Odiongan Romblon

Culture: Although Romblon is part of Southern Luzon, the Rombloanon way of life is almost completely Visayan; thus, they have forms of art that are different from those of their Tagalogcounterparts. Rombloanons are also known to be hardworking, religious and educationoriented. Rombloanons have their own dialect, which sometimes distinguishes them when speaking other languages because of the hard accent. There are other major Visayan dialects such as Asiand Onhan. However, languages such as Tagalog and English are used in transactions. About one-third of the population is Catholic, while the rest are independent churches including Iglesia ni Cristo, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and Foursquare Gospel. Although branched into several religions, most of the population still celebrate the feast of Sto. Nio a tradition started in 1521. The tribute to Seor Sto. Nio is celebrated in conjunction with the town fiesta called 'Biniray Festival', which is a display of floral splendor held every 9th of January. Occupation: The province of Romblon has unique advantage of being at the center of trade routes that link Luzon and the Visayas. This strategic location makes the province an ideal location for sea freight distribution and as a manufacturing center from which to access the markets of Western Visayas and Southern Tagalog. The province is famous for its marble, and holds large deposits of kaolin clay, nickel, magnetism, quartz, silica, and zinc, copper, silver, limestone and sulfide ores. The waters surrounding the islands are teeming with tuna, grouper and other fish species, and its extensive forests produce timber and forest products such as rattan, buri and nito. Rice, coconuts, abaca and bananas are grown on the farms in the islands. Cattle raising is a thriving industry. Romblon's population of 263,000 is young, highly educated and trainable. Occupation in romblon are more on farming and mining, because romblon are rich in minerals. Geography: -Romblon Approximately 187 nautical miles (346 km) south of Manila, the islands of Romblon lie on Sibuyan Sea, South of Marinduque Island and North of Panay. To the east is the island of Masbate and in the west is Mindoro.Romblon is endowed with lush vegetation and mineral resources. Aside from marble, the islands are rich in granite, nickel, silica, mercury, zinc, copper, silver, limestone, sulfide, ores, kaolin, clay, magnesium and quartz. Gold panning sites have sprouted in some of the mountain stream areas in Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island. The fertile soil nurtures varied agricultural cropslike coconut, rice, corn, bananas, rootcrops, fruit trees, vines and many others. Offshore, Romblon is a rich fishing ground. The islands lie on the migratory path of fishes from the Sulu and Visayan Seas, passing the Tablas Strait, Sibuyan Sea and Romblon Pass. Odiongan Odiongan is a progressive municipality in Tablas Island. Along with the modern development, it still has "Mother Nature's" gift. Odiongan is located in the Mid-western part of Tablas Island. The area is bounded on the north by San Andres, on the south by Ferrol, on the west by Sta. Maria and on the east by the Tablas Strait. It is an ideal place for scuba diving and water skiing with its

waters stretching to about 17,400 meters from coast to coast. Spatial patterns: Distribution of population As of Census 2007, Romblon has a population of 279,774. It ranked 4th among the five provinces of Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) and had about 11 percent share of the total regional population. The most populous municipalities in the province are Odiongan, Romblon and San Fernando. Combined, these three municipalities accounted for 36 percent of the provincial population. The municipalities with the least population are Concepcion and Ferrol with only 4,166 and 6,595 population, respectively. Population growth rate for the province was registered at 0.78 for the period 2000 to 2007, the second lowest in the MIMAROPA region. The municipalities that showed the highest population growth rates are Santa Fe and San Jose with 1.99 and 1.90. Two municipalities registered a negative growth rate, Concepcion with -1.60 and Corcuera with -0.90, both island municipalities. Family: families in odiongan romblon are extended. Religion: The people of the province are mostly Christians - 75% belongs to the Roman Catholic and 25% to the Philippine Independent Church, Iglesia Ni Kristo, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baptists, Foursquare and other Christian denominations. Economic: ECONOMIC PROFILE POWER SUPPLY Odiongan enjoys a 24-hour electrification. National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) supplies electricity to the business establishments and residents of Odiongan through TIELCO. WATER SUPPLY Drinking water in the town is supplied by Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). Potable water is also available in 15 barangays. There are 3 water stations selling purified water. RESOURCES Agricultural Resources: Palay Coconuts Banana Garlic Mango Root Crops Mongo Corn Peanuts

Vegetable products Forest Resources: A 24 hectares, timberland reservation at Barangay Amatong, Rizal and Pato-o are now under the integrated Sociallized Forestry Program of the Bureau of Forestry Development. Barangays Progreso Este, Rizal and Tuburan have substantial remaining forested area. INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES Agribusiness Fish Culture and Processing Cut Flower Industries Cottage Industries Garments Tourism Related Facilities Non-Pollutive Industries Means of livelihood/subsystem Government: Odiongan romblon MAYOR FIRMALO, BALTAZAR LL. VICE MAYOR FAJAUTNAO, BRECIO JR. COUNCILORS 1. FONTANOZA, FIDEL 2. RAMOS, RAMER 3. FERNANDEZ, ALY KHAN JR. 4. DIMAALA, DIVEN 5. BANTANG, DOMINADOR 6. YLAGAN, FELIX 7. FORIG, ALFONSO 8. FRAN, LILY Education: Based on the report from the DepEd Division of Romblon for CY 2007-2008, there are 477 schools offering pre-elementary, elementary and secondary education in the province. For pre-elementary, a total of 200 schools of which 18 are private and 182 are public serves the province. For elementary, a total of 226 schools, 11 of them private and 215 public schools. For secondary, a total of 51 schools are available, 10 are private, 38 are public and 3 are under State University/College (SUCs). Enrollment for the same schoolyear totals 8,307 for pre-school, 51,995 for elementary and 27,122 for secondary. The report further shows that almost 95 percent of the basic education enrollees in the division are in public schools. Social classes: because romblon is a third class province social classes in romblon are not so high compare to urban city. Social status :

