IGBARAS is located

Approximate population for 7 km radius from this point: 43739

Region:  6

As of April 2004  16,931 registered voters.

The Municipality of Igbaras is 40 kilometers south of Iloilo City comprising 46 barangays, six (6) of its barangays are classified as urban ( located in the poblacion) while the rest are classified as rural.  It is bounded  on the north by the the Municipalities  of San Remegio and Sibalom,  Province of Antique; on the east by the Municipality of Tubungan;  on the west by the Municipality of Miag-ao;  and on the south by the Municipality of Guimbal.

Igbaras  is a fourth income class municipality and a component of the First Congressional District of the Province of Iloilo.

Land Area

The Municipality of Igbaras has a total land area of  15,245 hectares approximately 0.33% of the total land area of the province.

Of the total area, about 5,346.6 hectares are agricultural areas,  1,400.00 hectares are built-up and infrastructure areas, open grasslands is 1,103.52 hectares,  Agro-idustrial areas is 1,518.00 hectares, bodies of water is 2.25 hectares and the rest are timberland.

Topographical and Hydrological Features

To topography of the Municipality of Igbaras is generally mountainous with 1,200 ft maximum elevation above sea level at the peak of Mt. Napulak and a minimum elevation of 40 ft at the poblacion.  There are several rivers and creeks that traverse in the municipality and one of these principal rivers is the Tangyan River that drained its course to the Panay Gulf.

Climate

Generally, the climatic condition of the area is Type I, a combination of wet and dry seasons. Wet season most often occur during the months from June to November. Based on the rainfall pattern as recorded by PAG-ASA stationed in Miag-ao Iloilo in 1994, July is the most rainy month while March is the driest.

Soil Types

There are three classified types of soil dominates the terrain of Igbaras. Large mass of approximately 85.23% is the rich Alimodian  Clay Loam  type. In the northwest highland is the Alimodian Soil Undifferentiated consisting of approximately 14.17% and the rest is Sta. Rita Type located on the southern portion of the municipality.

Mineral

Minerals found in the municipality consist of nonmetallic minerals such as sand, gravel, clay and limestones. However, the formation of iron and sulfur in some of the water springs indicates the presence of metallic elements.

Demography

The population of the Municipality of Igbaras  (as of 1994 SEP Survey) was 27,233 with a total household population of 4866. The population is predominantly young with 34.98% comprising 0-14 age groups and 57.95% are in the productive age (15-64 years old). A predominance of the male over the female is noted. The sex ratio is  103 males for every 100 females.

Income, Expenditures and Source of Income

Igbaras is economically dependent on farming. Of the 4866 households,63.23%  are farmers and 11.84% are farm laborers.  Others were engaged in other occupations such as government employees, private employees, or retired workers. The 70.41% of the household heads had a monthly income below Php 1,000.00, while 19.67% earning between Php 1,001.00- 3,000.00 and only 9.92% earning above Php 3,001.00 and above per month. In the same manner, survey shows that 15,779 or 57. 94% of the household members belong to the productive age group but only 7,546 or 47.82% were in the labor force.

This means that majority of Igbarasnons were economically dependent. Among the 7,546 working household members, 44.25% were farmers, 11.81% were farm laborers, 4.97 were working in the government and the rest are doing other jobs. The 57.13% of the working household members are earning below Php 1,000.00 a month and 24.04% have monthly income of Php1,001.00-3,000.00.