A BRIEF PROFILE OF THE CITY OF ROXAS

“SEAFOOD CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES”

ITS HISTORY…

The City of Roxas is the provincial capital of Capiz Province, a part of Panay Island
where Miguel Lopez de Legaspi settled when he arrived from Cebu. In 1746, Capiz was made
the seat of the Politico-Military Government although it was still ecclesiastically controlled by
the bishopric of Cebu. On May 31, 1847, a Royal Decree turned the province into an alcadia.
Roxas City was once known as the Municipality of Capiz and it became a Charted City on May
12, 1951 by virtue of Repuclic Act No. 603 otherwise known as the City Charter. The late Hon.
Lorenzo Arnaldo was its first City Mayor. This city was named “Roxas City” in honor of its
most illustrious son, the first president of the Republic of the Philippines, President Manuel
Acuña Roxas.

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISION:

Roxas City is situated at the Northeastern tip of the Island of Panay within the
geographical coordinates of 122° 45’ longitude and 11° 35’ latitude. Its boundaries are: Visayan
Sea on the North, Municipality of Panit-an on the South, Municipality of Ivisan on the West, and
Municipality of Panay on the East. It is located 250 nautical miles southeast of Manila, 118
kilometers northeast of Iloilo City, and 86 kilometers east of Kalibo, Aklan. Travel Time to
Manila is 45 minutes by air and 18 hrs. by boat.

The Department of Finance prescribed a new Income Bracket Scheme for LGUs, under
Department Order No. 23-08, dated July 29, 2008 which classified Roxas City as a third class
component city. The City belongs to the first political district of the Province of Capiz along
with the Municipality of Maayon, Panay, Panit-an, Pilar, Pontevedra, and Pres, Roxas. It
comprises forty-seven (47) barangays of which thirty-one (31) are urban and sixteen (16) are
rural as per approved Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) under Resolution # 005, Series of
2008 as published in the local newspaper, The Capiz Times dated March 10-16, 2008.

ITS LAND AREA AND PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES:

Total Land Area : 10,196 hectares or 101.96 sq. km.

Urban Area : 6,418.6987 hectares (62.95%)
Rural Area : 3,777.3013 hectares (37.05%)
Land Uses : Agricultural – 3,535.4560 hectares
Fishpond – 2,068.7939 hectares
Swamps & Marshes – 693.3856
Forest – 1,237.9861
Parks & Other Recreation – 20.9456
Transport Utilities – 86.3475
 Residential – 1,144.1757 has.
Socialized Housing – 31.4212 has.
Commercial – 120.7498 has.
Industrial – 19.4264 has.
Institutional – 122.4276 has.
Special Institutional – 0.6310 has.
Grassland and Pasture – 329.2535
Mining & Quarrying – 13.8659
Agro-Industrial – 54.2574
Tourist Zone – 11.0429
Water Zone/Rivers & Creeks – 492.3858
Cemetery – 29.5134
Roads - 183.9347
Soil Type : Mostly Alluvial in Nature such as Beach Sand and
Hydrosol, Bontog Clay, San Miguel Sandy Loam and Luisuiana
Clay Loam.
Topography : Mixed Topographic Relief, majority of the area (65.05%)
belongs to the 0-3% slope category.
Climate : No pronounced season; relatively wet from May to October
and dry for the rest of the year.

2006 Average Rainfall : 177.48 mm.

2006 Average Temperature : 28.02°C
2006 Relative Humidity : Highest – 85% (January)
Lowest – 78% (May)

ITS PEOPLE:

The residents of Roxas City are peace-loving, hospitable and god-loving people. At
sundown, they pause a while from whatever they do to pray the Angelus.

As furnished by the NSO, Roxas Branch, the City’s Total Population is 147,738 based on
the result of the August 1, 2007 Census of Population. However, the whole result is not yet
available. The Average Annual Growth Rate of 1.34% in 2000 increased to 2.11% in 2007.

