Lopez Jaena falls on the category of the 6^th class municipality which is composed of 28 barangays. The soil is practically good enough which some portion of it specially in the most upper of the municipality are known to be fertile which enables farmers to produce crops sufficient to keep them living until another season comes for another cropping slot.

The municipality has six distinct soil types which ranges from Hydrosol, Guimkalaon, Clay Loam, Cudis Sandy Clay loam, Pulupan Sandy loam to mountain soil.

It has a total land area of 16,134.7726 hectares, 11,693.0446 of which is the total cultivated area representing 72.47% of the total land area cultivated.

Presently, coconut is the principal crop being grown and cultivated in extensive way and claimed larger area of the total cultivated land. Although, other crops like rice, corn, rootcrops and others are also grown in the locality but comparatively in a such smaller area as against the area devoted to coconut.

It has a population of 19,912 inhabitants. Ninety percent of which are known to have engaged in agriculture and other related activities or endeavors. These are the targets of the LGU in line which its objectives toward agricultural development and economic upliftment.

Agriculture is the prime occupation and principal industry of the populace largely supplemented by fishing, pottery, handicraft and other business-ventured industries.

The municipality has long been popularly known as the fishing ground of the province. This is solely attributed to its abundance of “Devil Fish” which is locally known as “Salanga”, a very favorite seafood and delicacy of the people in this locality.

Considering that the municipality has got considerably low percentage of dependency ratio of 71.58% percent, it can be said that municipality is better off in the sense there are only small number of people who are non-productive and have to be supported relative to the number of people who are productive and may be said to have supported him.

Location and Area

The municipality of Lopez Jaena is located approximate, 13 km. South of Oroquieta City. It is facing Easy of Iligan Bay and bounded at the West by the Malindang Mountains in the North by the Municipality of Plaridel. It has twenty-eight barangays with a total land area of 108.7 sq.km.

Topography and Land Features

The lands in barangays Eastern Poblacion, Mansabay Bajo, Molatuhan Alto, Molatuhan Bajo and a small portion of barangay Sibula are characterized by 0-3% flat to nearly level elevation. The 3-8% gently sloping to undulating can be found in barangays Sibula, Biasong, Sibugon, Katipa, Puntod, Western Poblacion stretching to some upper part of this municipality like barangay Hasa-an, Rizal, Luzaran, Estante, Alegria, Dalacon and Macalibre Bajo with exclusion of Barangays Manguehan, Peniel and Mahas especially in Macalibre Alto, Bonifacio, Mahayahay, Bagong Silang, Don Andres Soriano and Burgosare characterized by 10-18% moderately sloping to slightly sloping with some parts of these areas possessing the 3-8% gently sloping to undulating. The 18-30% strongly sloping or rolling is more pronounced in barangays Manguehan, Peniel and Mahas.

Human Resources

The municipality has a total population of 19,912 as of 1991; 62.57% of which falls in the labor force composed of persons with ages of 15 years old and over. Generally, Lopez Jaena has a young population with persons 14 years old and below composing 38.34% of the total population.

Land Use

Considerably large portion of the population have thrived from agriculture-based industries. Most of the products that commonly go to market are derived from farming and other related industries. So to speak, the dominant land use practically goes to agriculture, placing coconut as number one which is known to have claimed a greater portion with 9,935.55% hectares planted to it, presenting 80.33% of the total land use which is 11,693.55 hectares; followed by rootcrops with 768.50 hectares then comes next is corn with 366.86 hectares; running closely is rice claiming 356.10 hectares, out of which of the total area devoted to rice, 292.35 hectares goes to Riceland irrigated and 63.75 hectares devoted to Riceland rainfed respectively; government lands claimed 237.0904 hectares; with 159.35 hectares planted to bananas; then comes nuts fruit trees with 125.00 hectares; then running closely is nipaland with 108.5524 hectares; with 95.07 hectares devoted to fishponds; with 33.76 hectares goes to residential land; vegetables have 8.615 hectares devoted to it; coffee claimed 6.31 hectares; cacao has 6.31 hectares; 4.7846 hectares are known to have been claimed as commercial lands and lastly 3.1022 hectares to religious land.

