Makato

Makato, officially the Municipality of Makato (Aklanon: Banwa it Makato; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Makato; Bayan ng Makato), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 29,717 people.

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 1923, Representative Manuel Terencio of Capiz's now-obsolete 3rd district, authored a law restoring its former name. 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.

Geography
Makato is located at °N, °W. It is 8 km from Kalibo, the provincial capital.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 64.60 km2 constituting NaN% of the 1,821.42 km2 total area of Aklan.

Barangays
Makato is politically subdivided into 18 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Demographics
In the 2020 census, Makato had a population of 29,717. The population density was undefined PD/km2.

Religion


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.

Elected officials
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): Bobby Clyde Legaspi

Sangguniang Kabataan Federation: Dina Mae Taladro

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