Odiongan, Romblon

Odiongan
Municipality

Seal

Map of Romblon with Odiongan highlighted
Odiongan

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 12°24′N 122°00′E / 12.400°N 122.000°E / 12.400; 122.000Coordinates: 12°24′N 122°00′E / 12.400°N 122.000°E / 12.400; 122.000
Country Philippines
Region MIMAROPA (Region IV-B)
Province Romblon
District Lone district
Founded 1847
Barangays 25
Government[1]
 • Type Mayor-Council
 • Mayor Trina Firmalo y Que (LP)
 • Vice Mayor Mark Anthony Reyes y Maulion (NP)
 • Councilors Butchoy Arevalo
Diven Dimaala y Fos
Rollie Lachica
Rolando Forca y Cruz
Rome Chua, Jr.
Virgie Maulion
Nicky Faderogao
Kit Firmalo y Diola
Area[2]
 • Total 185.67 km2 (71.69 sq mi)
Population (2015)[3]
 • Total 45,367
 • Density 240/km2 (630/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
Zip Code 5505
Dialing code 42
Languages Asi, Filipino, English
Income class 1st class; partially urban

Odiongan is a first-class,[4][5] partially urban municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines.[2]It is a major port, commercial center and the largest municipality of Romblon in terms of population and income.

History

Early history

Poctoy Pier

Legend has it, that the inhabitants found an "odiong" (local term for "arrow") struck to a tree; thus, the place was called Inodiongan, meaning "struck by an arrow", which later metamorphosed to Odiongan.[6]

Historically, Odiongan, as of most of Tablas Island, was first settled by migrant Negrito and Mangyan tribes from the Panay Island to south and Mindoro Island respectively. This was followed shortly by Onhan-speaking settlers from Panay. Around 1810, a group of Bantoanon-speaking people settled in the area in search of a place more suitable for agriculture. However, the settlement founded by these Bantoanons were destroyed and pillaged by Muslim pirates. In 1840, another attempt was made by a different group of Bantoanons; this time, they constructed a fort or "cota" which protected the settlement from attacks and natural calamities. In 1855, the settlement was officially designated by the Spanish colonial authorities as a "pueblo" or town. When the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896, the town joined the cause of the revolutionaries led by Tomas Fiedacan.

Modern history

During the American colonial period in the Philippines, Odiongan faced a number of catastrophes: a cholera epidemic in 1902 killed much of the town's population, a strong typhoon lashed the town in 1908, and famine struck the town in 1914. However, the perseverance and determination of the townsfolk led to the town's continuous existence.

In 1940, the town became the seat of the special municipality of Tablas, created by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 581 (authored by Congressman Leonardo Festin), which covered the entire island. It remained so throughout the Japanese occupation of the Philippines from 1941-1945. During that time, Odiongan was chosen as the headquarters of the resistance movement in the province, under the leadership of Lt. Col. Enrique Jurado. On 4 September 1943, a Japanese gunboat shelled the town to force the guerrillas out of hiding. This was followed the following month by a landing of Japanese forces from Panay, which massacred people in the various towns of Tablas, Romblon, and Sibuyan, including Odiongan.

On 1 October 1946,[7] the special municipality of Tablas was abolished by Republic Act No. 38. The following year, Odiongan was restored to its original jurisdiction as municipality in the province of Romblon.[8]

Geography

Odiongan is located in the mid-western part of Tablas Island. It is bounded by San Andres and San Agustin to the north, by Santa Maria to the east, by Looc and Alcantara to the south, and by Ferrol and Tablas Strait to the west.

Odiongan has a total land area of 18,567 hectares (45,880 acres).[2] Much of the town lies in the low-lying plains along the coast, with rolling hills and mountainous forest area at the interior. It has a good anchorage in Barangay Poctoy which serves as link between the islands of Mindoro and Panay.

Barangays

Odiongan is politically subdivided into 25 barangays.[2] Budiong was formerly a sitio of Canduyong; it became a barrio in 1954.[9]

  • Amatong
  • Anahao
  • Bangon
  • Batiano
  • Budiong
  • Canduyong
  • Dapawan (Pob)
  • Gabawan
  • Libertad
  • Ligaya (Pob.)
  • Liwanag (Pob.)
  • Liwayway (Pob.)
  • Malilico
  • Mayha
  • Panique
  • Pato-o
  • Poctoy
  • Progreso Este
  • Progreso Weste
  • Rizal
  • Tabing Dagat (Pob.)
  • Tabobo-an
  • Tuburan
  • Tumingad
  • Tulay

Demographics

Population census of Odiongan
YearPop.±% p.a.
1995 35,527—    
2000 39,069+2.06%
2007 42,062+1.02%
2010 43,676+1.38%
2015 45,367+0.73%
Source: National Statistics Office[3]

According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 45,367 people, making it the most populous municipality in the province.[3] Asi language is the native language of majority of the municipality's inhabitants, while Onhan is the medium of communication in southern barangays bordering Ferrol and Looc municipalities respectively.

Most of the town's inhabitants are devout Roman Catholic and Philippine Independent Church (Independent Catholic) with a small population of Protestants, including Baptists, Iglesia ni Cristo, Foursquare Gospel, Assemblies of God, Seventh-day Adventists, and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Local government

Pursuant to Chapter II, Title II, Book III of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991,[10] the municipal government is composed of a mayor (alkalde), a vice-mayor (bise alkalde) and members (kagawad) of the legislative branch Sangguniang Bayan alongside a secretary to the said legislature, all of which are elected to a three-year term and are eligible to run for three consecutive terms.

The incumbent mayor of Odiongan is Trina Alejandra Fabic y Firmalo y Que.

References

  1. ↑ "Municipalities". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Province: Romblon". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Province: Romblon". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority - National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "LGU Profile; Municipality of Odiongan (2012)". Local Governance Performance Management System. Department of the Interior and Local Government. 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  6. ↑ Profile: Odiongan Romblon Travel Guide. Retrieved on 2012-04-16
  7. ↑ http://laws.chanrobles.com/republicacts/1_republicacts.php?id=38
  8. ↑ History of Odiongan The Traveller's Blog. Retrieved on 2012-04-16
  9. ↑ "An Act Creating the Barrio of Budiong, Municipality of Odiongan, Province of Romblon". LawPH.com. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
  10. ↑ "An Act Providing for a Local Government Code of 1991". 8th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Odiongan, Romblon.
 San Andres San Agustin
Tablas Strait Santa Maria
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Ferrol / Looc Alcantara
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