Leganes, Iloilo

Leganes, officially the Municipality of Leganes (Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Leganes, Tagalog: Bayan ng Leganes), is a municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 36,542 people.^[5]

Leganes
Municipality
Municipality of Leganes
Municipal Hall, 2023
Flag Seal
Map of Iloilo with Leganes highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Leganes Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°47′N 122°35′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Western Visayas
Province	Iloilo
District	2nd district
Founded	1584
Chartered	1858
Barangays	18 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Vicente P. Jaen II (NP)
• Vice Mayor	Lyle L. Bartolome (NP)
• Representative	Kathryn Joyce F. Gorriceta (Lakas)
• Municipal Council	Members Theodore P. Banderado Adolfo D. Jaen, II Martin D. Jaen, III Joseph Allen D. Españo Rhea J. Jagunap Larry H. Labuson Niño Vincent J. Vallejo Abelardo T. Belmonte
• Electorate	24,755 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	32.20 km2 (12.43 sq mi)
Elevation	6.0 m (19.7 ft)
Highest elevation	39 m (128 ft)
Lowest elevation	−1 m (−3 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	36,542
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
• Households	8,145
Economy
• Income class	2nd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	10.6 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 204.7 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 536.9 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 146.2 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 123 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Iloilo 1 Electric Cooperative (ILECO 1)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5003
PSGC	063026000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)33
Native languages	Hiligaynon Karay-a Tagalog
Website	www.uswag-leganes.gov.ph

It is located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) north of the capital Iloilo City and is part of the Metro Iloilo–Guimaras area. Like most Philippine towns that sprawl outward from the capital, is made up of houses, farms and light agricultural industry. The major thoroughfare runs right through the center of the town.

History

Leganes has a history closely intertwined with the neighboring town of Jaro. For many centuries, Leganes was considered an unremarkable area, primarily consisting of wetlands, marshes, and swamps. The upper part of the region was inhabited by wild animals, and it was known as Guihaman.

In 1903, through Act No. 719, Leganes was incorporated into the municipality of Santa Barbara.^[6] However, this arrangement was short-lived. In 1915, by virtue of Executive Order No. 97, Leganes was removed from Santa Barbara and merged with Jaro, effective from January 1, 1916.^[7]

Further changes occurred in 1939 when Executive Order No. 241 was issued on December 23. This order separated the "arrabal de Leganes" from the municipality of Jaro, establishing it as an independent municipality. This change officially took effect on January 1, 1940, marking the formation of the municipality of Leganes.^[8]

In 2024, Leganes was designated as one of the locations for light industries in the province. Restia Agro-Industrial Estate Park in Barangay Calabao, is the province's first agro-industrial economic zone, accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).^[9]

Geography

Facade of San Vicente Ferrer Church

Barangays

Leganes is politically subdivided into 18 barangays. ^[10] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• M.V. Hechanova (Balabago)
• Bigke
• Buntatala
• Cagamutan Norte
• Cagamutan Sur
• Calaboa
• Camangay
• Cari Mayor
• Cari Minor
• Gua-an
• Guihaman
• Guinobatan
• Guintas
• Lapayon
• Nabitasan
• Napnud
• Poblacion
• San Vicente

Climate

Climate data for Leganes, Iloilo
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	30 (86)	31 (88)	32 (90)	33 (91)	32 (90)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (87)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	21 (70)	21 (70)	22 (72)	23 (73)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	22 (72)	23 (74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	19 (0.7)	17 (0.7)	26 (1.0)	37 (1.5)	119 (4.7)	191 (7.5)	258 (10.2)	260 (10.2)	248 (9.8)	196 (7.7)	97 (3.8)	39 (1.5)	1,507 (59.3)
Average rainy days	7.2	5.2	8.3	11.9	22.3	26.5	28.3	28.2	27.3	26.4	18.7	11.8	222.1
Source: Meteoblue[11]

Demographics

Population census of Leganes

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	3,827	—
1948	7,447	+1.49%
1960	9,244	+1.82%
1970	11,480	+2.19%
1975	12,328	+1.44%
1980	14,285	+2.99%
1990	18,505	+2.62%
1995	19,235	+0.73%
2000	23,475	+4.36%
2007	27,357	+2.13%
2010	29,438	+2.70%
2015	32,480	+1.89%
2020	34,725	+1.42%
2024	36,542	+1.23%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16]

In the 2020 census, the population of Leganes, Iloilo, was 34,725 people,^[17] with a density of 1,100 inhabitants per square kilometre or 2,800 inhabitants per square mile.

Language

Hiligaynon is the most dominant dialect used by the residents. English and Tagalog are also spoken.

Religion

Roman Catholicism is the most dominant religion in this municipality.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Leganes

10 20 30 40 2000 33.80 2003 23.98 2006 14.00 2009 15.20 2012 10.11 2015 16.36 2018 12.40 2021 10.60 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]