The following data were based on the 2000 NSO Census of Population
Literacy Rate – 95.4%
Highest Grade Completed – Elementary (40.8% of population 5 yrs. Old and over)
Major Dialect Spoken – Hiligaynon (97.1%)
Religion – 95.3% Roman Catholic
Youth Population (0-29 yrs. old) – 62.49% of the population
Dependent Population (0-14 & 65 & over years) – 39.94% of the population
Working Age Population (15-64 yrs. old) – 60.06% of the population
Labor Force Participation Rate – 57.38% of the working age population
Employed – 55.77% of the working population 15 yrs. and over
Age-Dependency Ratio – 71 dependent persons/100 working persons
2000 Actual Number of Household – 25,126
2007 Projected Number of Household – 27,450
2007 Actual Gross Density – 1,449 person/sq. km.
2007 Crude Birth Rate – 24.70 births/1,000 population
2007 Crude Death Rate – 6.62 deaths/1,000 population
Registered Voters –70,415 (January 2007)

ITS ECONOMY . . .

Roxas City has basically an agri-based economy. Farming and fishing are the major
economic activities which claim 54.96% of the city’s total land area. Although agricultural, the
city is now moving towards commercialization and industrialization as it is the center of trade
and commerce not only in the province of Capiz but also in the northern part of Panay Island.

The city has a national port, a fishing port and an airport. Visitors or transients in the city
could stay at any of the seventeen (17) available accommodation facilities and they could dine at
the twenty-one (21) restaurant and twenty-one (21) refreshment parlors.

AGRICULTURE:

A. Farming
Agricultural Crop Area Planted Annual Yield
(Effective area in ha.) (M.T.)

1. Rice 3,810.77 12,413.066

a. Irrigated 827.13 2,746.072
b. Rainfed 2,983.64 9,666.994

2. Corn 28 115 m.t.

3. Assorted Leafy Vegetables
a. Leafy 15 135 m.t.
b. Fruit 12 133 m.t.
c. Root 3 32 m.t.
4. Mungo 58* 29 m.t
5. Mango 8.10 200 m.t.
6. Bananas 25 62 m.t.
7. Citrus (Calamansi, Pomelo) 15 50 m.t.
8. Pineapple 3 30 m.t.
9. Rootcrops
a. Camote 16 124
b. Cassava, Ubi, Arrowroot 11 95
10.Plantation Crops
a. Coffee 0.53 0.09
b. Cacao 12.50 2.39
 11.Watermelon 23.00 83,000 pcs.
12.Peanut 1.00 4 m.t.
13.Coconut 537.56 2,842,221.00 nuts

* Rice Area, mungo planted after rice

B. Backyard Livestocks & Poultry Production

Kind of Animal Population

B.1. Livestock 5,140

a. Cattle 232
b. Carabao 373
c. Swine 3,905
d. Goat 630

B.2. Poultry 224,731

a. Chicken 217,310
b. Ducks 6,865
c. Turkey 556

C. Fishing
- Total Fisheries Production: 14,903.173 mt.

1. Municipal Fisheries:
No. of Fishermen : 3,343
Number of Fishing Craft : 963
Motorized – 519 with 22.0 kg average catch
Non-motorized – 444 with 1.9 kg average catch
Average Annual Production (CY-2008) – 4,783 mt.

2. Commercial Fisheries
Number of Commercial Fishing Vessel : 52
Average Annual Quantity of Fish Landed : 6,017.423 mt.

3. Aquaculture
a. Brackishwater Fishponds
Total Area – 1,950.9954 has.
Total Production - 3,578.95 mt.

a.1. Milkfish - Extensive

No. of Operators – 211
No. of Hectares – 1,948.9954
Annual Production – 3,001.355 mt.
 a.2. Tilapia – Extensive
No. of Operators – 1
No. of Hectares – 2.0
Annual Production – 1.6 mt.

