Belison

Municipality in Antique, Philippines

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Municipality in Western Visayas, Philippines

Belison

Municipality

Municipality of Belison

Belison Municipal Hall

Flag

Map of Antique with Belison highlighted

OpenStreetMap

Belison

Location in the Philippines

Coordinates: 10°50′17″N 121°57′38″E﻿ / ﻿10.8381°N 121.9606°E﻿ / 10.8381; 121.9606
Country| Philippines
Region| Western Visayas
Province| Antique
District|  Lone district
Founded| March 10, 1961
Barangays| 11 (see Barangays)
Government

[1]

• Type| Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor| Christopher H. Piccio
• Vice Mayor| Darell B. dela Flor
• Representative| Loren Legarda
• Municipal Council|

Members

*   * Leoncio O. Abiera Sr.
* Nonato O. Delima Sr.
* Jerry M. Chavez
* Josefa E. Barcenal
* Rustico D. Arzaga
* Wenceslao E. Quiman
* Alma Mae T. Abao
* Ronie D. Acuña

• Electorate| 10,017 voters (2025)
Area

[2]

• Total

| 19.78 km2 (7.64 sq mi)
Highest elevation

(Mount Igtangitang)

| 237 m (778 ft)
Lowest elevation

| 0 m (0 ft)
Population

(2024 census)[3]

• Total

| 14,433
• Density| 730/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
• Households

| 3,412
Demonym| Bilisongnun
Economy

• Income class| 5th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence|

13.91

% (2021)[4]
• Revenue| ₱ 103.1 million (2022)
• Assets| ₱ 355.3 million (2022)
• Expenditure| ₱ 83.46 million (2022)
• Liabilities| ₱ 149.5 million (2022)
Service provider

• Electricity| Antique Electric Cooperative (ANTECO)
Time zone| UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code|

5701

PSGC|

060603000

IDD : area code | +63 (0)36
Native languages| Karay-a
Hiligaynon
Tagalog
Website| www.belisonantique.gov.ph

Belison (/bɛˈlison/), officially the Municipality of Belison (Kinaray-a: Banwa kang Bilisong, [bɪˈlisʊŋ]; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Belison; Tagalog: Bayan ng Belison), is a municipality in the province of Antique, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 14,129 people.[5]

Belison is the smallest (in area and population)[6] and the youngest municipality in the province of Antique.[7]

## History

[edit]

Belison (Kinaray-a: Bilisong) was merely a barangay in the larger municipality of Patnongon, adjacent to the north. Belison barangay leaders and Manila-based Bilisongnuns ([bɪlɪsʊŋˈnən]; ‘Belison residents’) mapped out a petition requesting the national government to make Belison an independent town. The petition was brought to Malacañan Palace on March 10, 1961, and through Presidential Executive Order No. 421 signed by President Carlos P. Garcia,[7] Belison was declared a municipality - the smallest and the youngest in the Province of Antique.

During World War II, Japanese war submarines and other marine craft found the shores of Belison easy entry points to Panay, and invaded the Western Visayas in that location. People still tell of the fear created by these foreign intruders, and also of the bravery of those who decided to resist, creating rebel strongholds in the mountainous areas above the municipality.

When the Japanese air raids would bomb Belison and the nearby communities, families from all around fled to Guinobatan Cave, high in the hills of barangay Buenavista. And when the American forces came, they too used the smooth sea landing in Belison, bringing relief food supplies to Bilisongnuns, and troops to attack the Japanese occupying forces. They often used local homes in the area to hide in while planning their strategies for assault against the enemy, and enlisted the help of brave men and women to carry out their plans.

## Geography

[edit]

Belison is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the provincial capital, San Jose de Buenavista.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 19.78 square kilometres (7.64 sq mi) [8] constituting 0.72% of the 2,729.17-square-kilometre- (1,053.74 sq mi) total area of Antique.

The municipality is bounded on the east by San Remigio, southeast by Sibalom, south by San Jose de Buenavista, north by Patnongon, and west by the Cuyo East Pass.

### Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Belison, Antique

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)  | 22
(72)  | 22
(72)  | 22
(72)  | 24
(75)  | 25
(77)  | 25
(77)  | 25
(77)  | 25
(77)  | 25
(77)  | 24
(75)  | 23
(73)  | 23
(73)  | 24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 48
(1.9)  | 41
(1.6)  | 58
(2.3)  | 82
(3.2)  | 223
(8.8)  | 300
(11.8)  | 346
(13.6)  | 307
(12.1)  | 311
(12.2)  | 292
(11.5)  | 167
(6.6)  | 81
(3.2)  | 2,256
(88.8)
Average rainy days  | 11.4  | 7.7  | 11.3  | 15.4  | 25.7  | 28.5  | 29.5  | 28.7  | 28.3  | 28.7  | 21.8  | 15.2  | 252.2
Source: Meteoblue[9] (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.)

### Barangays

[edit]

Belison is politically subdivided into 11 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

The Poblacion, seat of the municipal government, is an urban barangay while the rest are considered rural.