The municipality has a grand total land use of 11,963.0446 hectares.  Total of 11,305.755 or approximately 96.68% of all land use have been utilized to agriculture. This is further illustrated in exhibit (graph). Below

Map of Land Use

Figure 31

Population Census

1991 Population Census conducted by the (NUSO_ National Statistics Office of the Municipality has 19,912 inhabitants, the Office of the Municipal Planning made a projected population by increasing .02% each year from 1993-1997

Political Subdivision:

The past chief executive who served the municipality since its creation last August 1, 1929.

1. Hon. Juan T. Taghap – 1929-1940
2. Hon. Domiciano P. Chiong – 1941-1947
3. Hon. Vicente M. Nagsayo, Sr. – 1948 – 1963
4. Hon. Santos T. Gutierres – 1964 – 1971
5. Hon. Atty. Alberto C. Dulalas – Jan. 1972 – April 9, 1986
6. Hon. Filorson T. Dolotallas – April 21, 1986 – July 2, 1987
7. Hon. Melquiades D. Ascuna, Jr. – July 1, 1987 – November 30, 1987
8. Hon. Samuel A. Mag-usara – December 1, 1987 – January 1988
9. Hon. Melquiades D. Ascun, Jr. – February 2, 1988 – June 30, 1992 at 12:00 noon
10. Hon. Eufemio S. Taclob, Sr. – June 30, 1982 – who is a retired Central School Principal of the District of Lopez Jaena with Mr. Abundia P. Gerbese as Vice-Mayor.

Institutions of Learning:

The municipality has twenty-seven elementary and primary schools, but due to lack of enrolment the primary school in Bonifacio and Don Andres Soriano were closed last 1991 up to 1993 but the barangay people of these two barangays hope that the enrolment can reach to its DECS children ratio to open again so their children will not go to another barangay to acquire higher learning. There are 99 teachers handling classes in elementary and primary grades.

There are high schools in the locality, one is St. Francis Xavier High School own and run by the Catholic Church and Mindanao State University, Lopez Jaena Branch and Macalibre National High School are owned by the government with 41 teachers handling classes.

Sources of Income:

1. Farming
2. Fishing
3. Livestocks

Commerce and Trade:

There are four rice mills and corn mill 2 Sataki brand, Smith Oberly and Bamford brand. The municipality has a previous Municipal Licenses which collected the amount of P85,000.00 for 1993.

Lopez Jaena Municipal Officials

1993

Hon. Eufemio S. Taclob                        - Municipal Mayor

Hon. Abundio P. Gerbece                        - Municipal Vice-Mayor

Hon. Priscillano Gemina                        - Sangguniang Bayan Member

Hon. Rafael Guterez                        - Sangguniang Bayan Member

Hon. Florencio C. Cepe                        - Sangguniang Bayan Member

Hon. Fernando Cotales                        - Sangguniang Bayan Member

Hon. Alden Ozaraga                        - Sangguniang Bayan Member

Hon. Marito Iyog                        - Sangguniang Bayan Member

Hon. Luzminda Sumaoy                        - Sangguniang Bayan Member

Hon. Benjamin Canda                        - Sangguniang Bayan Member

Hon. Efaprodito Dapat                        - Sangguniang Bayan Member

Hon. Jay Bergado                        - Sangguniang Bayan Member

Mr. Filorson Dolotallas                        - Secretary

Miss Rhesa Quinon                        - Clerk

Miss Aurora B. Alon                        - Budget Officer

Miss Lita Hongayo                        - MPDC

Sr. Insp. Bovee A. Jumalon, Sr.                        - Chief of Police

Miss Florida Masayon                        - Assessor

Mr. Amborio Limpahan                        - Treasurer

Mr. Aurelio Lood                        - Agricultural Officer

Miss Iluminada G. Te                        - SWO Officer III

Hon. Abita Lozano                        - Judge

Mr. Lorimer Clarin                        - A.R. Officer

Mr. Fortunato G. Cajilog                        - Election Officer

Mr. Salustiano Banque                        - Post Master

Mr. Servillano C. Rosales                        - MGOO

Mr. Eduardo V. Estellore                        - BGOO

Miss Delia D. Barbosa                        - Revenue Collection Officer