San Rafael, Iloilo

San Rafael, officially the Municipality of San Rafael (Hiligaynon: Banwa sang San Rafael, Tagalog: Bayan ng San Rafael), is a municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 17,795 people.^[5]

San Rafael
Municipality
Municipality of San Rafael
Mountain road in San Rafael
Flag Seal
Map of Iloilo with San Rafael highlighted
OpenStreetMap
San Rafael Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°10′22″N 122°49′36″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Western Visayas
Province	Iloilo
District	5th district
Founded	1969
Barangays	9 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Roel T. Belleza, Jr. (Lakas)
• Vice Mayor	Roberto T. Belleza, Jr. (Lakas)
• Representative	Binky April M. Tupas (Lakas)
• Municipal Council	Members Joevel M. Baclagon Myrfre C. Palabrica Domingo C. Pamonag, Jr. Jeanet B. Escolida Nerio B. Pantilanan Mariano M. Aleman, Jr. Lalaine B. Baldeviso Racel Renz P. Bamo
• Electorate	12,515 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	67.05 km2 (25.89 sq mi)
Elevation	129 m (423 ft)
Highest elevation	523 m (1,716 ft)
Lowest elevation	58 m (190 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	18,293
• Density	270/km2 (710/sq mi)
• Households	4,340
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	25.03 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 142.7 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 490.2 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 63.92 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 122.5 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Iloilo 3 Electric Cooperative (ILECO 3)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5039
PSGC	063042000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)33
Native languages	Hiligaynon Capisnon Karay-a Ati Tagalog
Website	www.sanrafael-iloilo.gov.ph

History

In 1969, all or part of 16 barrios (barangays) of Barotac Viejo were separated from that town and consolidated into the new municipality.^[6] However, in 1971 Republic Act No. 6267 decreed that 5 barrios be restored to Barotac Viejo, with the barrio of Omio becoming part of Lemery.^[7]

Fire

In February 2012, a fire damaged 18 stalls in the public market.^[8] As San Rafael has no fire station, fire trucks had to be called in from nearby towns.

Typhoon Haiyan

Typhoon Haiyan passed over Panay Island on November 8, 2013,^[9] affecting San Rafael along with several other coastal cities. The provincial board declared the state of Iloilo to be in a state of emergency, after acting governor Raul C. Tupas toured the fifth district.^[10] Local convenience stores were heavily damaged during the storm, although at least one reopened soon after.^[11] Several houses were damaged during the typhoon. They were destroyed by strong wind and falling trees. After a few days, relief soon arrived. Several new houses were built by a religious organization.

Geography

San Rafael is located 74 kilometres (46 mi) from the provincial capital, Iloilo City. It is bordered by Dumarao to the north, Lemery to the east, Barotac Viejo to the south, and Passi City to the west.

San Dionisio, one of the nine barangays, has the most land area (1,772.5532 hectares), while Aripdip has the least (486.4018 hectares). Poblacion, San Florentino, and San Andres are the next three largest barangays, with 1,476.3524 hectares, 993.5601 hectares, and 974.0931 hectares, respectively.

Mountain road with San Rafael Landmark Sign

Climate

Climate data for San Rafael, Iloilo
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	26 (79)	27 (81)	29 (84)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (82)	28 (82)	27 (81)	29 (84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	22 (72)	22 (72)	22 (72)	23 (73)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	61 (2.4)	39 (1.5)	46 (1.8)	48 (1.9)	90 (3.5)	144 (5.7)	152 (6.0)	145 (5.7)	163 (6.4)	160 (6.3)	120 (4.7)	90 (3.5)	1,258 (49.4)
Average rainy days	12.3	9.0	9.9	10.0	18.5	25.0	27.4	26.0	25.9	24.9	17.9	14.2	221
Source: Meteoblue[12]

Nine (9) barangays, namely Aripdip, Bagacay, Calaigang, Ilongbukid, Poblacion, Poscolon, San Andres, San Dionisio, and San Florentino, make up the municipality of San Rafael. San Dionisio, one of the nine barangays, has the most land area (1,772.5532 hectares), while Aripdip has the least (486.4018 hectares). Poblacion, San Florentino, and San Andres are the next three largest barangays, with 1,476.3524 hectares, 993.5601 hectares, and 974.0931 hectares, respectively.

Barangays

San Rafael is politically subdivided into 9 barangays. ^[13] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Aripdip
• Bagacay
• Calaigang
• Ilongbukid
• Poscolon
• San Andres
• San Dionisio
• San Florentino
• Poblacion

Demographics

Population census of San Rafael

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1970	8,322	—
1975	6,953	−3.54%
1980	8,742	+4.68%
1990	11,199	+2.51%
1995	12,000	+1.30%
2000	12,847	+1.47%
2007	13,694	+0.88%
2010	14,655	+2.50%
2015	16,532	+2.32%
2020	17,795	+1.56%
2024	18,293	+0.66%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18]

In the 2020 census, the population of San Rafael, Iloilo, was 17,795 people,^[19] with a density of 270 inhabitants per square kilometre or 700 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of San Rafael

10 20 30 40 50 60 2000 56.80 2003 44.93 2006 39.00 2009 30.08 2012 28.40 2015 23.79 2018 21.32 2021 25.03 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

Government

In 2013, Beboy Belleza was re-elected as mayor by an almost 2-1 margin.^[28]

Education

The exterior gate of San Rafael National High School, 2009.

San Rafael has elementary schools in almost all barangays. There is a primary school in Bagacay. San Rafael Central School is located in Poblacion.^[29] Children spend 2 years in kindergarten and 6 years in elementary.

San Rafael has two high schools: San Rafael National High School was established in 1983,^[30] while Ilongbukid National High School was created in 2000.^[31] Students spend 4 years in high school. There are 4 grading periods each school year. The 4th grading period is the most important because it determines if the student will advance a grade the next school year.

Secondary school starts with 1st Year and ends with 4th Year. The subjects for Grade 1 students are English, Mathematics, Pilipino, and Sibika at Cultura (History and Culture). English language is used as the language of instruction for English, Mathematics, and Science. Grade 2 students take English, Mathematics, Science, Sibika at Kutura, Agriculture. Grade 3-6 students take additional courses, such as Music, Art, P.E., and Hekasi (it contains 5 subjects but is graded as one subject).