Guimaras is an island province in Western Visayas region of the Philippines.
Profile of Guimaras Province (Geography)
Location –> Western Visayas Region, Philippines (See map below)
Neighboring Province –> Iloilo and Negros Occidental
Capital –> Jordan
Area –> 604.57 km2 (233.43 sq mi)
Population –> 174,613
Terrain –> Plain with rolling hills
Industries –> Agriculture
Major Products –> Rice, Mangos, Seaweeds
People/Language –> Ilonggo
Governor –> Samuel T. Gumarin
Vice Governor –> John Edward G. Gando
Representative (Lone District) –> Lucille Nava
Cities –> None
Municipalities (Towns) –> (5) Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo, Sibunag
Guimaras History
The Spaniards led by Governor-General Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa set foot in the island of Guimaras in 1581 and began the colonization of the island and evangelization of the local people. Throughout the Spanish Period, the island was under the jurisdiction of Iloilo. In 1908 under the American regime, the people of Guimaras were allowed to elect their municipal president.
On 18 June 1966, the island was elevated to become a sub-province of Iloilo by virtue of Republic Act 4667. It acquired its regular province status only in 1992 after the people ratified R.A. 7160, the law that created the province. Then President Fidel V. Ramos appointed Emily Relucio-López as its first Governor.
In August 2006, one of the worst oil spills in the Philippines occurred around 17 kilometres (11 mi) off the island’s southern coast when an ship chartered by Petron, the country’s largest oil company, sank. More than a thousand hectares of mangroves were affected including the Taklong Island National Marine Reserve.
Go here to see all the famous people from Guimaras Province.
Go here to see the candidates and results of the 2019 election in Guimaras Province.
Read the history of Guimaras Province in Tagalog here.
Economy of Guimaras Province
The province of Guimaras is primarily an agricultural area where rice, mangoes, seaweeds and fish are the main products. Its mangoes are said to be the sweetest in the world. Other products include coconut and banana. The government is giving priority to the development of the tourism industry as an additional source of livelihood for the residents.
RELATED: Profile of Palawan Province
See also: List of Philippine Provinces and Capital by Region