ABOUT ILOILO RIVER
BEFORE THE SPANISH REGIME
Channel of Trade - a busy artery of
commerce & instrumental in the
economic development of several
important districts of Iloilo City
Fishing Ground – source of fish for the
early inhabitants of the city
Early Settlements - thriving settlement in
Jaro District and considerable number of
Chinese residents in Molo District
Anchorage - provided safe harbour to
coastwise shipping
1700s: Spanish Regime
Seat of Spanish Government
With the establishment of Fort San Pedro
at the mouth of Iloilo River, Iloilo became
the seat of the Spanish Government in the
region.
Early Development of Human
Settlements
Communities sprouted along the river
banks after the establishment of the Fort.
There were 835 residents in Iloilo in 1760
1855: Opening of the Port of Iloilo to World Trade
Center of Commerce and Trade
• Iloilo’s fine harbour provided the
impetus for growth that led to the
opening of the port of Iloilo to
world trade.
• Iloilo soon emerged as one of the
biggest centers of trade in the
country, 2nd to Manila
1855: Opening of the Port of Iloilo to World Trade
Early Development of the Downtown
Central Business District
• British and Spanish firms began to
crowd the marshy areas along Iloilo
River
• Warehouses, permanent offices and
shops in the streets were built parallel
to the river in the 1850’s and 1860’s
• Soon after, Iloilo earned the
title “Queen’s City of the South”
Post-War Period
After the war, uncontrolled human activities
greatly affected the ecology and the economic
viability of the Iloilo river, Among others, it was
negatively impacted by the following:
- Increasing number of population occupying
the river banks ;
- Mushrooming of fish pens and illegal
structures;
- Cases of encroachments:
- Conversion of the river banks into fishponds
or subdivisions along its course;
-Unrestricted disposal of wastes and
pollutant chemicals; and
- Indiscriminate cutting of mature mangroves.
ABOUT ILOILO-BATIANO RIVER SYSTEM
ILOILO RIVER
BATIANO RIVER
ABOUT ILOILO-BATIANO RIVER SYSTEM
San Miguel
Sta. Barbara
MAMBOG
CREEKJIBAO-AN
RIVER
CABULUAN
RIVER
The Iloilo-Batiano River Basin
Pavia
Oton
DUNGON
CREEK
CALAJUNAN
CREEK
Iloilo
City
ILOILO RIVER
BATIANO
RIVER
Source : WQMA
ABOUT ILOILO-BATIANO RIVER SYSTEM
• Land Use
Land Use
Residential
Area Covered (km2)
Percentage
37.27
36.9
Commercial
4.87
4.8
Industrial
4.04
4.0
Institutional
1.81
1.8
Agricultural
45.00
44.6
Fishponds
2.01
2.0
PUD
3.07
3.0
Transport/Utilities
0.64
0.6
Open/Parks
1.05
1.0
Other Uses
1.23
1.2
101.00
100.0
Total
ABOUT ILOILO-BATIANO RIVER SYSTEM
 A natural harbour
 Classified as Class “C” body of
water (DENR DAO 90-34)
 A rich breeding ground to
important fish species,
crustaceans, shellfish that
provide sustenance and
livelihood to some residents
 Home to 22 mangrove species
esp. Sonneratia Ovata (rare in
the region)
ABOUT ILOILO-BATIANO RIVER SYSTEM

Economic Profile
Population along the river:
- Iloilo City 49,392
- Oton 23,022
Barangays
- 35 out of 180 barangays of
Iloilo City
- 8 out of 37 barangays of the
Municipality of Oton
Business Establishments – 2,995
Source: LGU, Iloilo City
ABOUT ILOILO-BATIANO RIVER SYSTEM
 Economic Activities at Iloilo Port
A. Shipping
a. No. of Domestic Ship calls – 22,576
b. Domestic Gross Registered Tonnage – 14,835,346
c. No. of Domestic Ship calls – 182
d. Foreign Gross Registered Tonnage – 2,822,860
B. Domestic Cargo Throughput
a. Inbound – 2,651,557 MT
b. Outbound – 664,937 MT
C. Total Domestic Passenger Traffic
a. Disembarked – 1,088,248
b. Embarked – 1,131,800
Source: PPA CY 2012
ABOUT ILOILO-BATIANO RIVER SYSTEM
 Economic Activities (Fisheries)
ILOILO RIVER
BATIANO RIVER
• Fishery Catch : Milkfish, Tilapia,
Seabass, Spade Fish, Ten Pounder,
Tarpon, Rabbit Fish, Mullets,
Mangrove Snapper, Shrimp,
Prawns, Crabs
• Fishery Catch : Shrimp, Crabs,
Prawns, Fish
• Types of Fishing Gear: Gill Net, Fish
Coral, Motorized Push Net, Crab
Lift nets
• Income Range : P3,780 -6,160/mo.
• Types of Fishing Gear: Punot,
Tangab, Pasisihan, Talabahan,
Panggal, Tarpon
• Income Range : P125 – 800/day
• Fish Catch : ranges from ½ kg to
10 kg/ day
• Fish Catch : ranges from 1.5 kg to
4 kg/ day
Source: Iloilo City Agriculture & Mun. Agriculture of Oton
RESOURCE UTILIZATION
• Fishing
• Aquaculture (Fish Ponds)
• Salt Production
• Spawning Area for Fisheries
• Transportation
• Port Facilities
• Research & Education
• Recreation /Tourism
CHALLENGES
•
•
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•
•
Lack Database
Inventory of All Public Land Property Lines
Encroachment / Obstructions along water lines
Public Awareness and Advocacy
Water Pollution
Presence/Relocation of Informal Settlers
Siltation & Sedimentation
Waste Disposal and Septage Management
Indiscriminate Land Use/Noncompliance of Legal
Easement
• Lack of Public Access and Open Spaces
•
•
•
•
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Disaster Risks and Flooding
Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation
Alternative Livelihood
Attracting Investment Plan
Loss of Biodiversity
Preservation of mangroves/greenbelt
Institutionalization of management structure
and other mechanisms for protection and
conservation of the river