POTOTAN1

POTOTAN

“Road to development cannot be transversed in a day. I t takes years to travel and the time getting longer. The planners of the comprehensivwe Land use plan worked

for several months to come up with the ambitious plan involving all the sectors of the community. The plan has undergone a number of changes to keep attune to the

changing mode of time”.

Pototan is one of the 43 municipalities in the Province of Iloilo. It is composed of 50 barangays:

Abangay, Amamaros, Bagacay, Barasan, Batuan, Bongco, Cahaguikican, Callan, Cansilayan, Casalsagan, Cato-ogan, Cau-ayan, Culob, Danao, Dapitan, Dawis, Dongsol, Fundacion, Guibuangan, Guinacas, Igang, Intaluan, Iwa Ilaud, Iwa Ilaya, Jamabalud, Jebioc, Lay-ahan, Lumbo, Macatol, Malusgod, Nabitasan, Naga, Nanga, Naslo, Pajo, Palanguia, Pitogo, Pulot-an, Purog, Rumbang, Sinuagan,

Tuburan, Tumcon Ilaud, Tumcon Ilaya, Ubang, Zarrague, Fernando Parcon Ward, Lopez Jaena Ward, Primitivo Ledesma Ward and San Jose Ward

HISTORY OF POTOTAN

The first people of Pototan were the family of Datu Ramon, grandson of Datu Puti, a Malay from the town of Dumangas. They first settled at Barangay Naslo, which was formerly the Poblacion. In that place was found

a luxuriant growth of trees called "putat", after which the place was subsequently

called "Kaputatan" (Place of many Putat trees). However, due to its hilly terrain and the arduousness of securing their water supply, they decided to move nearer the bank of the Suague River, which turned later into a flourishing place; now called Pototan.

The arrival of the Spaniards in 1593 sparked new changes in the socio-economic and political life of the natives. The natives were converted to Catholicism through the efforts of Augustinian Friars. The settlement was subsequently made into a Parish. Education, though at the onset only for the privileged few, was introduced. The name "Kaputatan", which the Spanish have difficulty pronouncing, was changed to "Pototan".

To improve the economic and social condition of the place, the Spaniards introduced and built roads and bridges.

They constructed the Tribunal or Municipal Hall under the supervision of Don Tomas Sajen and Don Escribano with the natives contributing the labor force. The Tribunal was able to withstand the wrath of the last global war and in the early 50s was modified into what is now the Western Visayas Hospital.

In 1874, Pototanons were given the opportunity to run their own political affairs with the appointment of Don Juan Marcelo as the first Capitan Municipal. This form of government continued until the arrival of the Americans.

During the incumbency of Capitan Municipal Braulio Peñaranda, a horrifying event happened—something that the Pototanons will never forget—the Cholera outbreak of 1891. Old folks who were able to survive the epidemic can still recall the torment and anguish of their townmates afflicted by the unexpected plague. Because of the absence of medicine, many lives were lost.

During the Philippine Revolution, Pototanons such as Teresa Magbanua (known as the Joan of arc of the Visayas) and her two brothers, Elias and Pascual Magbanua took up arms and joined the revolution.

The coming of Americans in 1899 is another highlight in the town's history. Under the Americans, the natives were granted the freedom of speech and worship. Education was liberalized; more and better roads and bridges were constructed. Improvements were also noticed in the economic,

social and cultural life of the people. During this period Tan Anoy was the (first) Presidente Municipal of the town.

During the incumbency of Presidente Municipal Primitivo Ledesma, the Pototanons again witnessed another unforgettable event: the burning of the entire half of the poblacion in November 1914. The cause of the fire is unknown.

When the Philippine Constitution was ratified in 1935, another change in the town's local governance was introduced: the title of Municipal President was changed to Municipal Mayor. The late Fernando Parcon was the first Municipal Mayor. He was succeeded by Mariano Peñaflorida in 1940 and served his constituents until September 16, 1942.

The coming of the Japanese during World War II spread chaos and fear among Pototanons. Mayor Peñaflorida continued to act as Mayor under the Free Revolutionary Government of Tomas Confessor. While the Japanese Imperial Forces designated Tomas Ferraris as Mayor under its puppet government.

In spite of the ravages of the last global war, especially in the Poblacion, the municipality rose from the ruins and made tremendous progress within a short span of time. Some returned to rice fields, while some open businesses to earn a living.

Aside from rice, the lifeblood of the town includes sugarcane, fruits and vegetables. To supplement the family income many Pototanons engage in cottage industries such as pottery, sawali making, basket weaving, mat making, loom weaving, poultry and livestock raising with financial assistance from the government.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Land Area

Pototan is the 24th largest municipality in the Province of Iloilo. Based on the data taken from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), it has a total land area of 9, 710.1664 hectares.

Geographical Location

            The Municipality of Pototan is situated at the central part of Western Visayas. It lies within 10°00’00” and 11°00’00” East longitude and within 122°34’00” NS 122°42’00”.

Boundaries:

North and Northeast :Municipality of Dingle East : Municipality of Barotac Nuevo South : Municipality of Zarraga Southwest :Municipality of New Lucena West : Municipality of Mina, Northwest : Municipality of Badiangan.

It is 29 kilometers North of Iloilo City.

Topography and Slope

The Municipality of Pototan is generally flat while some portions are hilly and rolling with the highest elevation of 30 to 50 meters above sea level. The dominant slope of the area ranges from 0-30% occupying an area of approximately 8,254.066 hectares while 1,456.599 hectares have slope of 3.1-5%.

