Region 6

Total Land Area: 2,079,418 ha. Provinces: 6

. Cities: 16

Municipalities: 117 Barangays: 4,051 Agricultural Land Area:6 66,917 ha. Temporary Crop Land: 497,446 ha. Idle Land: 6,889 ha. Permanent Crop Land: 128,140 ha. Meadows/Pasture: 4,491 ha. Forest Land: 3,003 ha. Other Land: 24,203 ha.

Population (2010) Total Population: 7,102,438 Growth Rate (2000-2010): 1.35 percent Climate: Type I Dialect: Ilonggo, Karay-a and Akeanon Poverty incidence among families: 23.80 percent

Western valley

Western valley

is comprised of six provinces: Province/City Capital Aklan Kalibo Antique San Jose de Buenavista Capiz Roxas City Guimaras Jordan Iloilo Iloilo City Negros Occidental Bacolod 16 Cities Bacolod City Himalayan City, Iloilo City Kabankalan City Bago Cty, La Carlota City Roxas City, Sagay City Cadiz City, Passi City, San Carlos City Silay City Escalante City Sipalay City Talisay City Victorias City

REGIONAL CENTER ; ILOILO CITY

Province of AKLAN

. Aklan is the biggest producer of Piña Cloth, "The Queen of Philippine

Fabrics".  . Aklan is famous for Boracay, a resort island one kilometer north from the tip of Panay. It is known for its white sandy beaches and is considered as one of the more prominent destinations in the country.

. Farming is the basic livelihood in the interior while fishing is the basic livelihood in the coasts. Poorer inhabitants also migrate seasonly to other provinces and islands, particularly Negros, to work mostly in plantations. Some of these migrants include minors.

. Despite its vibrant tourism industry and substantial agriculture, the

province is still considered as one of the poorer provinces in the country with more than 30% of the population living below the national poverty line. 

Livelihood Aklan depends greatly on agriculture. The massive and sustained education and research in agriculture production, the implementation of national program in agriculture, well-established marketing strategies, as well as the support of the agribusiness industry and other private and non-government sectors, result to better production and higher income of the farmers. Palay ProductionPalay is still the number one crop grown in the province.

Livestock and Poultry ProductionIn general, Aklan is sufficient in meat and other livestock and poultry products, though in the inventory of livestock and poultry in the year 2000, hog and chicken had a decrease in population from 114,890 heads of hogs and 886,597 heads of chickens in 1999 to 95,950 heads of hogs and 782,820 heads of chicken in the 2000.

Coconut ProductionCoconut still occupies the largest area planted among major permanent agriculture crops. The total area planted with coconut is 32,276 hectares (ha.).

  Other Permanent Major CropsAside from palay and coconut, other major crops that contributed to uplift the economy of Aklan are being developed. These are high valued crops with export potential, such as banana (Lakatan), mango, rambutan, and lanzones; and fiber crops such as piña fiber and abaca. Fishery ProductionAquaculture constitutes a significant component in the province's fishery industry. The province has a total fishpond area of 7,807.14 hectares (ha.), of which 7,749.9247 ha. Are fully developed and only 57,2153 ha. are underdeveloped.

Aklan Festivities

Kalibo's Ati-atihan Festival The Ati-Atihan, held every January in the town of Kalibo in the province of Aklan on the island of Panay, is the wildest among Philippine fiestas. Celebrants paint their faces with black soot and wear bright, outlandish costumes as they dance in revelry during the last three days of this week-long festival. The Ati-Atihan,  a feast in honor of the Santo Niño, is celebrated on the second Sunday after Epiphany.

Nabas' Bariw Festival   is celebrated to commemorate the feast day of St. Isidore the Farmer, the town's patron saint. It is celebrated annually from May 12–15. 

Province of Antique

. antique the “Gemstone Country”

.“antique” (an'tek), which means “ancient”, “out of date”, “old fashioned”.

. Antique has deposits of metallic and non-metallic mineral resources. The metallic mineral resources include copper, gold, chromite, pyrite, iron, manganese and ferro alloy and limestone.

Province of Capiz

.The Province of Capiz is known as the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines” due to its abundance in marine life from prawns to crabs, marlins to catfish, and mussels to angel wings (diwal).

.Farming and fishing are the primary sources of income of the people. Sinadya sa Halaran is a merging of the Roxas City Fiesta "SinadyA” and the Province celebration of "Halaran".

