ILOILO

province, eastern portion of the island of Panay, Philippines. It includes offshore islands in the Visayan Sea (east) and Guimaras Island in Guimaras Strait. The province has an area of 2,056 sq mi (5,324 sq km) and is mountainous in the west and hilly in the northeast, where the Bulabog-Putian National Park lies between Dingle and San Enrique. Its irregular coastline has productive fisheries based on the port of Estancia in the north. Drained by the Jalaud River, the central and coastal regions, constituting the Iloilo Basin, are level and fertile, and many areas annually harvest two rice crops. Other products include sugarcane, coconuts, bananas, and corn (maize). Forest products and textile manufacturing are also important. Cabatuan and Janiuay (on the main northsouth highway), Pototan and Santa Barbara (freight depots on the Iloilo Railroad), and Barotac Nuevo are important trading and rice-milling centres. Other population centres in addition to Iloilo City, a chartered city and the provincial capital, include Miagao, Lambunao, Dumangas, and Calinog. Pop. (1980) 1,433,641.