Malay, Aklan

Malay /mɑːˈlaɪ/, officially the Municipality of Malay (Aklanon: Banwa it Malay; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Malay; Tagalog: Bayan ng Malay), is a municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is the richest municipality in the province in terms of revenue. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 60,077 people, making it the second most populous municipality in Aklan.^[3] It is the northernmost town on the island of Panay and the youngest amongst all municipalities in Aklan province. The resort island of Boracay is part of the municipality.

Malay
Municipality
Boracay skyline
Flag Seal
Map of Aklan with Malay highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Malay Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°53′59″N 121°54′34″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Western Visayas
Province	Aklan
District	2nd district
Founded	15 June 1949
Barangays	17 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Frolibar S. Bautista
• Vice Mayor	Niño Carlos F. Cawaling
• Representative	Teodorico T. Haresco Jr.
• Municipal Council	Members Natalie C. Paderes Lloyd B. Maming Junthir L. Flores Dalidig Y. Sumndad Jhonnel T. Casidsid Alan C. Palma Maria Victoria S. Aguirre Dante C. Pagsuguiron
• Electorate	40,565 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	66.01 km2 (25.49 sq mi)
Elevation	53 m (174 ft)
Highest elevation	884 m (2,900 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	60,077
• Density	910/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
• Households	15,232
Demonym	Malaynon
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	16.39 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 701.4 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 1,411 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 664.8 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 690.3 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5608
PSGC	0600412000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)36
Native languages	Aklanon Ati Hiligaynon Tagalog
Website	foo.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/malay-aklan/

History

The municipality of Malay was created on June 15, 1949, through Republic Act No. 381 and the help of Claro Tumaob, out of various portions of the municipality of Buruanga, then part of Capiz. It included the following barangays: Malay (poblacion, seat of local government), Dumlog, Cabulihan, Balusbos, Nabaoy, Cubay Norte, Cubay Sur, Cogon, Argao, Sambiray, Caticlan, Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, Yapak, Motag, Napaan, and Naasog.^[5] On April 25, 1956, Malay became part of the newly created province of Aklan, along with several other towns of Capiz.^[6]

It was hit severely by typhoon Seniang on December 9–10, 2006, with much destruction and damage of homes and infrastructure.

Geography

Malay is located at 11°53′59″N 121°54′34″E. It is 72 kilometers (45 mi) west of the provincial capital Kalibo, 230 kilometers (140 mi) from Iloilo City, 158 kilometres (98 mi) from Roxas City, and 168 kilometers (104 mi) from San Jose de Buenavista.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 66.01 square kilometers (25.49 sq mi) ^[7] constituting 3.62% of the 1,821.42-square-kilometer (703.25 sq mi) total area of Aklan.

Climate

Climate data for Malay
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	28 (82)	29 (84)	29 (84)	27 (81)	32 (90)	31 (88)	29 (84)	30 (86)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	28 (82)	29 (85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	23 (73)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (76)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	102 (4.0)	27 (1.1)	30 (1.2)	129 (5.1)	120 (4.7)	237 (9.3)	189 (7.4)	186 (7.3)	126 (5.0)	231 (9.1)	162 (6.4)	90 (3.5)	1,629 (64.1)
Average rainy days	14	12	9	11	20	20	21	22	19	21	17	17	203
Source: World Weather Online[8]

Barangays

Malay Municipal Hall

Malay is politically subdivided into 17 barangays.^[9] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

