The Central Panay Mountain Range is the longest and largest mountain range on Panay Island and in the Visayas region of the Philippines. It stretches approximately north–south and about east–west. Its highest peak is Mount Madja-as, with an elevation of above sea level. The range extends across western Panay, from the vicinity of Ibajay, Aklan in the north to Anini-y, Antique in the south. It covers much of the eastern portion of Antique and extends into the western areas of Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan.
The mountain range is known for its rich biodiversity, including mossy forests, relatively undisturbed watersheds, and numerous endemic species of flora and fauna. It is also characterized by extensive river systems, waterfalls, and traditional rice terraces found in some upland communities.
Geography
The Central Panay Mountain Range is the largest mountain range in the Visayas by length and area. It contains the highest peaks on Panay Island and serves as the headwaters of the island’s major river systems, including the Panay River, the longest river on Panay at .
The range is known for its high biodiversity and varied ecosystems, ranging from lowland forests to montane and mossy forests. It also contains cultural landscapes such as clusters of rice terraces in parts of Antique, which are associated with upland farming communities.
Topography
List of highest peaks in Central Panay Mountain Range by elevation.
Mount Madja-as – Mount Nangtud – E.B.J Peak – Mount Baloy – Mount Balabag – Mount Madi-ac – Mount Dumara – Mount Agbalanti – Mount Nausang – Mount Bucayan – Mount Kigas – Mount Igbanig – Mount Sipanag – Mount Inaman – Mount Tiguran – Mount Igdalig – Mount Dalagsaan – Mount Tigatay – Mount Tiran – Mount Napulac – Mount Sansanan – Mount Tiglayo – Mount Lingguhob – Mount Bantolinao – Mount Napulak – Mount Tibtib – Mount Tambara – Mount Ticbayot – Mount Sonogong – Mount Upao – Mount Patag – Mount Anoy – Mount Usigan – Mount Congcong – Mount Matarawis – Mount Balabag – Mount Tuyas – Mount Angas – Mount Acotay – Mount Palaypay – Mount Igabon – Mount Toctocan – Mount Tarayan – Mount Tulajon – Mount Tinayunga – Mount Amantara – Mount Tarawis – Mount Tuno – Mount Tigancal – Mount Ontahil – Mount Mingan – Mount Igsabu – Mount Agdulasan – Mount Mayos – Mount Bilbigan – Mount Agta – Mount Dalyang – Mount Tigbararing – Mount Katugpan – Mount Pola – Mount Tigdagano – Mount Cadayo – Mount Tagbagan – Mount Aningalan – Mount Punong – Mount Talapanan – Mount Manlagbo – Mount Igmatongtong – Mount Maasim – Mount Igkobe – Mount Iguiaua – Mount Igguiwig – Mount Bonbon – Mount Dimoros – Mount Igtiring – Mount Tigmaola – Mount Bangtong – Mount Lanas – Mount Malondong – Mount Banderahan – Mount Igdu-ao – Mount Intigban – Mount Caguman – Mount Igcoron – Mount Dangulao – Mount Pasguala – Mount Taratara – Mount Eupre – Mount Yabangan – Mount Pauican – Mount Patindog – Mount Mangarang – Mount Palulian – Mount Patindog II – Mount Binangbang – Mount Dumangsal –
River systems
List of rivers in Central Panay Mountain Range by length.
Panay River – Jalaur River – Aklan River – Mambusao River – Sibalom River – Tigum River – Suage River – Badbaran River – Laglag River – Ma-ayon River – Paliwan River – Cangaranan River – Aganan River – Guimbal River – Ibajay River – Timbaban River – Barotac River – Dalanas River – Tipulu-an River – Dumarayray River – Cairawan River – Maninila River – Tangyan River – Ypayo River – Siuaragan River – Tapaz River – Tangalan River – Tibiao River – Mali-ao River – Cadi-an River – Lawigan River – Cata-an River – Tiolas River – Cabay-ang River – Tumagbok River – Paningayan River – Malandog River – Oyungan River – Kigas River – Bacong River – Bayunan River – Mao-it River – Baloy River – Carit-an River – Hamtic River – Casay River – Bucayan River – Guinsang-an River – Iba River – Naulid River – Cansilayan River – Bulanao River – Aras-Asan River – Inyawan River – Bugasong River – Mamara River – Unidos River – Panganta River – Paningayan River – Binangbang River – Baluon River – Bajay River – Abiera River – Dao River – Igpasungaw River – Memero River – Nalusdan River – Aguila River – Bitadnon River – Nalupa River – Igbarawan River – Laua-an River –
Waterfalls
Tarugan Falls, Igbaras Nasuraan Falls, Libacao Tigmalmos Falls, Tibiao Lagsacan Falls, Igbaras Nadsadjan Falls, Igbaras Kamalasag Falls, Sebaste Guiritsan Falls, Igbaras Miagos Falls, Igbaras Sigbungon Falls, Barbaza Igpasungaw Falls, Sebaste Bulwang Falls, Sebaste Bolinao Falls, Valderrama Pangitanan Falls, Libertad Bugtong Bato Falls, Tibiao Macalbag Falls, Barbaza Bugsukan Falls, Tubungan Tarayan Falls, Laua-an Nawidwid Falls, Ibajay Mount Madjaas Waterfalls, Culasi Ring Falls, Panipiason, Madalag Sayay Falls, Barbaza Cadiao Falls, Barbaza Igcalaya Falls, Lambunao Ayo Falls, Igcabugao, Igbaras Libug Falls, Mount Madjaas, Culasi Agtuhangin Falls, Madalag Apok-Apok Falls, San Remigio Nabaya Falls, Bugasong Pangilatan Falls, Tapaz Bato Sumpit Falls, Tubungan Kiput Falls, Bgy. Passi, Igbaras Imoy Falls, Bucari, Leon Iglangit Falls, San Remigio Capnayan Falls, Laua-an Binokot Falls, Tapaz Abakaan Falls, Buri, Tapaz Kataw Falls, Simbola, Culasi Pula Falls, San Remigio Kawa-kawa Falls, Valderrama Pisak Falls, Pandan Panakayan Falls, Bugasong Halat Falls, Igsoro, Bugasong Kurudyanan Falls, Igsoro, Bugasong Madangga Falls, Panipiason, Madalag Yapo Falls, Barbaza Aningwan Falls, Tubungan
