Oton Ogtong | |
|---|---|
| Municipality of Oton | |
.jpg) Aerial view of Oton | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname: Second oldest Spanish settlement in the Philippines | |
| Motto: Banwang Panganay of Western Visayas | |
 Map of Iloilo with Oton highlighted | |
OpenStreetMap  | |
.svg)  Oton Location within thePhilippines | |
| Coordinates:10°41′35″N122°28′25″E / 10.69306°N 122.47361°E /10.69306; 122.47361 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Western Visayas |
| Province | Iloilo |
| District | 1st district |
| Founded | 1566 |
| Formal town establishment | May 3, 1572 |
| Barangays | 37 (seeBarangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Sofronio Fusin Jr. |
| • Vice Mayor | Jose Neil Olivares |
| • Representative | Janette L. Garin |
| • Municipal Council | Members
|
| • Electorate | 54,130 voters (2022) |
| Area | |
• Total | 86.44 km2 (33.37 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 147 m (482 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2020 census)[3] | |
• Total | 98,509 |
| • Density | 1,100/km2 (3,000/sq mi) |
| • Households | 24,583 |
| Demonym | Ogtonganon |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 1st municipal income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 9.52 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 428.4 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 1,165 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 301.8 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 230.3 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Iloilo 1 Electric Cooperative (ILECO 1) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 5020 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)33 |
| Native languages | Karay-a Hiligaynon Tagalog |
| Website | www |
Oton, officially theMunicipality of Oton ([oˈton];Kinaray-a:Banwa kang Oton,Hiligaynon:Banwa sang Oton,Tagalog:Bayan ng Oton), is amunicipality in theprovince ofIloilo,Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 98,509 people making it as the most populous town in the province and the entire Panay island.[3]
It is the second oldest Spanish settlement in the Philippines afterCebu, founded in 1571.[5]
Oton is a part of theMetro Iloilo–Guimaras area, centered onIloilo City.
_OldCathedral_1901.jpg)
Oton, formerly known asOgtong, has a rich history dating back to the settlement ofMalays in the area. Evidence of this early settlement includes the discovery of a gold death mask in Barangay San Antonio during the 1960s. The town's name, Oton, was mentioned in records from the Yuan Dynasty in the 1300s, referred to as inHokkienChinese:啞陳;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:A-tân.[6]
The arrival of the Spanish in the mid-16th century marked a significant turning point in Oton's history. The Spanish designated Oton as the capital of Alcaldia de Oton (now the province of Iloilo) which covered the islands ofPanay,Guimaras,Negros,Tablas,Sibuyan, andRomblon.[7][8] Spanish missionaries used Oton as a base to spread Catholicism to neighboring settlements, includingJaro,Iloilo,Tigbauan,Cordova,Alimodian,Igbaras,Tubungan,Camando,Damilisan, andTiolas.
Oton played a vital role in theManila galleon trade, as new agricultural products from the trade route arrived in the town. Many ships traveling from Cebu would dock in Oton before continuing on to Manila. However, Oton's location made it vulnerable to pirate attacks, prompting the Spanish colonial authorities to relocate the capital a few kilometers away to La Punta, which is now known asIloilo City Proper, in the 1600s. This move was intended to enhance the town's defense against pirate raids.[9]
In the 21st century, Oton is not only an agricultural town but it is also booming and slowly becoming a commercial center with investments byVista Land. The company is investing in a mega-project township that will house the largestcentral business district in Iloilo.[10]
Oton is 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) west fromIloilo City. Oton is bordered by the municipality of Tigbauan to the west, San Miguel to the north, Pavia to the northeast, Panay Gulf to the south, and the district ofArevalo, Iloilo City to the east. The town is a part ofMetro Iloilo-Guimaras which encompasses the whole island province ofGuimaras with its municipalities, theIloilo City, and theIloilo provincial towns ofPavia,Leganes,San Miguel,Santa Barbara, andCabatuan.
Oton is politically subdivided into 37barangays. [11] Each barangay consists ofpuroks and some havesitios.