There are 3 barangays (Balabag, Manoc-Manoc, and Yapak) of which situated within Boracay Island, while the rest are in mainland Malay.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020[3]		2010[10]
060412001	Argao	2.0%	1,213	1,078	▴	1.19%
060412002	Balabag	20.5%	12,296	11,076	▴	1.05%
060412003	Balusbus	2.2%	1,310	1,079	▴	1.96%
060412004	Cabulihan	1.3%	772	575	▴	2.99%
060412005	Caticlan	13.3%	7,996	6,593	▴	1.95%
060412006	Cogon	1.1%	647	544	▴	1.75%
060412007	Cubay Norte	0.6%	365	327	▴	1.11%
060412008	Cubay Sur	2.4%	1,423	1,153	▴	2.13%
060412009	Dumlog	1.4%	863	768	▴	1.17%
060412010	Manoc-Manoc	24.7%	14,810	12,526	▴	1.69%
060412017	Motag	1.5%	903	818	▴	0.99%
060412011	Naasog	0.9%	557	547	▴	0.18%
060412012	Nabaoy	2.0%	1,220	1,025	▴	1.76%
060412013	Napaan	1.3%	751	649	▴	1.47%
060412014	Poblacion	2.2%	1,304	1,255	▴	0.38%
060412015	Sambiray	2.3%	1,382	1,031	▴	2.97%
060412016	Yapak	8.6%	5,161	4,767	▴	0.80%
	Total		60,077	45,811	▴	2.75%

Demographics

Population census of Malay

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1960	6,816	—
1970	7,623	+1.12%
1975	8,770	+2.85%
1980	9,120	+0.79%
1990	14,378	+4.66%
1995	19,406	+5.78%
2000	24,519	+5.14%
2007	32,110	+3.79%
2010	45,811	+13.81%
2015	52,973	+2.81%
2020	60,077	+2.51%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][10][12][13]

In the 2020 census, Malay had a population of 60,077.^[3] The population density was 910 inhabitants per square kilometer (2,400/sq mi).

Languages

Aklanon is the dominant dialect of Malay. Kinaray-a is also used due to Malay’s proximity to Antique. Hiligaynon is also widely spoken and understood in the municipality. Tagalog and English are also used particularly in Caticlan and Boracay to communicate with local and foreign tourists alike.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Malay

10 20 30 40 50 2000 32.27 2003 40.21 2006 27.60 2009 24.75 2012 12.10 2015 17.27 2018 13.39 2021 16.39 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

Because of its robust tourism industry, the municipality is now considered as having the strongest economy in all the municipalities in the region and the richest municipality of Aklan in terms of income and annual budget.^[22] The tourism industry of Boracay became the catalyst of its economic growth that brought many investors to come and helped transform the municipality into a cosmopolitan area.

Transportation

Air

Main article: Godofredo P. Ramos Airport

Malay has one airport, officially named Godofredo P. Ramos Airport but more popularly known as Caticlan Airport. Only small aircraft were allowed to land on the 950-meter (3,120 ft) runway. The runway was extended to 1,800 meters (5,900 ft) in 2016, allowing bigger aircraft like the Airbus A320 to land at the airport.^[23]

Sea

Caticlan Jetty Port

The Caticlan Jetty Port, one of the ports along the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, serves as a gateway to Boracay island, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, and Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro The Tabon port is not used a lot but it is used if its not summer.

Ground Transportation

Malay uses the electrics Sikad in Boracay island.

Bus

Malay is also using the hop on hop off shuttle service in boracay island

Education

List of secondary schools in Malay

• Boracay National High School
• Boracay National High School Manoc-Manoc Extension
• Caticlan Academy Foundation, Inc
• Lamberto H. Tirol National High School
• Malay National High School

Healthcare

Malay is being served by 2 hospitals both of which are owned by the government.

• Don Ciriaco Tirol Memorial Hospital
• Malay Municipal Hospital

Media

FM Radio Stations

• Radyo Todo Aklan 88.5 (Philippine Broadcasting Service/Todo Media, Inc.)
• 89.7 DYIE FM (Far East Broadcasting Company)
• 91.1 Yes the Best (Manila Broadcasting Company/Philippine Broadcasting Corporation)
• 93.5 Easy Rock (Manila Broadcasting Company/Cebu Broadcasting Company)
• 94.9 Brigada News FM (Brigada Mass Media Corporation)
• 97.3 Boracay Beach Radio (Interactive Broadcast Media)
• 98.1 iFM (Radio Mindanao Network)
• 106.1 FM2 Boracay (Philippine Broadcasting Service/One Media Boracay)

Cable Television

• Kalibo Cable TV Network
• Paradise Cable TV