Concepcion, officially the Municipality of Concepcion (Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Concepcion, Tagalog: Bayan ng Concepcion), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44,633 people.[3]

Concepcion
Municipality of Concepcion
Flag of Concepcion
Official seal of Concepcion
Map of Iloilo with Concepcion highlighted
Map of Iloilo with Concepcion highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Concepcion is located in Philippines
Concepcion
Concepcion
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°12′N 123°06′E / 11.2°N 123.1°E / 11.2; 123.1
CountryPhilippines
RegionWestern Visayas
ProvinceIloilo
District 5th district
Barangays25 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorMilliard S. Villanueva
 • Vice MayorJovelyn O. Estrada
 • RepresentativeRaul C. Tupas
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate28,525 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total
86.12 km2 (33.25 sq mi)
Elevation
29 m (95 ft)
Highest elevation
430 m (1,410 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total
44,633
 • Density520/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
 • Households
11,191
Economy
 • Income class3rd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
32.50
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 185 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 330.4 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 150.5 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 105.9 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricityIloilo 3 Electric Cooperative (ILECO 3)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
5013
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)33
Native languagesHiligaynon
Capisnon
Tagalog
Websitewww.concepcion.gov.ph

It was the capital of the Comandancia de Concepcion, a unit equivalent to a sub-province headed by a Corregidor, before it was merged with the Province of Iloilo.

History

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Concepcion was originally known as Bacjawan, which means "the place of the bacjaw trees," which used to grow in large numbers along the coast's swampy areas. It was formally founded as a pueblo (town) in 1855. The town was later renamed to Concepcion, in honor of the first born daughter of Felizardo Azucena, the town's first captain basal, or gobernadorcillo.[5]

 
Location of Comandancia de Concepción highlighted in red.

In 1857, the Comandancia de Concepción (Military District of Concepcion) was created. It was a sub-province in Northern Iloilo composed of the capital town of Concepcion, Ajuy, Balasan (modern-day Batad, Estancia, and Balasan), Lemery, San Dionisio, and Sara. It was abolished on April 11, 1901, when the Americans took control of the Philippines and established the civil government of Iloilo. In present days, the former Comandancia de Concepción covers the 5th legislative district of Iloilo except for the towns of Barotac Viejo and San Rafael.[6][7][8][9]

Geography

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Concepcion is located on the north-eastern part of Panay Island (known as the mainland), together with some 16 other, smaller, associated islands. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of San Dionisio, in the south by the municipality of Ajuy, in the west by the municipality of Sara, and in the east by the Visayan Sea. It has a total land area of 9,702.04 hectares.[10]

Concepcion is 97 kilometres (60 mi) from Iloilo City and 101 kilometres (63 mi) from Roxas City.

The largest of the 16 Concepcion Islands is Pan de Azucar at 1,840 hectares (4,500 acres), which has the 573 metres (1,880 ft) high Mount Manaphag rising from its center.[11]

Climate

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Climate data for Concepcion, Iloilo
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(81)
28
(82)
29
(84)
31
(88)
32
(90)
31
(88)
30
(86)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
27
(81)
29
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 61
(2.4)
39
(1.5)
46
(1.8)
48
(1.9)
90
(3.5)
144
(5.7)
152
(6.0)
145
(5.7)
163
(6.4)
160
(6.3)
120
(4.7)
90
(3.5)
1,258
(49.4)
Average rainy days 12.3 9.0 9.9 10.0 18.5 25.0 27.4 26.0 25.9 24.9 17.9 14.2 221
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[12]

Barangays

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Concepcion is politically subdivided into 25 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

There are 11 barangays which are island barangays, and the rest are located in the mainland of Panay Island.