Continued migration of Romblonanons from Romblon is one sign of they want to have a high social status in terms of economic welt. Social mobility: social mobility in romblon are in vertical mobility, because most of people in romblon find luck in city so they also have an opportunity to have a family with higher status . Population density: . Population density for the province stood at around 206 persons per sq. km. Population density is highest in the island municipalities of Corcuera with 465 and San Jose with 326 persons per sq. km. The least densely populated municipalities are Calatrava and Magdiwang with 112 and 115 persons per sq. km. respectively. Social control: Indirect, people influence behavior from their parents and other people. Transportation and communication: Communication : Telefax; Globe; SMART; Long distance telephone are available through PLDT, BAYANTEL, ROMBLONTEL. Telegraphic services are also available through RCPI, PT & T. Private & government communication facilities are all located at the town proper. Transport - Airport located Lines on Fernando. - Land - Domestic flights are available from Manila. Airport in Romblon is at Tugdan Domestic Airport , Alcantara, Romblon using SEA AIR a twice a week flight schedule.One air strip in Azagra, San

- Tricycles and jeeps are the main modes of transport in the province. Several buses provide regular trips to municipalities. "Habal-habal" or single motorcycle is also being use as transport especially in the port.

- Sea Ports : ROMBLON PORT : The port of Romblon is the main port serving the whole province Romblon with 2,979 sq m. It plays a vital role in the transport of conventional cargoes passengers to CALABARZON provinces, Mindoro Island and Metro Manila. It is located capital town of Romblon, an island famous for its world class marbles. Romblon comprises the terminal port of Romblon and covers all feeders ports namely: Ambulong, Cajidiocan, Azagrra, Simarara, Banton and Concepcion.

of and at the Terminal Carmen,

Leisure and government: people in odiongan romblon are fun of having a fiesta, and that is the way of having fun, and it is also supported by the local government. Health ang sanitation: There are eight hospitals in the province, all of which are government-owned. The hospitals in Tablas Island are the following: Romblon Provincial Hospital (RPH) in Odiongan (75 beds), Tablas Island District Hospital (TIDH) in San Agustin (25 beds) Don Modesto Formilleza District Hospital.

The health status of the province in 2000 is characterized by decreasing birth, death and infant mortality rates, citing as measures the 23 percent crude birth rate, the 7.0 crude death rate, and the 35.8 percent infant mortality rate. Interpersonal relationship and social interactions : Because romblon are a small province most of the people in romblon are binded by same attitudes and culture they are close to every member of the family and society. Leadership: Social and cultural change: Building the province's infrastructure support is an investment priority. Telecommunications, power generation, better sea and air transport facilities can fully propel the islands as a regional trade Cultural advantage and facilities: The province of Romblon has unique advantage of being at the center of trade routes that link Luzon and the Visayas. This strategic location makes the province an ideal location for sea freight distribution and as a manufacturing center from which to access the markets of Western Visayas and Southern Tagalog. Social problem: The continued migration of Romblonanons from Romblon is a fact. Romblon's best and brightest are scattered all over the country and the world because there is no stable future for them in Romblon. We are losing, instead of gaining, from this phenomenon. Common problem: common problem are more about environmental issues like mining and dynamite fishing and budget in agriculture. Level of poverty: The province of Romblon is classified as a third class province. Illiteracy: The population's illiteracy rate is low at 5.40 percent, but as a measure of poverty incidence, the drop-out rate, the number of students that drops out completely from the educational system, is very high, around 30 percent. Sanitary surroundings: sanitary surroundings are not just too good because not the all houses their has a toilet. Unhygienic practice: Unemployment: The unemployment rate of 18.1 percent means that of those eligible to work, close to 30,000 are jobless and cannot find jobs. Quality of life: life in romblon are simple as same in other province , people are more busy with the family than in work. Means of subsystem: Poor quality of education: quality of education in romblon are high, not the quality is poor but the budget. Poor farm production: romblon are rich in natural resources and also in many farm products maybe romblon are poor in producing meat products. Lack of cultural education: Modern amenities:

Romblon Province is an island in the Sibuyan Sea between Mindoro and Bicol. It is a well known island in the Philippines, because it is famous for its marble but has very little tourist activity. Romblon has nice white sand beaches with good reef systems. The reefs are virgin with an unusual abundance of fish. The area has bottomless walls with ample amounts of pelagics. One of the more unique dives is the blue hole which you enter on top of the reef at 6 meters and exit in the middle of the wall at 40 meters. Diving in Romblon is characterized by pristine coral gardens with excellent tropical marine life. It is highly recommended for the serious photographer. It also has very good walls where bigger animals are encountered. The dive areas are in the range of 5 minutes to a 1 hour boat ride away.

John Greg G. Magdugo BS Sociology III-1 Prof. Rolando Herrero