Roxas

Roxas, city, northern Panay, central Philippines. It lies along the Panay River delta 4 miles (6.5 km) from its mouth on the Sibuyan Sea.

The city was formerly called Capiz. Its outport, Port Capiz, accommodates interisland traffic. The northern terminus of the transisland railway from Iloilo City, Roxas serves as the entrepôt for a fertile agricultural area, exporting surplus rice to nearby islands. The city also has an airport. The old town of Panay, 3 miles (5 km) southeast, was the second Spanish settlement (1569) in the Philippines. Roxas sustained heavy damage when it was struck by Super Typhoon Haiyan, a powerful tropical cyclone that swept through the region in early November 2013. Inc. city, 1951. Pop. (2000) 126,352; (2010) 156,197.