Natural Parks, Lakes and Rice Terraces
Sibalom Natural Park Aklan River Watershed Forest Reserve Aningalan Highlands Bucari Pine Forest Mount Napulak Tinagong Dagat Gen. Fullon Rice Terraces Tinagong Dagat Sinundolan Rice Terraces Laua-an Rice Terraces Bato Dungok Peak Tibiao Rice Terraces Bakiang Rice Terraces San Agustin Rice Terraces Lake Danao Lublub Rice Terraces Mayabay Rice Terraces
Caves
Igbaclag Cave, San Remigio Kulapnitan Cave, Igbaras Matong Cave, Igbaras Bais Cave, Igbaras Igcabugao Cave, Igbaras Canyogan Cave, San Remigio
Biodiversity The Central Panay Mountain Range is one of the most important biodiversity areas in the Philippines and forms part of the Western Visayas Key Biodiversity Area. It contains one of the largest remaining continuous forest blocks on Panay Island, stretching from lowland dipterocarp forests up to montane and mossy forests at higher elevations. These forests serve as major watersheds for surrounding provinces, including Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo.
The range is known for its high level of endemism, with many species found only in Panay or the Visayas. Forests in the area support a wide variety of plant life, including dipterocarp trees, ferns, orchids, and other species typical of Philippine rainforests. Higher elevations are dominated by mossy forest, where trees are shorter and often covered in epiphytes due to frequent cloud cover and high rainfall.
Flora
Vegetation across the mountain range is composed of diverse forest types, including lowland dipterocarp forest, secondary forest, and montane mossy forest at higher elevations. Common plant families include Dipterocarpaceae, Myrtaceae, and Fagaceae. Endemic and economically important plant species are present, including various medicinal plants used by local communities. The remaining forest cover also contains critical habitat for native orchids, ferns, and endemic tree species adapted to high rainfall and steep terrain.
Fauna
The mountain range is a center of endemism and conservation concern for Philippine wildlife. It provides habitat for several threatened and endemic species, including the Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons), Visayan spotted deer (Rusa alfredi), and the Rufous-headed hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni), among others. Records from the Central Panay mountains show that many of the threatened and limited-range species found in the Negros and Panay Endemic Bird Area have been observed in the area.
Herpetofauna diversity is also significant. Recent studies document multiple endemic amphibians, including species restricted to Panay Island, such as forest frogs in the genus Platymantis. Surveys have recorded amphibian assemblages across streams, lowland forests, and montane habitats, highlighting the ecological importance of intact watershed systems in the range.
The river systems originating from the range, including major watersheds such as the Panay and Jalaur river systems, support freshwater biodiversity and act as ecological corridors linking upland and lowland ecosystems.
People The Central Panay Mountain Range is home to several Indigenous cultural communities, primarily the Ati and the Panay Bukidnon, who inhabit upland and forested areas across Antique, Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan.
The Ati are among the earliest known inhabitants of Panay Island and are found in scattered communities across the mountains and forest margins. They are traditionally mobile forest-dwelling groups, although many now also live in more settled upland and river valley communities.
The Panay Bukidnon (also known in some literature as Sulod or Tumandok) are Indigenous peoples concentrated in the interior mountainous areas of Central Panay. Their communities are mainly found in upland barangays of Janiuay, Lambunao, Calinog, and Leon in Iloilo; Valderrama, Tibiao, Barbaza, Culasi, and San Remigio in Antique; Tapaz in Capiz; and Libacao in Aklan, where many settlements are located in interior forested and river valley areas.
The Panay Bukidnon traditionally relied on forest resources, shifting cultivation, hunting, and river systems for subsistence. Their cultural life includes oral epics such as the sugidanon, as well as distinct systems of leadership and customary law that remain practiced in some communities today.
Gallery
References