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Geographic Location
The
municipality of Aloran is located in the coastal part of the
province of Misamis Occidental. It straddles within 8 degrees 1’
second and 123 degrees 40 seconds east longitude.
The
town is bounded in the north by the city of Oroquieta and the
municipality of Concepcion, in the south by the municipality of
Panaon, and in the west by the province of Zamboanga del Norte. To
the east lies the busy Iligan Bay.
Land Area
Aloran
has a total land area of 15,880 hectares, the fifth largest in the
province. It has thirty-eight barangays, five of which have been
categorized as urban. All rural barrios are accessible by feeder
roads.
Latest
census pegged the town’s population density at 133 persons per
square kilometer.
Terrain
Aloran’s
terrain is characterized by stretches of ricelands towards its
eastern part which rise into rolling hills westward to blend with
the rugged features of the imposing Malindang mountain range.
Climate
Interestingly,
the municipality lies on a river fringe of the country’s typhoon
– belt. Rainfall is more or evenly distributed throughout the
year.
The
rainest months are from June to December, and the dry season
begins in Febraury and ends in May.
Temperature
is between24 degrees Celsius with an average humidity of 82o degrees.
Water Resources
The
Aloran river, fed by tens of tributaries, is the town’s main
source of fresh water. Together with a couple of smaller
waterways, it provides water to no less than 650 has. Of irrigated
ricefields in the municipality.
Drinking
water is provided mostly by artesian wells. Lately, though, the
municipal government established the Aloran Water Supply System
which is expected to serve an estimated 1,500 households. The
water source, interestingly located in the town proper, has a
capacity of 400 gallons per minute.
The People of Aloran
According
to the latest statistics (1992), Aloran has a population of
21,111. The labor force has been pegged at 11,549. Literacy rate
admirably stands at 85.50%.
Cebuano
is the main tongue, spoken by no less than 98.67% of the populace.
There is sprinkle of Subano and Boholano here and there, even as a
handful of inhabitants also know how to speak other dialects.
Most
literates speak Tagalog and English well, being the media of
instructions in all levels of education, and English being the
official language. The letter is understood by about 40% of the
population.
Brief History
Prior
to the creation as a municipality, Aloran had been a part of the
town of Jimenez. Later on, it came under the jurisdiction of what
was then the municipality of Oroquieta.
In
1917, the territory was established, as a municipality comprised
of four barrios, namely: Aloran, Lawaan, Balaring and Casosoan
(now Cassusan).
The
original inhabitants of the place Subanon tribesmen. With the
passing of years, though, increasing numbers of settlers from
Bohol and Cebu came to make the place their home. Later on, they
were joined by migrants who came from other provinces, some as far
as Luzon.
Economic Profile
Aloran’s
main products were rice and copra. In 1982, rice production
reached 5,405 metric tons, while the coconut sector posted a
production rate of 19,800 metric tons.
Food
production, though, is not limited to these products. Local
farmers are also engaged in corn farming, and the municipality is
relatively self-sufficient in fruits, vegetables, and rootcrops,
even in livestock.
Fishing
is doing well in the area, but commercial fishing is non-existent.
Accessibility
Aloran
is accessible by land transportation. It is strategically located
8.7 kms. Away from Oroquieta City to the north, seat of the
provincial governments, and 24 kms, away from Ozamiz City to the
south, hub of trade and commerce in the province and one of the
Northern Mindanao fast-growing cities.
Ozamiz
City provides regular shipping routes to Cebu and Manila. Regular
plane service is also available at the Labo Airport, in the same
city – or in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte – to any point
of the country.
Buses
and jeepneys ply the entire stretch of the asphalt-made national
highway in the province, a portion of which goes though Aloran.
Between Oroquieta City and the municipality, motor cabs also
engage in the transport of passengers and light cargoes.
Within
the municipality, bicycles fitted with two-seater sidecars,
locally know as “sikad-sikad” or “trisikad” abound to
serve short distance commuters.
Socio-Cultural Profile
Aloranos are generally peace-loving and hard-working. They are
also deeply religious, and are intensely proud of their distinct
heritage.
The
town celebrates its annual fiesta in honor of its patron, St.
Mathew, every 21st day of September. The occasion is
usually marked by great fanfare and lavish preparation, proof of
the Aloranon’s high regard for tradition and their incurable
knack for the lighter side of life.
The
municipality is one of the most stable places and order conditions
in Misamis Occidental.
Investment Prospects
1.
Tourism
Aloran
is virtually a tourism line. Its fine sandy beaches, potentially
ideal for resort development, offers both the nature-lover and the
travel bug the wondrous excitement of breaktaking sun rises, a
ring side view of the serene of Iligan Bay, the joys of boating
and fishing, and the unbridle thrill of under-water sightseeing.
In
the interior, the excitement thickens as the increasingly rugged
terrain toward the Malindang range and the fabled Lake Duminagat
challenge incurable mountain-climbers, mysterious caves dare
cave-trekkers to discover their hidden secrets, and the
captivating Mimolan Falls, so humble and pure, so pristine and
primitive, take the adventurous tourist off his feet in a wave of
exotic beauty.
All
these, in an environment rich with flora and fauna.
2.
Manufacturing
The
ready and steady supply of rootcrops in the area make Aloran a
potential flour production center. And yet this is only icing on
the cake. Huge tracks of prime agricultural lands are available
for cassava production, and the contract farming of this product
is one big opportunity interested investors in flour making could
fruitfully take advantage of.
Meanwhile,
the production of mineral water in the area is another opportunity
worth an investor’s studied interest. With a water source
conveniently located in the very heart of the municipality and
spewing four hundred gallons of clear spring water every minute,
mineral water production promises to be a viable venture in Aloran.
3.
Power
Generation
A
bright prospect is also seen in the field of hydro-electric
generation. With an ample investment and appropriate technology,
the mighty Aloran river and even the Himolan Falls (elevation) 109
meters could be harnessed as generating sources of mini
hydro-electric power plants more than capable of supplying the
power needs of the municipality.
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