ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Capiz registered the slowest growth rate in Western Visayas, according to the National Statistics Office.

Capiz National Statistics Office (NSO) Acting Provincial Head Joreto Lope disclosed that based on the 2010 population survey, Capiz province's population reached 719,685, which is higher by 65,529 compared to the 2000 population of 654,156.

He said the annual growth of the province was 0.96 percent, which was the slowest in Western Visayas.

"Based on the population survey results, one person was added per year for every 100persons," Lope said, stressing that the province's total population in 1990 was 584,091, which was higher by 135,595 compared to the 2010 population, with an annual growth rate of 1.05 percent.

He also revealed that the average annual growth rate of Western Visayas was posted at 1.35 percent.

Of the provinces and highly urbanized cities in Region VI, Bacolod City was noted to be the fastest growing city with a 1.78 percent annual growth rate, followed by Aklan with 1.73 percent, while Iloilo City ranked third at 1.49 percent annual growth rate, he said.

Lope added that the province of Iloilo has an annual growth rate of 1.48 percent, followed by Antique, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental with 1.45 percent, 1.42 percent and 1.15 percent, respectively.

For Capiz the province alone, the fastest growing population was registered in Roxas City with an annual growth rate of 2.14 percent, followed by the town of Dumalag, Lope said, adding that Panitan town recorded the slowest growing population of 0.12 percent annual growth rate.

The results of the 2010 Census of Population and Housing was made official after President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Proclamation No. 362 last March 30.

The said population survey was undertaken by the NSO from May to June 2010 pursuant to Batas Pambansa Bilang 72 and Commonwealth Act 591 in partnership with the Department of Education public school teachers and supervisors.*PIA