Calinog

Calinog, officially the Municipality of Calinog (Kinaray-a: Banwa kang Calinog, Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Calinog, Tagalog: Bayan ng Calinog)^{[pronunciation?]}, is a municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 62,853 people.^[3]

Calinog
Municipality
Municipality of Calinog
Flag Seal
Map of Iloilo with Calinog highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Calinog Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°08′N 122°30′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Western Visayas
Province	Iloilo
District	3rd district
Founded	1763
Barangays	59 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Francisco L. Calvo
• Vice Mayor	Anthony Andrew Gustilo
• Representative	Lorenz R. Defensor
• Municipal Council	Members Julius Andrew L. Castaños Gretchel Joy C. Casono QP Gold C. Caspillo Dino C. Dizon Teodoro Y. Lao II Mayjan Paul C. Hurtada Renato B. Magpantay Hazel C. Bibit
• Electorate	40,270 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	274.55 km2 (106.00 sq mi)
Elevation	78 m (256 ft)
Highest elevation	153 m (502 ft)
Lowest elevation	44 m (144 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	62,853
• Density	230/km2 (590/sq mi)
• Households	15,413
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	26.79 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 334.2 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 679.5 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 248.2 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 149.1 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Iloilo 2 Electric Cooperative (ILECO 2)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5040
PSGC	063013000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)33
Native languages	Karay-a Hiligaynon Capisnon Ati Tagalog
Website	www.calinog.gov.ph

History

Calinog is a municipality located in the central part of Panay Island in the Philippines. According to local legend, it was among the areas where Datu Marikudo, the Ati chieftain, chose to settle after ceding the lowland regions of Panay to Malay settlers in exchange for gold and other goods. This event, often dated to around the 13th century, is rooted in oral tradition and referenced in the Maragtas, a semi-legendary account of the early history of Panay.^[5]

Pre-colonial Era

The early inhabitants of Calinog were believed to be part of the indigenous Ati community, led by Datu Marikudo. After the barter with the Malays, Marikudo and his people gradually retreated inland, eventually settling between the Jalaur and Ulian rivers. Oral accounts state that Marikudo established his final settlement atop a series of hills that now overlook the present-day poblacion (town center) and are locally referred to as the Marikudo Hills.^[5]

Following the retreat of the Ati, Malay groups—under the direction of Datu Sumakwel, one of the ten Bornean datus—moved into the area. To manage settlement among his people, Sumakwel reportedly delegated territories to his men: Lumakad was given land along the Jalaur River, and Dumara-ug was given the area along the Ulian River. Over time, conflicts arose between their descendants but were later resolved through intermarriage, reuniting the groups in anticipation of Spanish arrival.^[5]

Spanish Colonial Period

Spanish colonization of Panay began in earnest in the latter half of the 16th century. In 1569, Miguel López de Legazpi was encouraged by his men to transfer the Spanish stronghold from Cebu to Panay due to the island’s rich resources and strategic location. Legazpi arrived in 1570 and implemented the encomienda system, which redistributed land as grants to Spanish settlers and cooperative natives, thereby altering the existing barangay-based governance structure.^[5]

Calinog was among the settlements that came under Spanish control. Local tradition claims that the Spaniards, upon arriving, were impressed by the area’s tranquility and asked locals for the native term for "peaceful." The locals responded with Calinong. Unable to pronounce the word precisely, the Spaniards adopted a simplified, Hispanized version—Calinog—which became the town’s official name.^[5]

In the early 18th century, Calinog was developed into a permanent town using the urban planning model prescribed by the Spanish colonial Laws of the Indies. This model mandated a central plaza surrounded by key structures such as the church, municipal hall (tribunal), school, and public market—a layout that continues to define Calinog’s town center today. In 1763, Calinog was officially declared a pueblo (town) by the Spanish colonial government.^[6]

Geography

Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II

In July 2024, the Jalaur Dam was completed on the Jalaur River in Calinog.^[7] The dam is part of the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) supported by Philippine President "Bongbong Marcos" and former Philippine Senator Franklin Drilon.^[8] The project will increase irrigation water in the area.

Climate

Climate data for Calinog, Iloilo
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	29 (84)	31 (88)	32 (90)	33 (91)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	22 (72)	22 (72)	22 (72)	23 (73)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	22 (72)	23 (74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	48 (1.9)	41 (1.6)	58 (2.3)	82 (3.2)	223 (8.8)	300 (11.8)	346 (13.6)	307 (12.1)	311 (12.2)	292 (11.5)	167 (6.6)	81 (3.2)	2,256 (88.8)
Average rainy days	11.4	7.7	11.3	15.4	25.7	28.5	29.5	28.7	28.3	28.7	21.8	15.2	252.2
Source: Meteoblue (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.)[9]

Barangays

Calinog is politically subdivided into 59 barangays.^[10] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

The central area, known as the "poblacion area," is composed of 4 barangays, namely: Poblacion Centro, Poblacion Ilaya, Poblacion Delgado and Poblacion Rizal Ilaud. A proposal has been made to add five more barangays to the urban land area. They are Barangays Carvasana, Dalid, Simsiman, Bo. Calinog, and Libot. They will constitute the greater Poblacion area.

• Agcalaga
• Aglibacao
• Aglonok
• Alibunan
• Badlan Grande
• Badlan Pequeño
• Badu
• Balaticon
• Banban Grande
• Banban Pequeño
• Binolosan Grande
• Binolosan Pequeño
• Cabagiao
• Cabugao
• Cahigon
• Barrio Calinog
• Camalongo
• Canabajan
• Caratagan
• Carvasana
• Dalid
• Datagan
• Gama Grande
• Gama Pequeño
• Garangan
• Guinbonyugan
• Guiso
• Hilwan
• Impalidan
• Ipil
• Jamin-ay
• Lampaya
• Libot
• Lonoy
• Malaguinabot
• Malag-It
• Malapawe
• Malitbog Centro
• Mambiranan
• Manaripay
• Marandig
• Masaroy
• Maspasan
• Nalbugan
• Owak
• Poblacion Centro
• Poblacion Delgado
• Poblacion Rizal Ilaud
• Poblacion Ilaya
• Baje San Julian
• San Nicolas
• Simsiman
• Tabucan
• Tahing
• Tibiao
• Tigbayog
• Toyungan
• Ulayan
• Supanga

Demographics

Population census of Calinog

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	4,194	—
1939	22,175	+4.73%
1948	25,484	+1.56%
1960	29,913	+1.34%
1970	25,996	−1.39%
1975	30,074	+2.97%
1980	32,897	+1.81%
1990	41,113	+2.25%
1995	45,452	+1.90%
2000	48,454	+1.38%
2007	51,018	+0.71%
2010	54,430	+2.38%
2015	60,413	+2.01%
2020	62,853	+0.78%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14]

In the 2020 census, the population of Calinog, Iloilo, was 62,853 people,^[3] with a density of 230 inhabitants per square kilometre or 600 inhabitants per square mile.

Ethnic groups

There are two ethnic groups identified. They are the Sulodnon or Bukidnon tribe and the Aeta. The Sulodnon or Bukidnon tribe comprises the thirteen (13) mountain barangays. The Aeta group resides in the different barangays of the municipality.

Languages

The main local languages are Hiligaynon, Capiznon and Kinaray-a. Filipino and English are also used and understood by the local residents, but are seldom used in daily life.

Tourism

Economy

Poverty incidence of Calinog

10 20 30 40 50 60 2000 53.69 2003 42.46 2006 29.80 2009 29.64 2012 27.01 2015 28.30 2018 27.02 2021 26.79 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]