Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the southern part of Panay Island in Western Visayas Region. It is bounded on the north by Capiz province, on the east by the Visayan Sea, on the south by the island province of Guimaras and Panay Gulf, and on the west by Antique Province. Except for the high mountains in the western part and the hills in east, most of Iloilo are flat lands. Climate is characterized by Type I climate in the northeast and by Type III in the southwest. Type I has two pronounced seasons: dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. Type III has no very pronounced seasons : relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year.

Iloilo Provincial Capitol

Most of the people in the province are Ilonggos but there some migrants from other provinces especially from Western Visayas Region. After Negros Occidental, Iloilo is the second most populous province in Western Visayas Region.

1. Fernando Lopez - Former Vice president of the Philippines (1948-1953, 1965—1969 and 1969—1972)
2. Ramon Avancena - Supreme Court Chief Justice (1925 - 1941)
3. Franklin M. Drilon - Cabinet Secretary, Senate President (2000 - 2001, 2004 - 2006)
4. Miriam Defensor Santiago - Cabinet Secretary, Senator, Judge
5. Graciano Lopez Jaena - Writer, Orator, Revolutionary; One of the leaders of the Propaganda Movement
6. Eugene Torre - One of the greatest Filipino chess players

The province's poverty incidence stood at 30.4 in 2006, slighly lower than the country's average of 32.9%. Outside Iloilo City, however, the face of poverty is everywhere. Agriculture is the main economic activity.

Farm and fishery output of Ilioilo in 2007 are as follows (figure in thousand metric tons, rank among 79 provinces)

Animal inventory of Iloilo in 2007 are as follows (figure in thousand, rank among 79 provinces)

Sugar is also a major agricultural product of Iloilo. As of 2007, there were 166 banks operating in the province most of them are located in Iloilo city. Total deposits amounted to 41.9 billion pesos.

One of the major economic hubs of the country, Iloilo Province offers many opportunities for investment. Having a large urban center, a vast agricultural land and modern infrastructure projects coupled with several natural attractions and historical sites, big and small enterprises have rooms to grow in this part of the country. Power generation, ship building, construction materials, and chemical plants are some heavy industries that are recommended. Food processing, furniture, and consumer goods are the light industries that have bright prospects for development. Technology and tourism related industries can be profitable.

1. Ancestral homes in Iloilo City
2. Molo Church
3. Jaro Cathedral
4. Miag-ao Church - belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage List
5. Bulabog-Putian National Park - known for its caves and springs
6. Gigantes and Pan de Azucar beaches

Capitol photo credit to gigsilonggo.com

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