MUNICIPALITY OF MIAG-AO

Mayor: JULIETA N. FLORES Vice Mayor: RAUL FACON [ Brief History ] [ Location and Accessibility ] [ Resource Profile ] [ Demographic Profile ] [ Economic Profile ] [ Interesting Places ] [ Infrastructure and Utilities ] [ Gallery ] BRIEF HISTORY

Miag-ao became an independent municipality in 1716. It used to be a part or arrabal of several towns in the first District in Iloilo.  

From 1716 to the present, Miag-ao has had 133 townheads with Julieta Noble Flores as the incumbent Mayor.  

How it derived its name has several versions. Firstly, it was believed that the word Miag-ao came from the name of a plant that grew abundantly in the place then called "Miagos". Secondly, it was derived from the name of an old Negrito called Miyagaw who when asked of the name of the place by the Spaniards, gave his name instead. The Spaniards mistook the answer as the response to their query.  

There is a third version, which relates that the name Miagao came from the love story of two young lovers Maya and Gao.

 

---

Miag-ao is one of the seven towns comprising the First District of Iloilo Province. It is situated 40 kilometers Southwest of Iloilo City and 58 kilometers from San Jose, the capital town of Antique.  

Overlooking the island of Negroes towards South China Sea, Miag-ao is bounded by the towns of Igbaras to the Northeast, by Guimbal to the East, by San Joaquin to the West and by Sibalom, Antique to the Northwest.

How to get there:

• 55 minutes by plane from Manila to Iloilo City.
• 30 minutes by plane from Cebu City to Iloilo City.
• 18-hour travel time via ship from Manila to Iloilo City.
• 40 minutes travel via bus / jeepney from Iloilo City.
• 1 hour ride by bus / jeepney from Antique.

 

---

Land Area 

The municipality has a total land area of 15,722.04 hectares. The poblacion, composed of eight (8) barangays, has an area of 299.54 hectares while the rest of the 119 barangays has a total area 15,422.50 hectares.

Land Use

• Agricultural Land - 9,225 hectares

Areas Planted with Fruit Trees - 1,511.15 hectares
• Open Grass Lands - 128.65 hectares
• University of the Philippines in the Visayas (Presently Acquired) - 518.1805 hectares
• Institutional / Commercial / Residential - 1,153,859.5 hectares
• Forest Resources

Forest Area - 2,260 hectares 
Natural Forest Growth - 187 hectares 
Integrated Social Forestry Area - 338.20 hectares

Topography 

Miag-ao is partly coastal and partly mountainous town. In general, its terrain is rolling with mountain ranges serving as border between Miag-ao and part of the Province of Antique and other neighboring towns of Iloilo.  

The poblacion is situated in a hill overlooking the sea and public institutions are located in a plateau. The low and high mountains lying close to the river, plus the narrow coastal plains stretching 16 kilometers are varied topographical features of Miag-ao.

Soils Type

• Alimodian Clay Loam
• Sta. Rita Clay Loam
• Umingan Fine Sandy Loam
• Alimodian Soil Undifferentiated
• Beach sand

Mineral Resources  

It has abundant source of ceramic clay used for potteries and mixtures of sand and lime structure called the Miag-ao stone used as building material like the one used in building the Miag-ao church.

 

---

Miag-ao has a reported total population of 52,276 people based on the latest census report of the National Census and Statistics Office

Ethnic Groups - Nomadic Aetas

 

---

Agriculture

Miag-ao is basically an agricultural town with rice production as the primary crop. Yellow and White corn are considered as secondary crops while mongo, peanuts, bulbs, onions, tomatoes, eggplants, and root crops are also produced as alternate crops.
Fishery - Bangus and other species fry, varied speciesof adult fishes.
Livestock - Cattles, Carabaos, Hogs and Swines, Goats and Poultry

Major industries

Aside from agriculture, many are also engaged in salt making, bamboo craft, pottery making, loom weaving, candy making, fish preservation, peanut products processing and fishing.

---

Attractions

• Miag-ao Roman Catholic Church - Listed in the World Heritage List
• Kuta Watch Stone - watch tower constructed with the same material as the Roman Catholic Church, located in Barangay Baybay Norte, Poblacion.
• Old Taytay Boni Old Bridge - constructed of the same materials as the old Roman Catholic Church, located in Barangay Igtuba.
• Tinagong Dagat - A wonderful and mysterious lake located in Barangay Ongyod, one of the higher upland barangays in the Municipality.
• Sinuhutan Cave - A magnificent cave located in Barangay Onop, also an upland barangays of the Municipality.
• Nabugsukan Falls - Accessible and unspoiled waterfalls with fresh and clear running water located in Barangay Dalije.
• Danao Lake
• Mini-Rice Terraces
• Haven of Ferns
• Hidden Castle
• Winding Rivers
• Rainforest
• Bugtong Bato
• Robin Cave
• Rocky Mountain
• Guib ni Tikoy
• Tabay Falls

Interesting economic activities

• The Loom Weaving
• The Bamboo Craft Making
• The Salt Making
• The Pottery Making
• The Ceramics and Clay Products

Tourist Facilties

Resorts - 4  

Transportation

• Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) - 105 units
• Tricycle - 271 units
• Taxi
• Busses en route Antique - Iloilo City

Sports and Recreation Centers

• Municipal and Barangay Multi-purpose Pavements - 63
• Cultural Hall - 1
• Billiard Hall - 4
• Video Tape Rental Establishments - 3
• Video Game Establishments - 3
• Videoke Bars - 3
• Bowling Lanes and Dart Hall - 1

Roads

National Road (asphalted) - 15 kilometer
Provincial Road (all weather/gravel) - 31 kilometer
Municipal Road (concrete) - 11.2 kilometer
Barangay Road (all weather earth/gravel) - 82.3 kilometer

Bridges

National (concrete) - 5;  (steel) - 1
Provincial (bailey) - 5
Municipal (hanging footbridge) – 2

Communication facilities

Radio / Cable TV
Southern Iloilo Cable Inc. (SICI) CATV
FM Radio Relay Station (DWST)
Aerial Broadcast TV and AM?FM Radio

Telegraph/Telephone/Telegram

Southern Iloilo Telephone Company (SITELCO)
PLDT Company Toll Station
Bureau of Telecommunications (BUTEL)
RCPI
PT&T
Privately owned cellular phones and fax machines
INTERNET (UPV Miag-ao Computer Center)
ISLACOM

Schools

Educational Institutions
University - 1
College- 1
High School
Public (National High Schools ) – 4
Private – 1
Elementary
Private (up to Grade V) - 1
Public (up to Grade IV) - 1
Public - 29
Pre-Elementary
Private - 2
Public -22

[ Brief History ] [ Location and Accessibility ] [ Resource Profile ] [ Demographic Profile ] [ Economic Profile ] [ Interesting Places ] [ Infrastructure and Utilities ] [ Gallery ]