ROXAS CITY

Life in Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines is simple and peaceful. It is an ideal refuge for those who wishes to escape the fast-paced life in modern cities. It owes much of its charms to a mixture of its rich history and natural beauty untrammeled by modernity and this is the reason Captivating Capiz is truly amazing.


SEAFOOD CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES

CAPIZ -is another province whose name possesses a rather interesting etymology. It was named based on the story that when the Spaniards came to Capiz in 1570, it was the time when Datu Bankaya’s wife of the Aklan district gave birth to twin daughters. Twin is "Kapid" in the local dialect, so the Spaniards adopted the name Capiz (Kapid) as inadvertently miscommunicated to them by the natives.

Capiz, known as Aklan in pre-Spanish times, was one of the early settlements of the Malayas, centuries before the coming of the Spaniards to the Philippines. It was part of the Confederation of Madjaas, formed after the purchase of Panay by the Bornean datus from the Negrito king named Marikudo.

It ranks as the second largest province among the four provinces of Panay Island. It is also the birthplace of Manuel A. Roxas, the First President of the Republic of the Philippines, after whom the provincial capital, Roxas City, was named.

Capiz being the ‘Clean & Green Seafood Capital of the Philippines!’ is considered to be one of the best tourist destination. Every year Roxas City, the capital of Capiz celebrates its Sinadya sa Halaran Festival. The Sinadya sa Halaran Festival is the joint festival of the City of Roxas and the Province of Capiz. It is a mixed festival in that it is celebrated for both cultural and religious reasons. It is celebrated every first weekend of December in commemoration of the Feast of the Virgin of the Immaculate Concepcion who also happens to be the patroness of the City of Roxas. Sinadya sa Halaran boasts of colorful activities like the grand parade of festivals, the fluvial parade, the lighted river floaters. There is also the traditional seafood festival and the grand pyrotechnic display.

INFRASTRUCTURES

Major infrastructures in the City are the National Port, the Airport, the Libas Fishing Port, the Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center (TATC), the Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center, the Hall of Justice, the Jumbo Bridge, and the Roxas City Convention Hall.  It has 145.7241 kilometers (kms.) of road in which 24.30 kms. is national, 38.870 kms. is city and 82.5541 kms. is barangays.  Its bridges total to 459.25 meters (m.) of which 232.15 m. are national, 171.60 m. are city and 55.5 m. are barangay.The City gets its power from the Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO).  The number of connection for CY-2004 is 29,419 while the total number of houses served is 25,340.  The Metro Roxas Water District (MRWD) supplies potable drinking water to the populace.  The number of existing connection by classification as of June 22, 2010 is seventeen thousand four hundred forty-two (17,442).  The average water demand is twelve thousand four hundred fifteen pesos and 79/100 (12,415.79) cu.m./day with a   monthly water consumption of three hundred sevety-three thousand two hundred thirty-seven and 34/100 (373,237.34) cu.m.  The average domestic consumption is twenty-two point thirty-three (22.33) capita per day.  Supplementing the water supplied by Metro Roxas Water District (MRWD) are wells with hand pumps and artesian wells which are constructed through the Barangay Water Program (BWP) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). THE AIRPORT LIBAS FISHING PORT CITY HALL

The Office of the City Mayor or though the staff division of the Mayor's provides executive leadership, direction guidance to the total city government organization and program. Main function includes, implementation or Sangguniang Panlungsod policies and decision, planning development, coordination of program annual preparation of CIP and City budget; direction of City Offices and employees toward attainment of city and national objectives.

Vision

A high-tech and well-organized model office, with highly professionalized personnel capable of delivering excellent services to the people.

Geographic Location and Political Subdivision

Roxas City is situated at the Northeastern tip of the Island of Panay within the geographical coordinates of 122° 45’ longitude and 11° 35’ latitude.  Its boundaries are: Visayan Sea on the North, Municipality of Panit-an on the South, Municipality of Ivisan on the West, and Municipality of Panay on the East.  It is located 250 nautical miles southeast of Manila, 118 kilometers northeast of Iloilo City, and 86 kilometers east of Kalibo, Aklan.  Travel Time to Manila is 45 minutes by air and 18 hrs. by boat.

The Department of Finance prescribed a new Income Bracket Scheme for LGUs, under Department Order No. 23-08, dated July 29, 2008 which classified Roxas City as a third class component city.  The City belongs to the first political district of the Province of Capiz along with the Municipality of Maayon, Panay, Panit-an, Pilar, Pontevedra, and Pres, Roxas.  It comprises forty-seven (47) barangays of which thirty-one (31) are urban and sixteen (16) are rural as per approved Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) under Resolution # 005, Series of 2008 as published in the local newspaper, The Capiz Times dated March 10-16, 2008.

PEOPLE OF ROXAS CITY

The residents of Roxas City are peace-loving, hospitable and God-loving people. The city houses many churches and denominations, and during weekends, these houses of worship are fully packed.

Population Statistics

As furnished by the NSO, Roxas Branch, the City’s Total Population is 147,738 based on the result of the August 1, 2007 Census of Population. However, the whole result is not yet available. The Average Annual Growth Rate of 1.34% in 2000 increased to 2.11% in 2007.