The Municipality of Oton belongs to the 1st District of Iloilo.
Listed below are the respective population of eachbarangay as of 2020 census.
| Climate data for Oton, Iloilo | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 32 (90) | 34 (93) | 32 (90) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (87) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 21 (70) | 21 (70) | 22 (72) | 23 (73) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 23 (74) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 19 (0.7) | 17 (0.7) | 26 (1.0) | 37 (1.5) | 119 (4.7) | 191 (7.5) | 258 (10.2) | 260 (10.2) | 248 (9.8) | 196 (7.7) | 97 (3.8) | 39 (1.5) | 1,507 (59.3) |
| Average rainy days | 7.2 | 5.2 | 8.3 | 11.9 | 22.3 | 26.5 | 28.3 | 28.2 | 27.3 | 26.4 | 18.7 | 11.8 | 222.1 |
| Source: Meteoblue[12] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 14,464 | — |
| 1918 | 15,396 | +0.42% |
| 1939 | 20,577 | +1.39% |
| 1948 | 21,306 | +0.39% |
| 1960 | 27,246 | +2.07% |
| 1970 | 32,862 | +1.89% |
| 1975 | 36,566 | +2.17% |
| 1980 | 41,044 | +2.34% |
| 1990 | 52,125 | +2.42% |
| 1995 | 56,821 | +1.63% |
| 2000 | 65,374 | +3.05% |
| 2007 | 77,621 | +2.40% |
| 2010 | 82,572 | +2.28% |
| 2015 | 89,115 | +1.46% |
| 2020 | 98,509 | +1.99% |
| Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16] | ||
In the 2020 census, the population of Oton, Iloilo, was 98,509 people,[3] with a density of 1,100 inhabitants per square kilometre or 2,800 inhabitants per square mile.
As a Catholic Dominant Municipality, Oton has two parishes.
Parishes:
Kinaray-a is the main language of the people in Oton.Hiligaynon is spoken as a secondary language. There is a fairly unnoticed linguistic division of the town between the two aforementioned languages; the eastern part, or the urban part bordering Iloilo City, primarily speaks Hiligaynon, while the western part bordering the other1st district municipalities generally speaks both Kinaray-a and Hiligaynon.
Poverty incidence of Oton
5 10 15 20 25 30 2000 29.21 2003 24.59 2006 18.00 2009 15.80 2012 10.52 2015 15.28 2018 11.65 2021 9.52 Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] |
Oton's economy is experiencing significant growth, driven by several factors. The town benefits from its geographic advantage, being in close proximity to Iloilo City. This advantage has led to a surge in real estate developments, with a growing number of residential and commercial properties being established in the area.
The increasing demand for retail services has resulted in the construction of prominent retail establishments in Oton. Gaisano Oton, Puregold Oton, and Vista Mall Iloilo have been established to cater to the growing retail needs of the town and its surrounding areas. The presence of these retail centers provides convenience for residents and contributes to the local economy.
Oton also hosts a number of banking institutions, ensuring accessibility to financial services for its residents and businesses. This availability of banking services supports economic activities and facilitates transactions within the town.
In terms of agriculture, rice production and fruits play a significant role in Oton's economy. These agricultural sectors contribute to the local food supply and support the livelihoods of many residents. Additionally, the town boasts a number of hotels, resorts, and restaurants, catering to the needs of tourists and visitors, further enhancing its economic potential.
An important development in Oton is the Vista City Iloilo. Spanning 500 hectares (1,200 acres), this flagship master-planned city byVista Land in the Visayas stretches from Barangay Polo Maestra Bita to Barangay Abilay Norte.[25] Alongside existing residential areas, Vista City Iloilo will feature a 100-hectare (250-acre) central business district.[26] This planned urban development is poised to become a major economic center, attracting investments and providing opportunities for businesses and residents alike.
Places adjacent to Oton | |
|---|---|
 Province ofIloilo | |
|---|---|
Iloilo City (capital and largest city) | |
| Municipalities |
|
| Component city | |
| Highly urbanized city |
|
