The City of Roxas was discovered by Captain Diego de Arieda in 1569 who landed in the town of Pan-ay which used to be the Capital town. That Captivating Capiz capital was later moved to where it is now, but was still called Capiz Town, then. Capiz town was the arsenal of the Navy of Acapulco in 1590. In 1746, it was made the seat of the politico-military government. In May 12, 1951, through House Bill No. 1528, sponsored by Rep. Ramon Arnaldo of the first district and approved by Pres. Elpidio Quirino on April 11, 1951, and coming into effect as Republic Act 603, Capiz town was formally declared a chartered city. Later, Capiz Town was renamed Roxas City in honor of its most illustrious son, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, the last president of the Commonwealth and the first president of the Philippine Republic.
THE CITY BRIDGE
The old and imposing Spanish City Bridge has remained strong and firm since it was built in 1910. Connecting the commercial center of the city to the main thoroughfare, traversing the Panay River, the bridge is a silent witness to various changes that ushered in progress and development in the city. Like the old bridge, equally alluring is the huge stretch of the Panay River that traverses the very heart of the city. For this, Roxas City has been dubbed as the “Venice of the Visayas”.









