Estancia, Iloilo

Estancia was originally a ranch for a wealthy Spaniard named Rodrigo who married a local woman. Estancia is not known for its agricultural products nor livestock but rather for its location as it is adjacent to Carles' 's impressive marine resources. Estancia has a fish port and a pier - these being one of the most developed in Northern Visayas, a banking industry, cable television, a hospital (adjacent only, that belongs to the Municipality of Balasan) and resorts.

Estancia is known around the country as a center for commercial fishing, so much so that it shares to carries the name Alaska of the Philippines. The name “Alaska of the Philippines” reflects back from the early 1900s up to pre-World War II when major commercial fishing activities were within Carles fishing ground and a small portion of Estancia water territory, with bountiful catches, running out a place to process and preserve their catch ended up rotting by beaches. Commercial fishing boats from Cebu, Capiz, Samar, Leyte, Masbate, and Negros came to Carles to fish. As a testament to its location adjacent to Carles' bountiful marine resources. The reason for this is that Carles lies in the Visayan Sea triangle, an imaginary triangle extending from the provinces of Iloilo, Negros, Cebu, Samar, and Masbate. This triangle is a part of the "Sulu-Sulawesi Triangle" of the Sulu Sea and neighboring Indonesia where a large concentration of marine organisms coupled with climate conditions support a massive marine ecosystem. Various commercial species are harvested along Carles' waters, namely mackerel, barracuda, sardines, shad, pompano, grouper, squid, cuttlefish, shrimp, prawns, shells, seaweed and others, these all catch from Carles' water territory and brought to fish ports of Estancia and Bancal, Carles.

The method predominantly used are purse seining, trawling and gill netting as these are suited for the relatively shallow waters (up to 60 fathoms) of the Visayan Sea.

However, as of recent years, pollution, heavy overfishing, and irresponsible fishing practices have slowly diminished the once abundant fish stocks of Estancia, and now problems like diminishing catches and unpredictable weather are beginning to surface. These factors have raised awareness in the government as well as the private sector and currently an artificial reef is off the shore of Brgy. Paon in an attempt to provide juvenile fish with shelter in hopes of restocking these once populous waters. For now, Estancia is experiencing an influx of investments as Gaisano Grand put up their first mall in the 5th District of Iloilo, also Prince Hypermart and some malls like CityMall shows interest to come in.

Estancia is located in the northern part of the province and is 131 kilometres (81 mi) from the provincial capital, Iloilo City, and 66 kilometres (41 mi) from Roxas City.

In the 2024 census, the population of Estancia was 54,882 people,^[13] with a density of 1,900 inhabitants per square kilometre or 4,900 inhabitants per square mile.

Poverty incidence of Estancia

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]}

Some of the schools in the municipality include:

• Northern Iloilo State University (Main Campus) - includes the NISU Laboratory Junior High School
• Estancia National High School
• Iloilo King of Glory Christian Academy, Inc. - private
• Saint Candida School-Hijas de Jesus, Inc. - private
• Estancia Central Elementary School
• Estancia Seventh Day Adventist Elementary School, Inc. - private

Estancia celebrates "Panagat Festival", its annual municipal fiesta typically observed either on the 3rd or 4th week of April. It is centered on the bountiful catch of different fish and seafood as well as the local fishermen in the community. The festivity highlights the "Sugbanahay sa Panagat" where locals grill different fresh fish and seafood in the main streets for everyone to enjoy.^[22]

Apart from its municipal fiesta, Estancia also annually celebrates its religious town fiesta on October 7 in honor of its patroness, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary (Our Lady of the Rosary).^[23]

• 91.5 Radyo Natin / Hot FM
• 106.7 Radyo Natin / Hearts FM
• List of Radio & Television Station in Iloilo