The following data were based on the 2000 NSO Census of Population

History Of Roxas City

BRIEF HISTORY OF ROXAS CITY

The City of Roxas, once known as the municipality of Capiz is the capital of the province of Capiz. In 1569, Captain Diego de Artieda who was sent by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi from Cebu, landed on the town of Pan-ay and proclaimed it as the capital. Later the capital was moved to its present site upon discovering that the town of Capiz was near the sea where they can have better docking facilities. The Spaniards saw the long coastal cover and envisioned a trading and shipping center. Ports were constructed in Libas and later in Culasi. A river meanders across the town, cuts it at the heart and divides it almost equally into two. Tributaries from the mountains flowed into the head of Panay River through settlements formed along its shores, irrigating and fertilizing the land to provide food to the people. Following its course into the sea, it provides water to fishponds during high tide. In 1590, the Navy of Acapulco, Mexico made Capiz port its arsenal (naval yard) where they can seek shelter when the sea was rough. Capiz then eventually grew into a bustling port and several houses of stones were built. The social and political status enjoyed by the native chieftains of Capiz often resulted in mixed marriages with the Spaniards. The mestizo descendants became the base of the principalia or influential citizens. Their privileged positions allowed them to build houses around the favored square of the poblacion - around the church and the government complex. Their children became the beneficiaries of the Augustinian mission in 1593. In 1746, Capiz was made the seat of the politico-military government, although it was ecclesiastically controlled by the Bishopric of Cebu. In the latter part of 1795, under Gobernadorcillo Miguel Bautista, the old road to Baybay Beach was built as an extension of San Roque Street. The town of Capiz was frequently attacked by Muslims that in 1814, stone forts at Baybay Beach (Baluarte) were built through the initiative of Gobernadorcillo Jose Consolacion. In 1870, the ground was broken for the foundation of the Cathedral of Capiz under the guidance of Reverend Apolonio Alvarez. It was built by sturdy hands, sweat and blood of Capizeños who were victims of forced labor. In 1876, the diocese of Jaro in Iloilo was erected and Capiz came under its jurisdiction. In 1877, the cathedral was finally finished. Prior to its construction, a chapel was built in Burgos Street beside the municipal building. In August 1899, the Spanish colonial government represented by Governor Juan Herrero formally surrendered to General Ananias Diokno in Baybay Beach. Economic debacle hit the town of Capiz in 1914 when the Ayala Distillery grounded to a halt. What could have been an ambitious forerunner of nationalized industrialization became the victim of the Internal Revenue Law under American control. In 1917, Division Superintendent of Schools F.E. Hemingway founded Capiz Trade School for intermediate pupils and offered woodworking as the only vocational course. The next division superintendent opened Capiz High School. In 1926, Division Superintendent Arthur Wittman authorized teaching of complete secondary curriculum in the Capiz Trade School. In the same year, Culasi Port was built to accommodate inter-island ships. On February 15, 1951 the diocese of Capiz became a separate ecclesiastical jurisdiction from Jaro. Its first bishop was Msgr. Manuel Yap. In the same year, former Vice Mayor Libertad Conlu became the first female mayor of Capiz. Capiz became a chartered city on May 12, 1951 through House Bill 1528 sponsored by Ramon Acuña Arnaldo, the representative of the First District of Capiz. It was approved by President Elpidio Quirino on April 11, 1951 as Republic Act 608. Consequently, the town was named Roxas City after her greatest son, President Manuel Acuña Roxas, the last president of the Commonwealth and the first president of the Philippine Republic. The first appointed mayor was Lorenzo Acuña Arnaldo followed by Ramon Berjamin Blanco, Jose Dorado and Juliano Alovera Alba. In 1959, Lorenzo Acuña Arnaldo again became the head of the city as the first elected mayor. The next mayor was Teodoro Roxas Arcenas who was succeeded by Juliano Alovera Alba who was also the representative of the First District of Capiz at the House of Congress when Martial Law was declared. Hon. Antonio A. Del Rosario, who is now the Congressman of the 1st District of Capiz, was elected to three terms as mayor of Roxas City, serving from 1998 to 2007. Hon. Vicente B. Bermejo, who is the former governor of the province of Capiz, was elected mayor and served for three years, from 2007 to 2010. The incumbent mayor of Roxas City is Hon. Angel Alan B. Celino, who also served as Vice Mayor of the city from 2004 to 2007. The most notable people of Roxas include: Manuel Acuña Roxas - First president of the independent Republic of the Philippines Josefa Abiertas - The first woman bar topnotcher and proponent of the Women's Suffrage Bill General Esteban Contreras - Fought for the freedom of the Capiznons, was never captured by the Americans. Jose "Tabai" Altavas - Municipal Councilor of Capiz (1903 – 1906); member of the provincial board of Capiz (1906 - 1907); Delegate to the First Philippine Assembly (1907 – 1909); Provincial Governor of Capiz for two terms (1910 – 1916); Senator from Iloilo, Capiz and Romblon (1916 – 1922); and Representative from the second district of Capiz (1925 – 1928). He was a member of the “goodwill” Legislative Delegation to Japan in 1917 and was elected Delegate, from the first district of Capiz, to the constitutional convention in 1934.