PSGC |  Barangay  |  Population  |  ±% p.a.

|
|
|

|  |  2024[10] |  2010[11] |
060603001 |  Borocboroc  |  8.7% |  1,261 |  1,173 |  ▴ |  0.51%
060603002 |  Buenavista  |  3.5% |  504 |  449 |  ▴ |  0.81%
060603003 |  Concepcion  |  8.8% |  1,263 |  1,165 |  ▴ |  0.57%
060603004 |  Delima  |  5.5% |  790 |  751 |  ▴ |  0.36%
060603005 |  Ipil  |  5.2% |  744 |  689 |  ▴ |  0.54%
060603006 |  Maradiona  |  11.2% |  1,613 |  1,539 |  ▴ |  0.33%
060603007 |  Mojon  |  3.2% |  461 |  410 |  ▴ |  0.82%
060603008 |  Poblacion |  31.2% |  4,503 |  4,479 |  ▴ |  0.04%
060603009 |  Rombang  |  7.0% |  1,016 |  834 |  ▴ |  1.39%
060603010 |  Salvacion  |  3.4% |  497 |  464 |  ▴ |  0.48%
060603011 |  Sinaja  |  6.1% |  887 |  854 |  ▴ |  0.27%
| Total  | 14,433  | 12,807  |  ▴ | 0.84%

## Demographics

[edit]

Population census of BelisonYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1970 | 7,189| —
1975 | 7,627| +1.19%
1980 | 8,626| +2.49%
1990 | 10,095| +1.59%
1995 | 11,174| +1.92%
2000 | 11,621| +0.84%
2007 | 12,467| +0.97%
2010 | 12,807| +0.98%
2015 | 13,539| +1.06%
2020 | 14,129| +0.90%
2024 | 14,433| +0.51%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][11][14][15]

In the 2020 census, Belison had a population of 14,129.[16] The population density was 710 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,800/sq mi).

### Language

[edit]

Kinaray-a is the dominant dialect of Belison while Hiligaynon is also spoken and understood by the residents.

### Religion

[edit]

Nine (9) of the leading Christian religious dominations[citation needed] in the Philippines established their presence in the town. Most Bilisongnuns are of Aglipayan ancestry.

* Aglipayan or the members of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Parish of Our Lady of Purity & Candles) have a church along Delima Street.
* Roman Catholics, there is the Lady of Candles Parish located along Oliverio Street.
* Seventh-day Adventist Church located along Placer Street.
* Iglesia ni Cristo has two locales, one in Candelaria Street, Poblacion and another in National Road, Barangay Rombang.
* Assembly of God located along Candelaria Street.
* Belison Baptist Church located along Rizal Street.
* Born Again Church located in Barangay Maradiona.
* United Pentecostal Church is located along National Road (Barangay Poblacion).
* Victory Christian Church is located along Bajalan-Lancara Street.

## Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Belison

2000
30.73

2003
24.74

2006
20.30

2009
25.84

2012
11.16

2015
13.33

2018
13.18

2021
13.91

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]

Agriculture is the main economic activity of the town.[citation needed] More than half of its land is riceland, while the rest are planted to corn, coconut, sugar cane and other production like vegetables and peanuts[citation needed].

## Government

[edit]

### Municipal seal

[edit]

The Belison municipal seal was created to commemorate the agricultural heritage of the town, in order to preserve the legacy of the original settlers in the region. It depicts three mainstay agricultural activities:

* The top image represents fishing and the bounties of the neighboring sea.
* The lower left portion is the harvesting of sugar cane, its processing muscovado sugar.
* The lower right depicts tilling of the lowlands for the planting of rice and other grains and vegetables.

Surrounding the great triangle are eleven stars – one representing each barangay in the town. The largest star at the bottom is for the Poblacion. Their strength lies in their connectivity to one another, and in their closeness to the traditions of the past.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Municipality of Belison |  (DILG)
2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
6. ^ "Province: Antique". PSGC Interactive. Makati, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
7. ^ a b "Executive Order No. 421, s. 1961: Creating the Municipality of Belison in the Province of Antique". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Manila. March 10, 1961. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
8. ^ "Province: Antique". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
9. ^ "Belison: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
10. ^ Census of Population (2020). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
11. ^ a b Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VI (Western Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
12. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
13. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
14. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
15. ^ "Province of Antique". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
16. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
17. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
18. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
19. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
20. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
21. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
22. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
23. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
24. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Philippine Standard Geographic Code

Places adjacent to Belison

|  | Patnongon |

|
|

|  |
Sulu Sea |

Belison

| San Remigio
|  |
| San Jose | Sibalom

* v
* t
* e

Province of Antique

San Jose de Buenavista (capital and largest municipality)

Municipalities|

* Anini-y
* Barbaza
* Belison
* Bugasong
* Caluya
* Culasi
* Hamtic
* Laua-an
* Libertad
* Pandan
* Patnongon
* San Jose de Buenavista
* San Remigio
* Sebaste
* Sibalom
* Tibiao
* Tobias Fornier
* Valderrama

*[PSGC]: Philippine Standard Geographic Code
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate. Executive Order 135 §6 states that for "census years" (years divisible by 10) the reference date would be May 1st, but for all other years, the reference date is to be the "middle of the year". This means that growth rates, although correct, are not necessarily simple year-on-year comparisons.
*[Pop.]: Population
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template