Incidental:
Annual Production - 150.05 mt.

a.3. Shrimps – Polyculture with Milkfish

Annual Production – 121.80 mt.

a.4. Prawns – Polyculture with Milkfish

Annual Production – 2.5 mt

a. 5. Crabs - Polyculture with Milkfish

Annual Production – 300.0 mt.

a.6. Grouper – Extensive

Annual Production – 2.0 mt.

b. Freshwater Fishponds
Total Area: 8.0 has.
Total Annual Production: 33 mt.

b.1. Species Cultured: 6.0 has.

Tilapia – Extensive – 1.0 has. Annual Production – 3.0 mt.
Catfish –Semi-Extensive – 5.0 has. Annual Production – 30 mt.

c. Mariculture
Total Area: 55.2 has.

c.1. Grouper – 3.0 has. Annual Prod’n: 54 mt.

c.2 Oyster - 20.0 has. Annual Prod’n: 150 (3,000 sacks)
c.3 Mussel – 20.0 has. Annual Prod’n: 292.5 (5,850 sacks
@50 k/sacks)

d. Fry Production
d.1 Milkfish – No data
d.2. Tilapia – 20,000-50,000 pcs./yr.
d.3. Catfish – 100,000 – 200,000 pcs./year
d.4. Grouper Fingerling – 1,000 – 2,000 pcs./year
COMMERCE, TRADE & INDUSTRY

As for CY-2007 the number of registered establishments under the License Division of
the City Mayor totaled to 2,796 establishments. Operating in the city are twenty-two (22) banks,
twenty four (24) lending institutions, and forty one (41) pawnshop/jewelry stores.

The central business district of the city is found along Roxas Avenue and in the area
where the Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center is situated. A minor commercial center or commercial
strip could also be found along Burgos Street and Gregorio del Pilar Street, Arnaldo Boulevard
where Gaisano Mall is located. Another mall is located at San Roque Ext., beside St. Anthony
Hospital, the Gaisano Market Place. Market day in the City is Sunday.
Goods exported by the city through its national port and the port of Iloilo are mostly
agricultural and marine products like palay, rice, corn, copra, kapis shells, green mussels or
“tahong”, oyster or “talaba”, dried and fresh fish, prawns, crabs and shrimps.

Small and medium scale industries operate in the city such as an electronic
manufacturing firm, one (2) fish processing plants, the Philippine Seafood with blue crabs as its
processed species and the AA Aquacare which processed bangus, prawn and asoos, bangus and
prawn fry hatcheries, shellcraft business, rattan and wood furniture manufacturing, ice plants,
hollow blocks manufacturing, rice mills, the cutflower, garments industries, and commercial
poultry farms.

INFRASTRUCTURE & UTILITIES:

Major infrastructures in the City are the National Port, the Airport, the Libas Fishing
Port, the Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center (TATC), the Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center, the Hall of
Justice, the Jumbo Bridge, and the Roxas City Convention Hall. It has 145.7241 kilometers
(kms.) of road in which 24.30 kms. is national, 38.870 kms. is city and 82.5541 kms. is
barangays. Its bridges total to 459.25 meters (m.) of which 232.15 m. are national, 171.60 m. are
city and 55.5 m. are barangay.

The City gets its power from the Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO). The number
of connection for CY-2004 is 29,419 while the total number of houses served is 25,340. The
Metro Roxas Water District (MRWD) supplies potable drinking water to the populace. The
number of pipe water supply connection for CY 2007 is 15,010. The average water demand is
12,415.79 cu.m./day with a monthly water consumption of 373,237.34 cu.m. The average
domestic consumption is 22.33 capita per day. Supplementing the water supplied by MRWD are
wells with hand pumps and artesian wells which are constructed through the Barangay Water
Program (BWP) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
 The major mode of transportation in the city is the tricycle. The total number of units to
legitimately serve the needs of the riding public is three-thousand five hundred (3500) but only
three thousand three hundred seventy-seven (3,377) units were renewed under the Tricyle
Franchising & Regulatory Unit. Inter and provincial mobility of residents and their cargo are
serviced by vans, buses and jeepneys. Mid of October last year, five (5) “Capiz Cabs” started to
operate in the city and there’s still five (5) units coming out this year. Sea transportation is served
by one (1) shipping company, the Moreta Lines plying the route of Roxas to Manila. Roro buses
are also available to cater passengers bound for Manila plying the route of Roxas-Caticlan-
Calapan Mindoro-Batangas-Manila and vice-versa. Passengers and cargoes transported by air are
catered by Philippine Airlines B-737 aircraft, Cebu Pacific, Aboitiz Air Cargo and other
chartered cargo planes.

