Makato

Makato, officially the Municipality of Makato (Aklanon: Banwa it Makato; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Makato; Tagalog: Bayan ng Makato), is a municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 30,650 people.^[11]

The town is the home of the Ati-Atihan Festival, a historic celebration that attracts devotees from across the Philippines and abroad to honor Sto. Niño through vibrant cultural and religious activities.^[12]

Established in the thirteenth century, the town’s name had been acquired by accident. Thinking that the Spaniards came to ask the route along the river, the native answered “Makato” which meant “that way”. The Spaniards recorded the name Makato in 1800, thinking it was the name of the town. In 1901, the town merged with Tangalan to form the new municipality of Taft, named after the then Governor-General of the Philippines and future United States President, William Howard Taft. But in 1917, it was reverted to its former name.^[13] In 1948, the arrabal of Tangalan, comprising the barrios of Tondog, Jawili, Dumatad, Afga, Baybay, Dapdap, Pudyot, Tagas, Tamalagon, Panayakan, Vivo, Lanipga, Napatag and Tamoko, was separated from Makato to form the municipality of Tangalan.^[14]

Makato is located at 11°42′43″N 122°17′32″E / 11.712°N 122.2922°E / 11.712; 122.2922. It is 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) from Kalibo, the provincial capital.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 64.60 square kilometers (24.94 sq mi) ^[15] constituting 3.55% of the 1,821.42-square-kilometer (703.25 sq mi) total area of Aklan.

Makato is politically subdivided into 18 barangays.^[16] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

In the 2024 census, Makato had a population of 30,650 people.^[24] The population density was 470 inhabitants per square kilometer (1,200/sq mi).

Poverty incidence of Makato

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]}

Domicile of the Santo Niño and Ati-Atihan Festival known throughout the province and a week ahead of Kalibo, Makato has been celebrating the “Mother of all Philippine Festivals” in admiration of the Holy Child.

Mayor: Ramon Anselmo Martin D. Legaspi III

Vice Mayor: Leoncito Y. Mationg

Sangguniang Bayan Members:

• Nilo M. Amboboyog
• Marlene Mae Blaire T. Igham
• Nerli F. dela Cena
• Randy R. Vargas
• Rhine I. Roldan
• Abencio Honeyboy P. Torres III
• Leoncito Y. Mationg
• Steven M. Tejada

Liga ng Barangay (LnB): Shirly M. Lagradante

Sangguniang Kabataan Federation: Dina Mae Taladro

The Aklan Sports Complex, opened in 2010, is located here in Makato. It hosted the 2010 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet.^[33]

The Makato Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.^[34]

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code