New Washington, Aklan

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New Washington Lagatic
Municipality
Municipality of New Washington
Sampaguita Gardens
Flag Seal
Map of Aklan with New Washington highlighted
show OpenStreetMap
New Washington Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°39′N 122°26′E / 11.65°N 122.43°E / 11.65; 122.43Coordinates: 11°39′N 122°26′E / 11.65°N 122.43°E / 11.65; 122.43
Country	Philippines
Region	Western Visayas
Province	Aklan
District	1st district
Founded	January 15, 1904
Named for	George Washington
Barangays	16 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Shimonette P. Francisco
• Vice Mayor	Kristian V. Peralta
• Representative	Carlito S. Marquez
• Municipal Council	show Members Raul G. Sucgang Estrella E. Velarde Gerry C. Andrade Roly O. Equiña Jr. Sonie C. Gacay Diosilio F. Malonosan Lollybe D. Leyson Junie D. Repiano
• Electorate	30,415 voters (2019)
Area [2]
• Total	66.69 km2 (25.75 sq mi)
Elevation	13 m (43 ft)
Highest elevation	329 m (1,079 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census) [3]
• Total	47,955
• Density	720/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
• Households	10,820
Economy
• Income class	3rd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	17.39% (2015)[4]
• Revenue	₱102,264,882.49 (2016)
Service provider
• Electricity	Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5610
PSGC	060415000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)36
Climate type	tropical climate
Native languages	Aklan Hiligaynon Capiznon Tagalog

New Washington, officially the Municipality of New Washington (Aklanon: Banwa it New Washington; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang New Washington; Tagalog: Bayan ng New Washington), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 47,955 people. ^[3]

New Washington is particularly known for being the home town of Cardinal Jaime Sin, former Archbishop of Manila.

Etymology[]

Established on January 15, 1904, the municipality was named after the first president of the United States, George Washington, as a tribute to the Thomasites, a group of American teachers who in the early 1900s established a new public education system in the Philippines, taught basic education, and trained Filipino teachers with English as medium of instruction. The municipality was formerly called Fonda Lagatic, which was derived from Lagatik River that stretches along some of the municipality's barangays at a length of 9.6 kilometers (6.0 mi).

Geography[]

New Washington is located at 11°39′N 122°26′E / 11.65°N 122.43°E / 11.65; 122.43.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 66.69 square kilometers (25.75 sq mi) ^[5] constituting 3.66% of the 1,821.42-square-kilometer- (703.25 sq mi) total area of Aklan.

New Washington is bounded by Batan in the east, Kalibo in the west and the Sibuyan Sea on the north. It is 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) from Kalibo International Airport, 9 kilometers (5.6 mi) from the province's capital town of Kalibo, and one and a half (11⁄2) hours away from Boracay Island.

Climate[]

The third type of climate predominates in the locality, season not pronounced. It is relatively dry from February to July and wet the rest of the year.

Of note, to deal with water supply along the long peninsula affected by salt water intrusion and related endemic amoebiasis caused by unreinforced water wells, New Washington was the site of a unique U.S. Peace Corps-sponsored program to build low-cost concrete-lined water wells with locally manufactured "curved hollow blocks" inspired by local medical doctor Andrew Mendoza. Well over 200 water wells were built during the early 1980s. USAID considered the water wells to be the most cost-effective solution for avoiding salt water intrusion.

Barangays[]

New Washington is politically subdivided into 16 barangays.^[7]

To some locals, the barangays are grouped into two, namely "Eanas" and "Baybay". The barangays that belong to Eanas are those involved in rice farming such as Mabilo, Puis, Jalas, Guinbaliwan, Mataphao, Candelaria, Lawa-an and Jugas. Baybay, on the other hand, covers barangays along or near the coastline, consisting of Tambac, Poblacion, Pinamuk-an, Polo, Cawayan, Ochando, Fatima and Dumaguit.

Common among municipalities in the Philippines, the seat of local government and the center of business are situated in Poblacion. It is also home to the Municipal Auditorium and Sports Complex, where major events of the town are held.

