Passi is one of Iloilo’s oldest towns. Originally settled by the three brothers Dig-on, Tokiab and Umawang. So far, recorded data of Passi’s past began with the arrival of Spanish conquistadors. Differences in languages were allegedly the reason how places got their names. How Passi got its name was told by tradition.

During the early days in Panay, a group of Spanish Conquistadores under Legaspi managed to find their way into the mouth of what is known as Jalaur River at Talaugis near Barotac Nuevo on a mission of exploring the hinterlands of Iloilo. They rode on a unique flatboat known as the "Sciata" (yacht) that could float and move easily on any kind of up or down stream travel. That trip took them to as far the sitio of Calinog, northwest of Passi.

One day, a bunch of these Spanish explorers came downstream. They anchored on a place farther west at the mouth of Lamunan River called Ansig. They stumbled on a small hut by the river bank where an old woman was found winnowing pounded palay. One of them asked her. "Como se Llama Este Lugar" not knowing the native language of course. Much to the old woman’s surprise and perhaps excitement, she replied without much ado "Pasi" which means some of the unhusked rice on her basket held in both hands. She must have thought that they were eager to know what was in the basket and what she was doing, because she could not understand their language.

From that time on, the Spanish begun to call the place "Pasi" at first. The word later evolved to be known by its present "Passi."

During the Spanish Era, Passi was called a "pueblo" administered by Capitan Municipal", then, it was called "Presidential" during the establishment of the American Colonial Government and administered by a Municipal President. However, when the Philippines became a Commonwealth, the town became known as municipality and designation of a chief executive became a municipal mayor. Passi then became progressive and had experience tremendous development over the period. From that time on and up to December 31, 1997, Passi is still considered a municipality. But because of its strategic location, Passi became a center for trade and commerce bringing more investment opportunities to the municipality. With high income, high population growth, and a big area of land, Passi has all the possibilities to become a component city. And now, after a hard-earned endeavor, Passi is now the first component city in the Island of Panay with the signing of R.A. 8469 effective January 30, 1998 by the President of the Philippines, Pres. Fidel V. Ramos.

                Passi City is in the Heart of Panay and is geographically located South of Dumarao, Southeast of Bingawan, East of Calinog, Northeast of Dueñas, North of San Enrique, and Southeast of San Rafael. It could be reached with in 45 minutes from Iloilo City and 1 hour to Roxas City.

                Rolling hills and narrow valley plains relatively dominate the topography of Passi. The flat land stretches alongside the Jalaur and Lamunan River. Passi like most of the Iloilo’s towns, belong to the third type climate region which has no pronounced maximum rain period and no distinct dry and wet season.

                Passi City occupies a total land area of 25,068 hectares. As of 2002, 86.7 percent of the total land area was classified as agricultural land and 15.2 percent as upland timberland. It is traversed by 5 major rivers namely: (1) Jalaur River; (2) Lamunan River; (3) Hin-ayan River; (4) Asisig River; and (5) Maliao River. It also has creeks and tributaries, which can be tapped for irrigation purposes. Different types and variety of mineral production can be found in the City of Passi. Limestone can be found at Barangays Iglalana, Igbang Grande, Talongonan, Agtambo, and Sarapan. Rock phosphate can be found at Barangays Igbang Grande and Quinagaringan, Pequeño. Sand and gravel can be commercially available at Barangays Gines Viejo and Agdahon.

                The City of Passi is classified as a 3^rd Class City in the 4^th District of Iloilo with an annual income of Php258,811,752.25 as of December 31, 2006. It is composed of 38 rural barangays and 13 urban barangays.

               The total population of Passi City as of May 1, 2000 reached 69,601. It grew at a rate of 3.40 percent in 1995 to 2000. The number of households in the city increased to 12,893, or by 14.4 percent from 1995 figure of 11,274. The average household size slightly increase to 5.4 persons from 1995 figure of 5.3 persons. A total of 12,893 persons occupy every one square kilometer of the land area in the city. This was higher than the national and regional population densities, which were 255 and 307, respectively. Based on the 1995 population projections, the 2007 population of the city is expected to reach at 70,174 and at 72,637 in 2010.

                For SY 2005-2006, the City of Passi has a total of 30 public elementary schools, 2 public primary schools, 4 public secondary schools in the rural areas, 1 urban national high school, 1 vocational school, 1 private and secondary school and 1 tertiary school. The performance of the city in terms of the education sector is described in the succeeding table of indicators:

                In the City of Passi, 19 babies were born for every 1,000 population or a total or 1,323 babies in 2004. Nineteen (19) babies for every 1,000 live births died of a disease before the age of one-year. Seventy-six (76) women of Passi City died for every 1,000 live births due to causes associated with pregnancy immediately before and after delivery. The City has the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital (DVSMDH) and 1 City Health Office and 16 Barangay Health Stations. The hospital is a 25-bed capacity facility with complete surgical and obstetrical equipment and an X-ray laboratory, which also served the municipalities of Iloilo such as the San Enrique, San Rafael, Dueñas and part of Dumarao, Capiz.

    d. Labor Force

                The Labor Force Participation Rate for the city was estimated at 56.53 percent in 2006. This is the proportion of the total number of persons in the labor force to the total household population 15 years old and over.

                Passi City is currently served by the Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO) II. According to ILECO II, almost all-51 barangays are already energized. One of the priorities of the city government towards progress is the electrification program to cope the needs of the Passinhon on the unstable power supply. Presently, ILECO II has constructed a 5-MVA Sub-station donated by the city government that will serve and accommodate the power needs of industrial and commercial investors.In terms of water supply, 98.69 percent of household in the city had access to potable water. Of the total 13,328 households, 84.74 percent had access to Level I type of water supply, 3.38 percent to Level II and 10.57percent to Level III. As of 2006, the barangays of Agdayao and Guinagaringan Grande has level III type water supply and the barangays of Jaguimitan and Bagacay has level II type of water system. The water needs of the Poblacion is served by the City of Passi, which get its supply from the six deep wells and two springs at Barangay Sablogon, Bacuranan and Man-it. Potable water resources can also be tapped from natural springs or from ground water, which is bountiful in the area especially in the barangays of Igbang Grande, Bayan, Sarapan, Sablogon, and Jaguimitan.

                The peace and order situation in the city is generally peaceful and normal. Criminality and illegal activities continue to undermine the moral fiber of society and pose a threat to peace, order and stability of the city while insurgency waned and dissident terrorist remains evasive and non-confrontational. The Passi City police force is equipped with one Elf-patrol Jeep; one Dalica Back-up Van; and one patrol car. It is also equipped with 3 transceivers. It has also its police sub-station conspicuously placed at the poblacion for easy access to everyone who is in need of police assistance and information.

4. Economic Characteristics

Sources:

2006 Socio-Economic Profile, Passi City

2006 Regional Socio-Economic Trends
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