Pototan

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Pototan
Municipality
Municipality of Pototan
Municipal Hall
Map of Iloilo with Pototan highlighted
show OpenStreetMap Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Pototan Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°57′N 122°38′E / 10.95°N 122.63°E / 10.95; 122.63Coordinates: 10°57′N 122°38′E / 10.95°N 122.63°E / 10.95; 122.63
Country	Philippines
Region	Western Visayas
Province	Iloilo
District	3rd district
Founded	1874
Barangays	50 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Rafael Enrique P. Lazaro
• Vice Mayor	Romualdo Joselito M. Ilisan
• Representative	Lorenz R. Defensor
• Municipal Council	show Members Kent Roger H. Peñaflorida Licurgo P. Tirador Eugenio Rodrigo J. Palu-ay Pablo L. Perez Roman M. Peñaranda Jr. Elmer R. Camarista Fraulin P. Cordero Domingo A. Pulmones
• Electorate	43,265 voters (2019)
Area [2]
• Total	97.10 km2 (37.49 sq mi)
Elevation	25 m (82 ft)
Highest elevation	59 m (194 ft)
Lowest elevation	12 m (39 ft)
Population  (2020 census) [3]
• Total	78,298
• Density	810/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
• Households	15,941
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	21.24% (2015)[4]
• Revenue	₱157,882,222.82 (2016)
Service provider
• Electricity	Iloilo 2 Electric Cooperative (ILECO 2)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5008
PSGC	063037000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)33
Climate type	tropical climate
Native languages	Kinaray-a Hiligaynon Tagalog
Website	www.pototan.gov.ph

Pototan, officially the Municipality of Pototan (Kinaray-a: Banwa ka Pototan, Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Pototan, Tagalog: Bayan ng Pototan), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 78,298 people. ^[3]

The town lies on the banks of the , 30 kilometres (19 mi) north from Iloilo City. The town has an area of 94 km², 85% of which is agricultural land. In December 1997, it was declared as the "Christmas Capital of Western Visayas"^{[by whom?]} because of its famed Christmas Festival of Lights.

Considered^{[by whom?]} the rice granary of Panay, the town is bordered by Dingle to the north, Zarraga to the south, Barotac Nuevo to the east, New Lucena, Iloilo and Mina to the west.

History[]

Early history[]

The first people of Pototan were the family of Datu Ramon, grandson of Datu Puti, a Malay from the town of Dumangas.^{[dubious – discuss]} They first settled at Barangay Naslo, which was formerly the poblacion (town center). In that place was found a luxuriant growth of trees called "putat", after which the place was subsequently called "Kaputatan" or "place of many Putat trees." However, due to its hilly terrain and poor water supply, they decided to move nearer the bank of the , now called Pototan.

In the middle of the 16th century, the Chinese traders arrived in Pototan.

Spanish era[]

St. Joseph's Church

The arrival of the Spaniards in 1593 sparked new changes in the socio-economic and political life of the natives. It was the start of a new era, 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".

The Spanish built roads and bridges. Don Tomas Sajen and Don Escribano supervised the construction of the Tribunal (municipal hall) with the natives contributing the labor. The Tribunal withstood World War II and in the early 50s was modified into what is now the Western Visayas Hospital.

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

During the incumbency of Capitan Municipal Braulio Peñaranda in 1891, there was a cholera outbreak.

During the Philippine Revolution, Pototanons such as Teresa Magbanua (known as the Joan of arc of the Visayas^[5]) and her two brothers, and took up arms and joined the revolution.

The Americans arrived after Spain ceded Philippines to the United States in 1898. The remaining Spanish population fled to the hills together with many Filipinos including the last Gobernadorcillio, Don . He was later held prisoner by the Americans but subsequently named the first Municipal President.

American era[]

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 the incumbency of Mun. President , 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. was the first Municipal Mayor. He was succeeded by Mariano Peñaflorida in 1940. Peñaflorida served until September 16, 1942.

World War II[]

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 Confesor while the Japanese Imperial Forces designated as Puppet Mayor.

Barangays[]

Pototan is politically subdivided into 50 barangays. ^[6]

Climate[]

Demographics[]

In the 2020 census, the population of Pototan, Iloilo, was 78,298 people, ^[3] with a density of 810 inhabitants per square kilometre or 2,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy[]

Education[]

Private Schools[]

• Adventist Academy - Iloilo, Inc. (West Visayan Academy)
• Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción - Hijas de Jesús
• EXEL Montessori de Pototan
• First Bible Baptist Academy
• Pototan Baptist Church Learning Center
• Pototan Christian Learning Center
• The Integrated Academy School System, Inc.

Tertiary[]

• West Visayas State University - Pototan Campus

Secondary[]

• Alberto Sorongon Sr. Memorial National High School
• Pototan National Comprehensive High School
• Jamabalud National High School
• Jose Facultad Memorial National High School
• Palanguia National High School

Primary[]

References[]

External links[]

• Pototan Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System