[
Brief History ] [ Location
and Accessibility ] [ Resources Profile
]
[ Economic Profile ] [
Development Potentials ]
[ Infrastructure
and Utilities ]
|
|
BRIEF
HISTORY
|
In 1847,
Francisco Areola was granted permission by the military Governor of Capiz,
Don Juan Silverio, to take fifty families from Navas, (now town in the
Province of Aklan) to establish a settlement in Punat Bolocawi which is
now a part of Carles. This place proved to be inadequate to satisfy the
settlers for food, so moved to the lowland that became the present Municipality
of Carles. The settlers grow in number and for food, so they become acute.
In the latter part of 1852, Areola commissioned Vicente Navales to look
for a place with a better food supply. As Vicente Navales moved Southward,
he came upon a vast plain of level land that perfectly responded to their
needs. Near the bank of the river where the Barangay of Maya is located
the first settlement was formed.
How this
municipality got its name could not be ascertained because of the many
versions then prevailing. Some say that Balasan derived its name from "Balas"
meaning sand which are still found in abundance along the Banks of Bangon
River where the first settlement was founded. Others claimed that during
the early years of the settlement there was a band of settlers from Abaca,
Passi, all surnamed Balasa. This family formed the greatest number of settlers
and that the settlement was named in their honor. Up to this time there
are still inhabitants in Barangay Batuan with this family name.
|
|
|
|
|
LOCATION
AND ACCESSIBILITY
|
Approximately
a hundred and thirty three (133) kilometers away from the heart of the
city lies the Municipality of Balasan, the 2nd to the last town of the
Province of Iloilo.
The exact
location of Balasan is at coordinates 123 degrees 5’ 10" latitude 11 degrees
28’ 30’ longitude. It is bounded on the North by the Municipality of Carles,
on the South by the Municipality of Batad, on the East by the Municipality
of Estancia, on the West by the Municipality of Pilar, Province of Capiz.
Balasan
is the furthest Municipality on the northern portion of Iloilo Province.
It serves as the boundary between the province of Capiz and the Province
of Iloilo. Furthermore, the town is accessible to Iloilo City the provincial
Capital as well as the regional center of the Western Visayas.
|
|
|
|
|
RESOURCES
PROFILE
|
Land
Area
Topography
-
Flat lans,
gentle and sloping hills characterize the geographical features of Balasan.
|
|
|
|
|
ECONOMIC
PROFILE
|
Major
Industries
There
are seven cono-type ricemills operating in the municipality. They
are all located in the poblacion. These ricemills hav an estimated total
milling capacity of 400 cavans of rice/day. In addition, there are also
12 kiskisan rice mills distributed among the barangays.
An ice
and cold storage plant is located approximately 500 m. from the public
market. This plant provides facilities for fish storage and other perishable
food items. It also manufactures ice for fish shipment and for daily use
in the vicinity and neighbouring towns.
There
is also a feed mill operating in the poblacion. It mills and sells
livestock feeds to local livestock and poultry growers.
Other
industrial establishments include hollow block factories, automotive repair
facilities, a welding shop and a meke factory located at brgy. Maya
which is 1.5 km. from the poblacion.
|
|
|
|
|
DEVELOPMENT
POTENTIALS
|
Agriculture
will continue to expand and play the main role in the growth and stability
of the economy. With proper package of technology, infrastructure and financial
support on the existing agricultural areas, it offers vast potentials for
high value non-traditional crops such as buyo, ginger and other plantation
crops.
The possibility
of manufacturing and processing centers for concession of agricultural
products to semi-processed or proceeds goods will help shift industries
towards agri-based labor-intensive industries.
As agro-industrialization
proceeds, the outputs of agriculture will represent a declining share of
gross output of the economy while the share of the manufacturing and services
increases. Thus, agriculture being firmly in place, the creation of commercial
and industrial projects should be given priority. By then, the vision of
a "progressive rural economy propelled by dynamic agriculture, self reliance
and sustainable economic growth" would be a reality.
|
|
|
|
|
INFRASTRUCTURE
AND UTILITIES
| Barangay
Road |
50.70
kms. |
| Provincial
Road |
3.6
and 9.5 kms. from sitio Nabitasan to brgy. Zaragosa |
| Total
Roads |
77.5
kms |
Transportation
-
110 registered vehicles in the municipality of which
-
tricycle
- 39 units
-
bus -
34
-
motorcycle
- 20
-
jeepney
- 110
-
private
vehicle - 6
Entertainment
Facilities
-
movie
house - 1
-
basketball
courts - 10 (2 in the poblacion)
-
multi-purpose
squares - 15 (for community programs
-
cockpit
- 1 (in brgy. Kinalkalan)
Communication
Facilities
-
Post Office
-1
-
Telegraph
Station -1
Medical
Facilities
-
Rural
Health Centers -1
-
Barangay
Health Stations - 4
Schools
-
Elementary
Schools - 12
-
Primary
Schools - 3
-
Secondary
Schools -1
|
|
|
|
