Municipality of Belison

ANTIQUE TOWNS: BELISON

MUNICIPALITY OF BELISON

(Reprinted from the Binirayan 2000 Souvenir Magazine)

Formerly the biggest barrio in the Municipality of Patnongon, Belison has a total land area of 1,978 hectares. It is located in the coastal portion of the province. As of the 1990 census it has a population of 10,095 distributed among its eleven (11) barangays. It has an average annual income of (Philippine Pesos) Php 2, 123, 221.00.

In terms of economy, Belison is agricultural. Farming and fishing are the main sources of livelihood. The major agricultural products are rice, corn, sugar and coconut. Rice is produced in great abundance due to modern methods and flew irrigation systems. Belisongnons living along the coastline find pleasure in deep sea fishing as means of earning a living. As supplementary income, Belisongnons engage in vegetable farming, tuba (coconut wine) gathering and many other livelihood activities. It is the town of farmers, fishermen, salt makers and weavers.

Belisongnons are warm and simple people. Hardworking folks have come to adopt the sea and mountains with open arms despite the hardships. Belison is a place where everybody knows everybody.

Belison is noted for its overseas Filipino contract workers and seamen who have greatly uplifted the economic status of the town with their dollar remittances.

Aside from sufficiency of rice supplies, the existence of many public utility vehicles, motorized bancas and the like are a hallmark of the town’s economic growth and progress. Another boost to its economic development is the availability and utilization of electric power. As of today ten (10) barangays have been fully energized by the Antique Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ANTECO).

Belison is a beautiful town, tucked between along shoreline in its western portion and rice fields and mountain ranges in its eastern portion. It has fine beaches. The crystal like water is very inviting to swimming enthusiasts. It is blessed with abundant natural resources. It is also believed that Buenavista, a hilly barangay is rich in mineral resources like copper manganese and chromite.

Belison is a sixth class municipality. It emerges as a promising town in the Province of Antique. The great leap, particularly in its economy, infrastructures, livelihood services and ground lifting improvements, is an achievement Belisongnons have been proud of. It is indeed a formidable task for a small town.

Of the municipality's total land area, 1,229.5 hectares (ha.) are planted to rice, 397.3 ha. to sugar cane and 0.91 ha. to root crops. Furthermore, 196.32 ha. are considered pastureland, 10.84 ha. nipa land, 7.22 ha. bamboo land, and 36.48 ha. upland.

The total area planted to rice which is irrigated is 250.3 ha.; 410.2 ha. are not irrigated. The average yield per hectare is 90 cavans for rice, and 56 cavans for corn and other crops.

There are 2 cooperatives in Belison. The Belison Multi-Purpose Cooperative which started in 1964 has 1 ,861 members, as of 1997, and the Veterans Multi-Purpose Cooperative which started only in 1991.

With the advent of the TEEP, (Third Elementary Education Program) the district of Belison focused on Education for all, quality education, clean, safe and green environment. Provisions were made for the basic facilities of the school, and development of indigenous material for instructions.

Belison has fine beaches. The crystal — clear water is very inviting for swimmers. The Belison shore is the haven for green sea turtles. The beautiful flower gardens, the tree-growing projects are never missed by the guests of the municipality. The Guinobatan cave in Buenavista is the hunting place for Belisongnons particularly on Good Friday. Buenavista is rich in mineral resources like cooper, manganese and chromite. Belison has also a beautiful sunset. The municipal plaza, the Rizal Shrine, the municipal building, the well-kept and trimmed lawns, are the attractions once you enter the municipality of Belison.

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