Oton


Oton, officially the Municipality of Oton, is a municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people, making it as the most populous town in the province and the entire Panay island. Oton is west of Iloilo City and is part of the Metro Iloilo–Guimaras area.
The town is the second oldest Spanish settlement in the Philippines after Cebu. It was founded in 1572 and later became the capital of the islands of Panay, Guimaras, Negros, Tablas, Sibuyan, and Romblon.

History

Oton, formerly known as Ogtong, has a rich history dating back to the settlement of Malays in the area. Evidence of this early settlement includes the discovery of a gold death mask in Barangay San Antonio during the 1960s. The town's name, Oton, was mentioned in records from the Yuan Dynasty in the 1300s, referred to as in Hokkien poj=A-tân.
The arrival of the Spanish in 1566 marked a significant turning point in Oton's history. In 1572, the Spanish formally established and designated Oton as the capital of Alcaldia de Panay, later renamed Provincia de Oton, which covered the islands of Panay, Guimaras, Negros, Tablas, Sibuyan, and Romblon. Spanish missionaries used Oton as a base to spread Catholicism to neighboring settlements, including Jaro, Iloilo, Tigbauan, Cordova, Alimodian, Igbaras, Tubungan, Camando, Damilisan, and Tiolas.
Oton played a vital role in the Manila galleon trade, as new agricultural products from the trade route arrived in the town. Many ships traveling from Cebu would dock in Oton before continuing on to Manila. However, Oton's location made it vulnerable to pirate attacks, prompting the Spanish colonial authorities to relocate the capital a few kilometers away to La Punta, which is now known as Iloilo City Proper, in the 1600s. This move was intended to enhance the town's defense against pirate raids.
In the 21st century, Oton has transitioned from an agricultural town to a growing commercial center, with significant investments, including those by Vista Land.

Geography

Oton is west from Iloilo City. Oton is bordered by the municipality of Tigbauan to the west, San Miguel to the north, Pavia to the northeast, Panay Gulf to the south, and is bordered by Iloilo City districts of Arevalo and Mandurriao to the southeast and east. The town is a part of Metro Iloilo-Guimaras which encompasses the whole island province of Guimaras with its municipalities, the Iloilo City, and the Iloilo provincial towns of Pavia, Leganes, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, and Cabatuan.

Barangays

Oton is politically subdivided into 37 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
The Municipality of Oton belongs to the 1st District of Iloilo.
Listed below are the respective population of each barangay as of 2020 census.

Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Oton was 99,920 people, with a density of.

Religion

As a Catholic Dominant Municipality, Oton has two parishes.
Parishes:
is the main language of the people in Oton. Hiligaynon is spoken as a secondary language. There is a fairly unnoticed linguistic division of the town between the two aforementioned languages; the eastern part, or the urban part bordering Iloilo City, primarily speaks Hiligaynon, while the western part bordering the other 1st district municipalities generally speaks both Kinaray-a and Hiligaynon.

Economy

Oton’s economy is supported by its geographic proximity to Iloilo City. This has led to increased real estate developments, with more residential and commercial properties being established. Retail establishments in Oton include Gaisano Oton, Puregold Oton, and Vista Mall Iloilo. Oton also hosts a number of banking institutions.
Agriculture, particularly rice production and fruit farming, plays a significant role in the economy, supporting local food supply and the livelihoods of many residents. The town also has hotels, resorts, and restaurants.
In 2023, the Municipality of Oton began construction of a ₱52-million “AA” abattoir in Barangay Lambuyao funded by the World Bank-assisted Philippine Rural Development Project.
A major development in Oton owned by Vista Land is covering and stretching from Barangay Polo Maestra Bita to Barangay Abilay Norte. The development also includes a central business district.