Communication facilities are catered by the Philippine Long Distance and Telephone
Company (PLDT), Bureau of Telecommunications (BUTEL), PT&T, RCPI-Bayantel,
Globelines-Islacom and cellular phone companies: Smart, Talk n Text, Globe, Touch Mobile &
Sun Cellular. Internet services are also available like PLDT My DSL, PLDT Vibe, Globe
Broadband and Smart Bro. Printing needs of the populace are served by eleven printing
companies while broadcast media is catered by 4 radio stations namely: AM – DYJJ,
DYOW – Bombo Radyo, DYVR – Radio Agong / RMN – FM.-Star FM. We have two (2) cable
television stations operating in the City. The Wesfardell Cable Services and the Filvision, Inc.
(Altocable) wherein more than 3,000 subscribers and their families are being served. An ABS-
CBN Television relay station is now operating in the city.

The city residents have access to various type of reading materials such as newspapers
and magazines, both foreign and local. There is one locally published weekly newspaper in the
city, the Capiz Times. Regional and national dailies are also available daily. To cater the needs
of the students, a Provincial Library at Capitol Building and two (2) bookstores: Jade & Libro
are also available.

SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES:

A city Social Development Council has been established for the city to effectively deliver
the social services to its constituents through the different programs under health, education,
shelter, and social welfare. The various programs that address issues concerning social welfare
services are: health services, family planning, population awareness and sex education, self-
employment assistance, practical skills training, adult education, non-formal education, nutrition,
low-cost housing and livelihood. A total of forty-eight (48) day care centers in thirty-eight (38)
barangays are being operated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Also
functioning in the city are St. Loise de Marillac Home for the Aged and the St. Joseph de
Cotolengo Orphanage which are both privately owned and operated.

There are sixty-two (62) schools in the city, forty-nine (49) are public, ten (10) are
private and three (3) are vocational/technical. Of these educational institutions, those that cater
to the post secondary level of education are (1) state university and five (5) private schools. In
addition to the existing educational institutions, three (3) computer schools cater to the computer
technology learning. Internet facilities are also available.

Government health facilities in the city include one (1) hospital, a City Health Center,
seven (7) Barangay Health Stations and a Chest Clinic. Privately owned operated health
facilities include three (3) hospitals, four (4) diagnostic centers and a number of medical and
dental clinics.

Roxas City is a place known for its tranquility. To this day, it still lives up to its being
peaceful. The PNP Station Command is active in its role as gatekeeper of peace and order as
well as the seven (7) police outposts situated in Loctugan, Lonoy, Adlawan, Balijuagan, Libas,
Tanza and Ellieta St. For fire protection, the Roxas City Fire Station has three (3) fire trucks,
with a water capacity of 4,000 liters each and thirty-eight (38) fire hydrants strategically located
around the City. The Capiz Citizens Action Group (CACAG), a private volunteer organization
has two (2) fire trucks and is active in supplementing the services rendered by the Bureau of Fire
Protection.

There are twenty-nine (29) accredited Non-Government Organization (NGO) that

actively participate in the development task of the City.