Soil Type

There are three (3) kinds of soil types found in the Municipality of Pototan namely: Alimodian Clay Loam, 818 hectares or 8.4%; Sta. Rita Clay, 6,773.46 hectares or 69.77%; and Umigan Fine Sandy Loam, 2,118.7 hectares or 21.83%.

Mineral Resources

1.       Limestone. A material for barangay roads maintenance that can be found in Barangay Igang.

2.       Sand and Gravel. Can be taken in Jalaur and Suague Rivers.

Hydrology

1.       Rivers

The town is traversed by two (2) rivers and nine (9) creeks. These rivers are Jalaur from the mountain of Calinog and Suage River from the mountain of Janiuay.            

2.       Natural Springs

Natural Springs and ground water are common sources for potable water in Barangay Danao, Amamaros, Tumcon Ilaud, Dawis, Bongco, Casalsagan, Lay-ahan, Palanguia, Pitogo and Purog.

Climate

1.       Seasons

Pototan , like other municipalities in the Province of Iloilo has two (2) seasons, namely: wet and dry. Dry season occurs from the month of January to April and wet during the rest of the year.

2.       Typhoons

The Province of Iloilo is not within the country’s typhoon belt area. However, Typhoons occasionally occur all over the provincial area when the westerly winds from Sibuyan Sea begin to unleash its strength.

3. Temperature

When typhoons occur, usually the municipality is affected by heavily rain showers and turbulent winds. The temperature in Pototan is variant due to the combined influence of topography and air steam direction.

Economic Resorces Major Industries:rice mills, hog farms, poultries and telephone companies.

Agriculture

Out of 94,494,.5290 square meters or 9,449.45 hectares, 85% or a total of 7,559.56 hectares are being utilized for agricultural purposes.

“Pototan is now the top rice producing town in the Province of Iloilo. Also noteworthy is the fact that it has produced many outstanding farmers through the years”.

Total Land Area Devoted to Agriculture : 7,559.56 has.

Riceland Area : 6,414.94 has.

Total Irrigated Area (Riceland) : 5,162.24 has.

Total Non-Irrigated Area (Riceland) : 1,252.70 has.

Total Carpable Area : 1,023.7733 has.

Post Harvest Facilities

Threshers : 280

Mechanical Dryer : 22

Solar Dryer : 65

Rice Mill : 14

Ware House : 17

Kiskisan : 40

Mechanical blower : 145

Warehouse with Dryer : 1

Commerce and Industry

Number of Establishment : 904

Banking Corporation : Allied Banking Corp., Rural bank

of Pototan, Rural bank of Anilao

Public Market : 2

Poultry and Piggery : 9 poultries, 8 piggeries

Ricemills : 22 (including traveling ricemills)

Tourism

Tourism Attraction

1. Christmas Capital of Region VI – Poblacion

2. Public Plaza – Poblacion

3. Pototan Coliseum (Astrodome) – Poblacion

4. Metanoia Hill – Barangay Amamaros

5. Obelisk – Poblacion

6. Roman Catholic Cemetery – Barangay Rumbang

7. Guanco Inland Resort – Barangay Dapitan

Demography

Population trend

Using the geometric method of computing growth rate per census year reveals that the average growth rate of Pototan is 2.1% annually. The average rate of expansion has been estimated at 10% per year.

Population Distribution

With an average of 9,449,459 hectares and a total of 60,127 people, the municipality is considered under populated since only six person occupy a hectare of land.

Population

Presently, there are an estimated 10,021 families of which 1,359 reside in the poblacion. The average number of persons per household is six.

Current Population : 66,047

Urban : 8,993 Rural : 57,054 Male : 28,180(estimated)Fermale: 28,160(estimated)

Population Density : 7 persons / hectare

Population Growth : 1.566% annually

Crude Birth Rate : 0.06% annually

Crude Death Rate : 0.02% annually

Infant Mortality Rate : 0.03% annually

SOCIAL CLASSES

EDUCATION AND LITERACY

            Literacy Rate               :           98.5%

   Nursery Schools          :           Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion (CIC), School of Jesus Ministry at Brgy. Cato-ogan, Pototan Christian

                                       Learning Center at Brgy. Rumbang, Pototan, Baptist

                                           Church Learning Center at P. Ledesma Street

Elementary Schools

             Private             :           Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion (CIC)

                                                            West Visayas Academy

Public               :          District- I (14) Barangay Elementary School:

Barasan Elem. School, Batuan Elem. School,

    Cansilayan Elem. School, Dapitan Elem. School, Dongsol Elem. School,            Doña Trinidad Elem. School, Guibuangan Elem. School, Igang Elem. School, Jamabalud Elem. School, Maravilla Elem. School Matias Yusay Elem. School, San Juan Elem. School,Tuburan Elem. School, Pototan Pilot Elem. School.

District-II (14) Barangay Elementary School:

Rizal Elem. School, Amamaros Elem. School Cahaguikican Elem. School, Casalsagan Elem. School,Danao Elem. School, Guinacas Elem. School, Iwa Macatol Elem. School,  Lay-ahan Elem. School, Lumbo Elem. School, Nabitasan Elem. School, Naslo Elem. School, Palanguia Elem. School, Sinuagan Elem. School, Ubang Elem. School

Secondary Schools

Private         : Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion, West Visayas Academy

Public             :           Alberto Sorongon Sr. Memorial National High School, Jamabalud National High School, Palanguia National High School, Pototan National Comprehensive High School,

Jose Facultad National High School

          Tertiary School (Public):        West Visayas State University, Pototan Campus