Demographics[]

Population census of New Washington

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1918	24,453	—
1939	12,192	−3.26%
1948	13,370	+1.03%
1960	15,966	+1.49%
1970	19,131	+1.82%
1975	22,131	+2.96%
1980	26,119	+3.37%
1990	30,147	+1.44%
1995	31,896	+1.06%
2000	33,981	+1.37%
2007	39,656	+2.15%
2010	42,112	+2.21%
2015	45,007	+1.27%
2020	47,955	+1.26%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9] [8] [10][11]

In the 2020 census, New Washington had a population of 47,955. ^[3] The population density was 720 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,900/sq mi).

In the 2007 census, there were 39,656 residents, an increase by 16.7% since the year 2000 when the official count was 33,981. In the 2010 census, the population had increased to 42,112 persons.

Majority of the New Washingtonians, as the municipality's residents are sometimes called, are of Aklanon origin. Immigration, generally, is due to marriage and employment.

New Washingtonians speak in Aklanon, Hiligaynon, Filipino and English, the former being their primary medium. Aklanon, as a language, is often described as a cross between Bisaya, Hiligaynon and Karay-a making it quite complicated for local and foreign tourists to speak and comprehend. This is not seen as a problem, considering that residents can speak fluent Hiligaynon, Tagalog, and English.^{[citation needed]}

The people of New Washington are predominantly Christians. Religious denominations in the municipality include Roman Catholic Church, Philippine Independent Church, Baptist churches, Iglesia ni Cristo, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, among others.

Economy[]

As New Washington is surrounded by bodies of water such as Sibuyan Sea and Lagatik River. Fishing has been the leading livelihood among the people, alongside rice farming. The town has the largest area of ricefields among the municipalities in Aklan.^{[citation needed]}

The municipality operates two ports: one in Dumaguit and the other in Poblacion. The port in Dumaguit caters to passenger and commercial boats, while the port in Poblacion is only for the latter.^{[clarification needed]} Both ports serve as major trade routes between the province of Aklan and Manila.

The town has several edifices that have historical or spiritual significance and locations for leisure and relaxation. These include the NHI-recognized commemorative monument of its native son His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Lachica Sin and the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Poblacion, the Pink Sisters' Immaculata Adoration Convent in Polo, the Sunrise/Sunset Viewing at Tambak Seawall and the Sampaguita Gardens Resort in Poblacion.

Education[]

All the barangays have either an elementary or primary school. There are four secondary schools: New Washington National Comprehensive High School and Montfort Technical Institute (MTI) in Poblacion, Candelaria National High School in Candelaria and Ochando National High School in Ochando. Montessori de Aklan (MDA),a primary school,is a branch of Montessori de Zamboanga Schools which is an affiliate of AMS or American Montessori Society in Polo, Tertiary education is centered at Aklan State University - College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, which is located in Poblacion. Vocational courses are also offered at MTI. Some families send their children to schools in Kalibo, Capiz, Iloilo and Manila, among others.

Cultural and historical significance[]

New Washington observes two annual fiestas as a town. One is a patronal fiesta in honor of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, which is held on the second Saturday of October and the other is a civic fiesta commemorating the heroes of Pacto de Sangre, which is held from March 1 to 3. The Pacto de Sangre, or blood compact, took place in the then Sitio Kuntang (now Barangay Ochando) on March 3, 1897. It was participated in by New Washingtonians of the past as a show of support to the Filipinos' revolution against the Spaniards. A commemorative marker was put up in the area where the event took place in Barangay Ochando. While the patronal fiesta is characterized by pious reflection, the civic fiesta involves three days of merry-making.

Leisure[]

The municipality has numerous beach resorts located near the shores from Mabilo to Dumaguit. The past decade^[when?] saw an influx of inland resorts. The inland resorts in the town are mostly in Poblacion, some of which include Sampaguita Gardens Resort, Maria Mercedes Resort and Frogs Hollow Resort. For free means of leisure and entertainment, residents go to the town plaza, which houses the Jaime Cardinal L. Sin Park, the Rizal Park, the Municipal Children's Park and the Municipal Auditorium and Sports Complex.

Well-known restaurants in the town include Oriental Flavors (fine-dining) and Poolside Restaurant at Sampaguita Gardens, and the Residence River Restaurant (Seafoods) in Tambak.^{[citation needed]}

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to New Washington, Aklan.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for New Washington.

• New Washington Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code