| Location and Topography
Twenty-eight kilometers north of Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol, is the town proper of Loon, the westernmost municipality of the island province. It is 116.2 km2 of land mass, coastlines and natural waters and has a relatively rolling topography consisting of moderate hills, rolling plains, sparse plateaus interspersed with valleys, and some ravines. The 2000 official census in the municipality counted 45,220 persons
in 7,829 households. Gender distribution is about even with the
female population slightly higher in number. Population density
is 389 persons per square kilometer.
Literacy in the town is about 91.5% of the population. There are
two districts of the Department of Education - - Loon North District
with 3 public high schools, 11 complete elementary schools and 7
primary schools; and Loon South District with one public high school,
9 complete elementary schools and 10 primary schools. Loon lies halfway between the city of Tagbilaran and the town of
Tubigon, Bohol's major ports of entry, each of which is only forty
minutes away by public utility buses, jeepneys and vans-for-hire
that frequently ply the North-South route. Noteworthy is the port
of Tubigon where about 20 round trips (Tubigon-Cebu) are available. Health services are available at the Congressman Natalio P. Castillo
Sr. Memorial Hospital, two Rural Health Units, and 12 barangay health
stations. The Catagbacan-based second rural health unit for the
northern barangays has been made possible through the "Doctor
to the Barrios" program of the Department of Health that was
tapped by the Office of the Mayor. Mayor Yul Lopez, who is a doctor of medicine, also conducts free
clinics to the barangays. A local non-government organization called
Health Education and Assistance to Loonanons (Heal, Inc.) occasionally
distributes medicines and provides basic health services. There are two private banks - - Rural Bank of Loon (Bohol), Inc. and First Consolidated Bank - - and four pawnshops. Informal credit services are available from several lending institutions and cooperatives or associations put up by farmers and other sectors. Loon is served by a landline telephone system and all major telecommunications companies that have established their cellular sites, public calling stations and payphones in the town. Other communication services are provided by the local post office, Telecommunications Office and BLECS. All 67 barangays are interconnected through a network of handheld two-way radios. Water is made available to more than 40 barangays principally by
the Loon Waterworks System, considered Bohol's best and a national
model for many water systems operated by local government units.
The LWS has about 3,000 active individual water service connections
reaching the northernmost barangay of Pondol, the southernmost barangay
of Song-on, all barangays on Sandingan Island, and many hinterland
barangays. The rest of the upland barangays are served by Level
II communal water systems. The border barangay of Punta Cruz, Maribojoc
also avails of water from LWS on certain agreement. The abundance of water in Loon has also encouraged investors to establish water-refilling stations in the town. Agriculture seems to be the major industry, with coconut, corn,
banana, tobacco and vegetables as the more important crops. Up close,
however, there is an increasing trend among the locals to find work
elsewhere not only because many of them have earned college degrees
but also because the rugged topography and poor soil have discouraged
them to make farming a lifetime livelihood. A significant source of income comes from the dollar remittances
of Loon's overseas workers. Also, several of Bohol's operators of
transportation facilities are based locally. Agriculture-based activities like loom-weaving, basket-making,
mat-weaving and processing of cassava and toddy (tuba) have been
sustained by a few farming households. The raising of livestock
and poultry is also gaining headway as an income-generating activity. Several coastal and upland communities engage in fishing. In fact,
the municipal waters of Loon have been known as one of Bohol's rich
fishing grounds. Big fishing communities are found in Napo and on
the islands of Cabilao and Sandingan. Large-scale fish-and-prawn
ponds have been established in the locality. Being Bohol's number one town of adventurers, Loon is also home to countless astute businessmen who are known far and wide plying their trade in Manila and in most towns of Leyte, Samar, Biliran, Negros and Mindanao. Most of them, particularly the textile traders, purchase ready-to-wear pants and dresses that are manufactured locally and sell them in their respective business locations. Loon has very high potential for eco-cultural tourism. Among the
towns of Bohol, Loon stands out as having the most concentration
of natural and cultural attractions that are strengthened by its
highly accessible and strategic location. Thus, tourist-targeted
facilities and services are the most feasible economic enterprises
that anyone can invest in. Industries that need an abundant supply of water, cheap labor with
adequate literacy, skilled tailors and dressmakers, and communication
services are expected to thrive in Loon. Contractual tree farming
is also feasible as there are available lots and interested private
landowners. |
