Barotac Nuevo

Barotac Nuevo, officially the Municipality of Barotac Nuevo (Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Barotac Nuevo, Tagalog: Bayan ng Barotac Nuevo), is a municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 58,176 people.^[5]

Barotac Nuevo
Municipality
Municipality of Barotac Nuevo
Barotac Nuevo Church
Flag Seal
Nickname:  Football Capital of the Philippines
Map of Iloilo with Barotac Nuevo highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Barotac Nuevo Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°54′N 122°42′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Western Visayas
Province	Iloilo
District	4th district
Barangays	29 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Bryant Paul Q. Biron (NP)
• Vice Mayor	Hernan G. Biron, Jr. (NP)
• Representative	Ferjenel G. Biron (NP)
• Municipal Council	Members George P. Demaisip Jose Rex S. Pilador Michael John B. Siatong Raph John C. Oso Leonorico B. Bearnod, Jr. Ernesto T. Brillantes, Jr. Jessie S. Sazon Rhoan Loueige B. Belgira
• Electorate	39,162 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	94.49 km2 (36.48 sq mi)
Elevation	19 m (62 ft)
Highest elevation	357 m (1,171 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	59,184
• Density	630/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
• Households	14,251
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	18.6 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 272.6 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 886.9 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 140.2 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 202.9 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Iloilo 2 Electric Cooperative (ILECO 2)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5007
PSGC	063007000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)33
Native languages	Hiligaynon Tagalog
Website	www.barotacnuevo.gov.ph

The town is officially known as the Football Capital of the Philippines.^[6]

History

According to local folklore, the barrio of Malutac in Dumangas was famous for its well-bred horses. There was once a horse called Tamasak, a pure white stallion in the stead of one Don Simon Protacio. Don Protacio was offered to sell the horse to Manuel Gonzales de Aguilar, the governor-general of the Philippines at that time whose white horse previously died. Don Protacio adamantly refused to sell his horse which led to Gonzales de Aguilar personally visiting Don Protacio's compound in order to persuade him to do so. After a long negotiation, they came to a truce wherein Tamasak will be given to the governor-general in exchange for Malutac to be made into a town. When the barrio was eventually separated from Dumangas and became a town, it was renamed into Barotac Nuevo.

The name "Barotac" is from the Spanish word "baro", which means mud, as well as the second syllables of the Hiligaynon word, "lutac" which also means mud. "Nuevo", which translates to new, was added to the name to distinguish it from another town called Barotac Viejo located 26 kilometres (16 mi) north.

Barotac Nuevo is a small town whose main industry and capital are in fishing and agriculture. The town church was built by Spanish Roman Catholic missionaries in the 16th century.

Geography

Barotac Nuevo is 31 kilometres (19 mi) from the provincial capital Iloilo City, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from Pototan, and 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Dumangas. The town is bordered by Pototan to the west, Dingle to the north-west, Anilao to the north-east, and Dumangas to the south.

Barangays

Barotac Nuevo is politically subdivided into 29 barangays: ^[7] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Acuit
• Agcuyawan Calsada
• Agcuyawan Pulo
• Bagongbong
• Baras
• Bungca
• Cabilauan
• Cruz
• Guintas
• Igbong
• Ilaud Poblacion
• Ilaya Poblacion
• Jalaud
• Lagubang
• Lanas
• Lico-an
• Linao
• Monpon
• Palaciawan
• Patag
• Salihid
• So-ol
• Sohoton
• Tabuc-Suba
• Tabucan
• Talisay
• Tinorian
• Tiwi
• Tubungan

Climate

Climate data for Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	28 (82)	29 (84)	30 (86)	32 (90)	32 (90)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (82)	30 (85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	24 (75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	57 (2.2)	37 (1.5)	41 (1.6)	42 (1.7)	98 (3.9)	155 (6.1)	187 (7.4)	162 (6.4)	179 (7.0)	188 (7.4)	114 (4.5)	78 (3.1)	1,338 (52.8)
Average rainy days	12.0	7.7	9.2	10.2	19.5	24.6	26.9	25.1	25.5	25.2	18.0	13.0	216.9
Source: Meteoblue[8] (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.)

Demographics

Barotac Nuevo Municipal Hall

Population census of Barotac Nuevo

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	9,904	—
1918	13,299	+1.98%
1939	20,572	+2.10%
1948	21,860	+0.68%
1960	23,164	+0.48%
1970	30,131	+2.66%
1975	33,443	+2.11%
1980	34,276	+0.49%
1990	39,757	+1.49%
1995	40,968	+0.56%
2000	45,804	+2.42%
2007	49,515	+1.08%
2010	51,867	+1.70%
2015	54,146	+0.82%
2020	58,176	+1.52%
2024	59,184	+0.41%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[9][10][11][12][13]

In the 2020 census, the population of Barotac Nuevo was 58,176 people,^[14] with a density of 620 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,600 inhabitants per square mile.

Language

The primary language spoken in Barotac Nuevo is Hiligaynon.

Religion

The population is predominantly Roman Catholic.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Barotac Nuevo

10 20 30 40 50 2000 42.88 2003 31.07 2006 19.70 2009 15.91 2012 17.57 2015 21.11 2018 15.66 2021 18.60 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

The town's agricultural output includes rice, sugar cane, and spinach. Marine products such as milkfish and tilapia are harvested from local fisheries. There are usually three annual rice harvests, depending on the season.

Sports

Football is the most popular sport in Barotac Nuevo which is usually dubbed as the football capital town of the Philippines.^[23] A football field is present in the town plaza. Every summer season, a local football league is held. Stallion F.C., now named Stallion Laguna F.C. of the Philippines Football League, was founded in Barotac Nuevo. There is only one basketball court in town and is rarely used.^[24]

Football was introduced in the town in the 1920s by the Monfort brothers.^[25]

Telecommunications

Smart Communications has a cell site in the middle of the town providing voice, texting and data services over the GSM network. Smart is likewise providing 4G LTE, 3G and HSPA services. SmartBRO is also available for fixed internet service. There are also cell sites located at Barangay Tiwi.

Notable personalities

• Myrtle Sarrosa, Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition 4 Big Winner
• Chieffy Caligdong, former Philippines National Football Team player
• Ian Araneta, former Philippines National Football Team player
• Jovin Bedic, former Philippines National Football Team player
• Elmer Bedia, former Philippines National Football Team player, PFF Mr. Football
• Ferjenel Biron, politician and physician