SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE
LOCATION
The Municipality of Zarraga lies in the northern portion of the Province of Iloilo.
It is 15 kilometers from the City of Iloilo. It is bounded by; the municipality of Pototan in the North, the municipality of Leganes in the South, the municipality of Dumangas and Iloilo Strait in the East, and the municipalities of New Lucena and Sta. Barbara in the West.
The geographical location of the municipality is defined by grid coordinates, 1220 36’ 00’ longitude to 1220 40” 00’ longitude and 100 53” 00’ latitude to 100 47” 00’ latitude. Travel time from the city to the town proper is approximately 20-30 minutes by jeepney or private cars.
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION
Zarraga is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.
PHYSICAL RESOURCE PROFILE:
Zarraga has a total land area of 5,448 hectares (54.48 Sq. km.) presently classified into the following categories:
Agricultural – 57.53 % of the total land area, mostly planted to rice
Residential – 13.83 % of the total land area
Fishponds – 13.34 % of the total land area
Institutional – 1.08 % of the total land area
Commercial – 2.35 % of the total land area
Other Land-Uses – 11.87 % of the total land area
GEOGRAPHY
Topography and Slope
The topography of the municipality varies from plain in the central part and lowlands along the coastal, river and creek banks. Most of its areas have 3% – 5% slope category and only a small area located at the hillocks of its two barangays bordering New Lucena have a 8% slope category.
Climate
The climate of the municipality is the same of that of Iloilo City which is dry in December to May and wet in June to November.
Soil
There are three (3) soil types present in the municipality. The Umingan Fine Sandy Loam comprising about fifteen (15) percent of the total land area of the Municipality and about eighty five (85) percent are variations of two soil types, the Sta. Rita Clay and Bantog Clay Loam.
Water Sources
There are two (2) rivers passing through the municipality, the Jalaur River that supplies ample water for irrigation purposes all year round. The Talauguis River is the continuation of Jalaur River, considered as one of the biggest river in Panay the directly empties at Iloilo Strait. There are three existing creeks crisscrossing the municipality,
namely, the Janipa-an, Inagdangan and the Sigangao creeks. The municipality has potential underground water supply, which is still untapped for domestic, commercial and industrial uses.
POPULATION
The Municipality of Zarraga has a projected population of 29,964 persons for the year 2019 with a total number of households placed at 6,389. Literacy rate is 97.11%.
ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY
Zarraga is primarily a rice growing area, with 2,205.36 hectares of land devoted to it, corresponding to 40.48% of the total land area of the municipality. Palay production and its subsequent processing are the main preoccupation and major source of income of most residents of the town.
Almost 66.42% of the working population is in the labor force. Out of this 66.42% in the labor force, 42.43% are employed and 57.57% are unemployed.
Approximately 42.27% of the total households have an average family income of P3,000.00 – P5,000.00 per month.
It has two (2) commercial centers that contribute greatly to the commercial and economic activities of the municipality. The Municipal Public Market and its surrounding commercial establishments located in Poblacion Ilaud and has a total area of 10,153 square meters, more or less. It is where the municipal public market is situated with a total of forty five (45) stalls occupied by the different business establishments engaging in rice/palay dealer and retailers, groceries and sari-sari store, and many more. Its surrounding environ are dedicated also to sarisari stores and various commercial activities.
The second commercial center of Zarraga is located at Barangay Jalaud Norte due to its strategic location being in the crossroad of the five (5) neighboring municipalities of the town. This is where various commercial and service establishments are situated which can rival the Municipal Public Market and its environment.
Presently, we have two (2) double -passed ricemills, one (1) multi-million operational piggery and three (3) multi-million poultry farm.
Due to the congestion of the City of Iloilo, the rapid urbanization of town of Leganes, its nearness to Iloilo City and its very strategic location, many subdivisions are being developed in the municipality, as follows:
1. Mutual Homes Subdivision
2. Saintville Subdivision
3. Hda. Fe Country Homes
4. Happy Homes Subdivision
5. Villa Carmela Subdivision
6. Lacsonville Subdivision
7. Arimas-Cortes Subdivision
8. Hda. Sta. Ana
These subdivisions if fully sold-out could accommodate more than 3,000 households which could probably double its existing population in the near future.
Social Services
The delivery of health services of the municipality is catered thru the presence of one (1) main health center, three (3) barangay health stations, six (6) private medical clinics and two (2) dental clinics.
The educational institutions in the municipality, includes two (2) privately owned kindergarten schools , two (2) national high schools, one (1) privately owned high school, one (1) district elementary level composed of seven (7) complete elementary schools with 1 or 2 kindergarten classes, one (1) college owned by the Dominican Sisters and 23 Day Care Centers established in 23 barangays and administered by the MSWDO. These 23 day care centers are presently serving 691 pre-schoolers.
Zarraga power supply is being served by ILECO II. It is already 100.00% energized. Its domestic water requirement is being served by Zarraga Water District.
Infrastructure and Utilities
A. Roads and Bridges
The Municipality has a total road network of 41.632 kilometers and component bridges of 64.8 lineal meters broken down as follows:
Classification Roads Bridges
National 17.69 kms Provincial 5.933 kms
Municipal 1.20 kms 38 linear meters
Barangay 19.12 kms 26.80 linear meters
Peace and Order Condition
The Peace and Order situation in the municipality is maintained by the Zarraga PNP with a combined police force of 32 policemen who are on duty 24/7. The pool of barangay tanods in the different barangays facilitates safety and crime prevention in collaboration with Zarraga PNP. Curfew hours is being observed in selected barangays making night time peaceful and quiet. Crime rate in Zarraga is relatively low.