Demographics

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Population census of Concepcion
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 4,565—    
1939 8,446+1.72%
1948 9,184+0.94%
1960 11,183+1.65%
1970 15,743+3.47%
1975 18,554+3.35%
1980 21,121+2.62%
1990 28,355+2.99%
1995 30,111+1.13%
2000 34,240+2.79%
2007 36,881+1.03%
2010 39,617+2.64%
2015 43,159+1.64%
2020 44,633+0.66%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16]

In the 2020 census, the population of Concepcion, Iloilo, was 44,633 people,[3] with a density of 520 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,300 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

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Poverty incidence of Concepcion

10
20
30
40
50
2006
47.40
2009
48.40
2012
36.80
2015
27.45
2018
29.20
2021
32.50

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]

The primary industry of the people of Concepcion is in fishing.[10] The Visayan Sea, where Concepcion is situated, is one of the most prolific in fish production and provides a significant proportion of fish in the region. In 2007, the number of registered fishermen stood at 7,957.[25] Fishing is followed second by farming, with much of it being subsistence farming. The principle cash crops are rice, corn and vegetables,[10] along with bamboo and coconuts. Poultry and livestock are raised for local consumption.[10]

Poverty incidence was extremely high in the early 21st century, with 87% of the population being below the government poverty line in 2000,[10] with a reduction to 47% in 2004.[26] A contributing factor was the rapidity of population growth in the municipality, with a growth rate of 2.76% in 2002, or four babies being born every day in the municipality.

Education

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There is one institution of higher learning in the municipality, Northern Iloilo State University (NISU: Concepcion), which offers bachelor's degrees in fisheries and agriculture, as well as a master's in public administration.[10]

Tourism

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Concepcion is a host to beautiful islands with white sand beaches and sandbars. Among them are Bulobadiangan Island, Agho Island, and Pan de Azucar.[27]

Culture

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The annual Tampisaw Festival, held the fourth week of April[28] on four of the islands, attracts tourism.[26]

Notable personalities

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Concepcion Power Station

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The Concepcion Power Station is a 270-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant located by the coast of Barangay Nipa, Concepcion, Iloilo. The plant is sponsored by the Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC), a subsidiary of real estate company A Brown Company. Currently Unit 1 of the station has begun operating since August 2016 while Unit 2 is planned for 2019.[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Municipality of Concepcion | (DILG)
  2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Census of Population (2020). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ "MUN. OF CONCEPCION". Retrieved 2022-09-09.
  6. ^ Seaweed, J. (1899). Atlas of the Philippines. Washington.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^ Joseph, RT. (2008). Curas de Almas: a preliminary listing of parishes and parish priests in the 19th century Philippines based on Guides of Foreigners. Manila.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ^ Public laws and resolutions passed by the United States Philippine Commission, 19000-1901. Washington: US War Department: Division of Insular Affairs. 1901.
  9. ^ Report of the United States Philippine Commission to the Secretary of War for the period: December 1, 1900, to October 15, 1901. Washington: US War Department: Division of Insular Affairs. 1901.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Latoza, Jigger S. (2009) "KALAHI-CIDSS Institutional Mapping in Concepcion, Iloilo: Salient Findings"[permanent dead link] Augustinian Journal 12: pp. 33–58, doi:10.3860/aug.v12i0.1228
  11. ^ (19 June 2010) "Island Hopping: Pan de Azucar Island, Iloilo", archived at Freezepage, 12 October 2010
  12. ^ "Concepcion: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  13. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  14. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VI (Western Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  15. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  16. ^ "Province of Iloilo". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  17. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  18. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  19. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  20. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  21. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  22. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  23. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  24. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  25. ^ Philippine Statistics Authority statistics, 2007
  26. ^ a b Staff (2006) "Eradicating Poverty Completely by 2020 - Concepcion, Iloilo" Archived 2010-02-19 at the Wayback Machine Galing Pook Foundation, last accessed 12 October 2010
  27. ^ "Concepcion Travel Guide: Stunning Island Wonders of Iloilo | Freedom Wall". Freedom Wall. 2017-03-04. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
  28. ^ "Tampisaw Festival" Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine Official Website of the Province of Iloilo
  29. ^ Concepcion Power Station. Sourcewatch. Retrieved February 7, 2017
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