultural incomes to discourage conversion. 1.2.3 Updating and strict implementation of CLUPs

1.3.1 Protect and rehabilitate watershed areas. 1.3.2 Provide protective infrastructure. 1.3.3 Mainstream DRR& Management in the local planning process.

1.4.1 Strict implementation of the Provincial Environment Code and other related laws. 1.4.2 Encourage use of environment friendly technology.

2.1.1 Enhanced provision of water sanitation facilities. 2.1.2 Strengthen/ expand health service deliveries/ referral system.

3.1.1 Upgrading of school heads and teachers competencies/ capability building. 3.1.2 Equitable distribution and adequate allocation of resources in education sector.

Agricultural Productivity Program Micro-Finance Program

Urban Expansion Program Review & update Land Use Plans & Zoning

Watershed Rehabilitation Program Flood Control Program

Bantay Kalikasan Program Green Technology Program

Health Enhancement Program

Schools Improvement Program Subsidized School Capacity Program

See List of Projects (Annexed)

See List of Projects (Annexed)

See List of Projects (Annexed)

See List of Projects (Annexed)

See List of Projects (Annexed)

See List of Projects (Annexed)

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2.

Development Goals and Objectives

Translating the negative issues in the Problem Tree into positive and achievable statements facilitated the identification of the provincial development goals and objectives. Not all issues and problems, once translated into positive terms, would become development goals and objectives. Most, if not all, of the problems found in the lower part of the Problem Tree become program/project level objectives.

Figure 14 shows the identified goals and the corresponding objectives as they contribute towards the achievement of the development vision of the province. Reducing poverty incidence in the province would

need substantial and sustained increases in agriculture/fishery production as well as increased productivity of agri-based industries and employment in tourism industry. Tourism, as a major industry of the province, should also be given due consideration in terms of sites development and tourist attraction. Likewise, illegal conversion of

prime agricultural lands as well as environmental degradation in its various forms needs to be addressed. Households and settlements in disaster-prone areas shall be protected

On the other hand, increasing life expectancy would require reduction of MMR and mortality due to communicable and chronic diseases and road accidents.

Achieving or exceeding the national standard of performance of learners would need the increase in the Mean Performance Score of al learners in the province.

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Figure 8 Development Vision, Goals, and Objectives

Vision

Progressive Aklan whose empowered citizens live amidst a well-anchored vibrant economy where agri-eco tourism developments are globally competitive, gender-responsive, environment-friendly, equitable, selfsufficient, and sustainable.

Goals
Reduce poverty incidence Achieve or exceed the national standard of performance of learners Increase life expectancy equal to or better than the national level

Strategies
Increased yields of major agri-aqua commodities esp. rice, bangus, prawn, pia, and abaca in the whole province

Increase the Mean Percentage Score (MPS) of learners from 54% to 75% by 2013.

Reduce MMR to meet MDG target in the municipalities of Banga, Batan, Balete, Kalibo, and Makato

Prevent the illegal conversion of prime agricultural lands in the towns of Lezo, Kalibo, Numancia, Nabas, Makato & New Washington

Reduce mortality due to communicable and chronic diseases and road accidents in the whole province

Protect households in the rivershores of Libacao, Ibajay, Madalag, Banga, Numancia, Lezo, Kalibo, and Balete

Reduce illegal poaching of trees in the upland areas of Libacao, Madalag & Balete; malpractice of waste disposal in Aklan Rivers System and Kalibo Drainage System; improper upland farming in Libacao, Balete, Madalag and Ibajay; air pollution in the major thoroughfares of Kalibo; water pollution in all rivers in Aklan, Batan Bay & seashores of the coastal municipalities

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V.

STRATEGIES AND MAJOR PROGRAM/PROJECTS

1.

Strategies and Major Programs/Projects

Development strategies were formulated for each objective considering the development drivers of population, economic activities and physical resource limitations discussed under Section C, the Planning Environment. Then, based on the existing Provincial Development Investment Program and the Problem Tree major programs and projects were identified under each development strategy.

Table 20 shows the strategies for each objective also found in Figure 14. Strategies are directly associated with drivers of development, The corresponding major

population, economy, physical resources.

programs for each strategy were also identified. The projects are listed in the Annex. The location, legislative requirements and lead units of the provincial office were also identified. The time frame is 2008-2013.
Table 20 Summary of Strategies and Major Programs/Projects
Strategies 1.1.1 Focus production of raw materials with strong forward linkage to industry based on OneTown-One-Product 1.1.2 Provide Infrastructure and technical support to major agri/aqua commodities 1.1.3 Encourage public-private collaboration in financing agri/aqua initiatives including research and developments. 1.2.1 Encourage urban expansion to environmentally compatible areas. 1.2.2 Improve agricultural incomes to discourage conversion. 1.2.3 Updating and strict implementation of CLUPs Major Programs Agri-cultural Productivity Enhancement Program Location Libacao, Madalag Time Frame Legislative Requirements Appropriation, Implement Investment & Incentives Code -doMicro-Finance Program 17 Towns SMED Center, DTI Lead LGU Dept. OPA, BFAR, DTI

Urban Expansion Program

Provincewide.

Review & update Land Use Plans & Zoning

Kalibo, Numancia, Makato, Nabas, Lezo, New Washington

Implement Provincial Tourism Code & Investment and Incentives Code Strict enforcement of CLUPs/ Zoning Ordinance

Provl Tourism Office, PEO, EEDD OPA, PPDO, MPDO

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Strategies .3.1 Protect and rehabilitate watershed areas. 1.3.2 Provide protective infrastructure. 1.3.3 Mainstream DRR& Management in the local planning process.

Major Programs Watershed Rehabilitation Program Flood Control Program

Location River shore communities of Libacao, Madalag, Ibajay, Banga, Lezo, Numancia, Kalibo, and Balete. Towns of Libacao, Madalag, and Balete, and the Aklan Rivers System, and Kalibo Drainage System Upland farming in the municipalities of Libacao, Madalag, Balete, Ibajay; air pollution in the major thoroughfares of Kalibo and water pollution in the Aklan Rivers System, Batan Bay, and seashores of the coastal municipalities

Time Frame

Legislative Requirements Creation of Aklan Public Safety, Emergency, and Mgt. Office. Fund for capability building on DRR Management Strict enforcement of Provincial Environment Code

Lead LGU Dept. PPDO, PDCC, ARDC

1.4.1 Strict implementation of the Provincial Environment Code and other related laws. 1.4.2 Encourage use of environment friendly technology.

Bantay Kalikasan Program

AKENRO, DENR,

Green Technology Program

2.1.1 Enhanced provision of water sanitation facilities. 2.1.2 Strengthen/ expand health service deliveries/ referral system. 3.1.1 Upgrading of school heads and teachers competencies/ capability building. 3.1.2 Equitable distribution and adequate allocation of resources in education sector.

Health Enhancement Program Schools Improvement Program Subsidized School Capacity Program

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2.

Summary of Strategies and Major Programs/Projects

Figure 15 shows the summary matrix of this Plan from the vision down to the major programs/projects. This figure presents the logical

relationship for the attainment of the Plan objective through the effective implementation of the programs/projects, to the achievement of development goals towards the realization of the provincial development vision. On the other hand, Map 32 presents the location of major programs/projects in the provincial map.

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