ITS ATTRACTION:

1. Baybay Beach
2. Laplaya de Roxas
3. Olotayan Island
4. Mangrove Eco-Park
5. Capiz National High School
6. Roxas City Cathedral
7. Ancestral House of the late Pres. Manuel A. Roxas
8. Roxas City Museum – “Ang Panublion”
9. Sinadya sa Halaran – Every 1st week of December
10. Marine Products
11. Shellcraft

ITS FINANCES:

With a total actual revenue of Php 297,797,476.86 and an actual expenditure of Php
273,420.886.80 in 2007, the City realized a savings of P24,376,590.06.

ITS VISION AND ASPIRATION:

 The present administration would not just dream of goals without doing anything about
them. Together with its people it will work to accomplish without fail the monumental task of
economic recovery. As its vision goes “ The Seafood Capital of the country that serves as
Economic Gateway in Northern Panay, frequented by tourists for its scenic and healthy coastal
environment sustainably managed by empowered, globally competitive Kapisnons with Divine
guidance and provisions.” In line with this vision is to establish conditions that would assure
equal and fair opportunities for all to attain better quality of life and a just share of the bountiful
resources that God has blessed this City.

ITS PRESENT LEADERSHIP:

Hon. Vicente B. Bermejo - - - - - - - - - - - - City Mayor

Hon. Ronnie T. Dadivas- - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Vice-Mayor
Hon. Erwin B. Sicad - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod
Hon. Amador P. Anisco, Jr. - - - - - - - - - - - Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod
Hon. Gregorio Crisostomo A. Arcenas- - - - Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod
Hon. Herbert S. Chu- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod
Hon. Ramon A. Albar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod
Hon. Jose D. Agdalipe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod
Hon. Rolando V. Ignacio - - - - - - - - - - - - - Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod
Hon. Carla B. Abela- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod
Hon. Dennis Q. Altobano - - - - - - - - - - - - Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod
Hon. Rogelio A. Delfin - - - - - - - - - - - - - Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod
Hon. Katrina Barrios - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - SK Federation President
Mr. Dino Beluso - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SP Secretary
Mr. Rey Cordenillo - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Administrator
Atty. Napoleon Oducado - - - - - - - - - - - - City Legal Officer
Ms. Lorelei B. Piansay - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Planning & Dev’t. Coordinator
Mr. Rogelio Arcangeles - - - - - - - - - - - - - OIC – City Civil Registrar
Mr. Joselito Almodiente - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Treasurer
Mrs. Norma Billones - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Assessor
Dra. Amelita Robles, M.D. - - - - - - - - - - - City Health Services Officer
Engr. Ardeili Ambrosio - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Engineer’s Office
Mr. Glenn L. Amane - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City General Services Officer
Mrs. Teresita T. Bidiones - - - - - - - - - - - City Accountant
Mrs. Gilda F. Fernando - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Budget Officer
Mrs. Emperatriz D. Tañala - - - - - - - - - - - - OIC (Population Project Officer III)
Mrs. Cynthia Besana - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Social Welfare & Dev’t. Officer
Mr. Salvador B. Borda - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Agriculturist
Mr. Roberto Dante Corros - - - - - - - - - - - - City Veterinarian
Mr. Rodolfo B. Maestro, Jr. - - - - - - - - - - - City Tourism Officer
Mrs. Gilda P. Maceda - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Auditor
Pros. Erwin Ignacio - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Prosecutor
Atty. Julie Mae Monique M. Abela - - - - - - City Register of Deeds
Judge Jeffrey Almalbis - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Judge, Branch I
Judge Elias A. Conlu - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Judge, Branch II
P/Supt. Leo T. Batilles - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Chief of Police
Sr. Insp. Lester Kenneth C. Gimodea - - - - City Fire Marshall
Ma. Jade D. Bernas - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - OIC-CLGOO
Dr. Jessie M. Gomez- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - School Division Superintendent
Atty. Wil S. Arceño - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Acting Election Officer
Mr. Roberto Bonilla - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Probation Officer
Atty. Reuben Borres - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PLEB Chairman

Prepared by:

Research Evaluation & Statistics Division

Rsd020909 City Planning & Development Office