. “ Sinadya sa Halaran" is a commemoration of the feast of the patroness of Roxas City which is the Immaculate Concepcion and a thanksgiving. It literally means "Joy in Sharing and Thanksgiving" . 

Province of Guimaras . “mango country”

. palay, coconut, mango,

vegetables, livestock, poultry and fishing as major products.

.major industries are tourism,

fruit processing, coconut processing, fish farming, handicrafts making,

mining, quarrying and lime production.

. Guimaras' largest event of the year is The Manggahan Festival (the Mango Festival).

Province of Iloilo “Food Basket & Rice Granary of Western Visayas”

Province of Negros Occidental .Known as the "Sugarbowl of the Philippines“

.Bacolod City is known for the

popular Masskara Festival which takes place here Oct. 1-20.

Western valley Natural Resources Western Visayas is one of the richest regions in the country. Forty-three percent of the region's land resources are devoted to agricultural purposes. It is the largest producer of sugar and was the third largest rice producer among the regions. Sugarcane covers the majority of area in Negros Occidental and rain fed or irrigated Palay in Panay. The region also produces coconut, banana, fruits, root crops and vegetables. Its forests however have been denuded due to indiscriminate logging. Its waters produce numerous species of fish and other marine products. Western Visayas exports prawn, tuna and other fish products. Mineral resources include copper, gold, silver, clay, limestone, coal, sand and gravel and other non-metallic. 

Western valley CULTURAL GROUPS The region’s ethno linguistic people are called Panay-Hiligaynons (Ilonggos, Aklanons, Capiceños, Antiqueños and Negrenses).

CLIMATE The province has no pronounced climate. It has a short dry season and is relatively wet the rest of the year.

LAND USE Region VI is an agricultural region with an area of around 1.05 M hectares or 52% of the total land area. 35.4% of this is Riceland. The region also produces sugar, coconut, banana, fruits, root crops and vegetables.

It is one of the top food producers in the country. It is the largest producer of sugar, 63% of the total sugar produced in 1996. In 1996, it was the third largest rice producer among the regions, third ranking marine fish producer, and fourth largest aquaculture supplier.

INDUSTRIES

The major economic activities of the region are farming, sugar, rice and corn milling, fishing, mining and trading. Forward and backward integration in production, processing or marketing are good areas for investment. Other important industries include livestock and poultry raising and cottage industries such as rattan craft, food preservation, ceramics and confectionery manufacturing.

The region has a competitive advantage in the production of seaweeds, mangoes, pineapple, banana and cashew. URBAN CENTERS The major trading and commercial centers of Western Visayas are the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Cadiz, La Carlota, San Carlos and Silay in Negros Occidental; Iloilo City in Iloilo; Roxas City in Capiz; San Jose in Antique and Kalibo in Aklan.

Metropolitan Iloilo, composed of Iloilo city and the municipalities of Oton, San Miguel, Pavia and Leganes, is planned to be the center for residential, commercial, financial and industrial activities for the region. 

FACILITIESThe road network of Panay is almost 2,000 kilometers. Iloilo has the longest stretch of paved roads. The region has several seaports and airports for both water and air travel. Telephone, postal and telegraphic services are available. Electricity and water supply are accessible to the population. 

Languages The languages native to the inhabitants of Western Visayas are: Hiligaynon - spoken in Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, and Capiz. Capiznon - spoken in Capiz Kinaray-a - spoken in Antique and parts of Iloilo, Capiz and Aklan. Akeanon - spoken in Aklan. Malaynon - spoken in Aklan. Cebuano - spoken in the northern parts of Negros Occidental and its municipalities and cities which are facing Tañon Strait towards Cebu.

Accessibility and Availability * FISHING ACCESS SITES * Availability of land * ACCESS TO MINE SITES * Availability of livelihood * ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION land transportation Sea transportation Air transportation

SAFETY and SECURITY The Philippine Army (PA) here has assured people in Aklan that their troops continue to sustain their pursuit of peace and security to safeguard communities and vital facilities in the province.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

• Champorado sugar industry• Seaweed processing• Marble processing• Gemstone and semi-precious stone processing• Coco oil mill• Livestock and poultry processing• Food Processing• Marine products processing• Furniture, handicraft, metal craft• Fiber extraction/processing/weaving• High value crop production• Feed/Feed Milling