PHILIPPINES – PROVINCE OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

PHILIPPINES – PROVINCE OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

BACOLOD is the gateway to the Province of Negros Occidental, often referred to as the land of genteel people and large sugarcane plantations.

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL’S wealth has always been in its land, its charm in its people, its pride I its cuisine. It is blessed with beautiful natural scenery: unexplored waterfalls and mountains, white sand beaches t and crystal spring.

The land is where the wealth of the province originated and continues to emanate. The once lucrative sugar industry has started to give way to other profitable industries like bangus and prawn culture, handicraft exports, giftware and décors, furniture and furnishing, garments, metal working and processed food.

Its people with their endearing lilting accent are known for their affectionate, easy going and generous personality. They have a natural knack for entertaining which is best experienced during the Panaad Sa Negros Festival every summer a colorful presentation of individual festival of the 13 cities and 19 towns of the province, including Bacolod’s Masskara Festival. The people are also famous for their unrivaled good taste that is evident in the exquisite arts and crafts that they produce for the local and export markets.

Negros Occidental’s delectable cuisine is legendary. It is particularly popular of sugar based food items and delicacies. From upscale restaurants to wayside eateries, one can sample the heavenly concoctions this land is famous for.

A beautiful land, charming people delectable cuisine: these elements make for a destination that is best when experienced. Bacolod and Negros Occidental promises to be a destination like no other- a breath of fresh air, away from a harried pace of city life.

GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY

BACOLOD, the capital city, lies in the northwestern part of Negros Occidental province. It is set in a sprawling 16000 hectare coastal plain surrounded by sugarcane plantations, fishponds and rice fields. Bacolod is bounded by the City of Talisay on the north, Mt Marapara on the east, Guimaras Strait on the west and Bago City on the South.

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL is located in the western side of Negros Island, the fourth largest island in the Philippines with a total land area of972, 607 hectares or 9, 726, 06 square kilometres. The province is approximately 375 kilometres long from north to south. It is bounded by Visayan Sea on the north, Panay Gulf on the west, Tanon S Strait and Negros Oriental province on the east and Sulu Sea on the south.

Negros is basically volcanic, making its soil ideal for agriculture. Agriculture continues to be lifeblood of the province’s economy with 80% of its land cultivated.

There are 3 actives volcanoes in the province: Mt Kanlaon with an elevation of 8100 feet above sea level; Mt Silay with an elevation of 5032 feet and Mt Mandalagan, 6166 feet above sea level.

Seven major watershed areas provide ample water supply for household and industrial needs, as well as for irrigation and potential renewable energy development.

POPULATON

The total population of Negros Occidental including Bacolod City is almost 2.9 million which is 42 percent of the population in Western Visayas. Growth rate of Negros Occidental is pegged at 1.44 percent while that of Bacolod is 2.11 percent. Population density is 362 persons per square kilometer for Negros Occidental and 3199 persons per square kilometer for Bacolod City.

CLIMATE
Negros Occidental has 2 seasons – dry seasons and rainy seasons. The richness of the soil is mainly attributed to its moderate climate. From December to May, the people generally enjoy dry season while June to November are months with rains. The average temperature is 80 degree Fahrenheit / 28 degree Celsius.

HISTORY

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL  once known as “ Buglas “ by is early inhabitants and was later renamed “ Negros “ by  the Spanish colonizers, is one of the 6 provinces of Western Visayas located at the northwestern portion of Negros Island. It is located southeast of Panay Island from which it is separated by Guimaras Strait. Its terrain gently slopes in the north and the west towards the center of Negros Island where peaks of varying elevations divide it from Negros Oriental, its sister province. The coastline that surrounds it is irregular dotted with islands and lined with reefs.

ARTS AND CULTURE

The expansions of the sugar industry in the 1850s and the opening of the Suez Canal flooded Bacolod with European fineries and artworks.

Baroque churches and sprawling mansions dotted the Negrense landscape and Spanish culture flowered in the tropics. The San Sebastian Cathedral and the ancestral homes of the Locsins, Lizareses, Ledesmas, Aranetas, Gastons , Lacsons and other old families in Talisay , Silay and Bago are the manifestations of this opulent era.

The migrants from Panay brought with them dances and songs and traditional crafts like pottery (sun dried clay) , mat weaving , broom and bolo making , basketry  , hablon and sinamay weaving.

The Association of Negros Producers (ANP) showcases world class products like garments, toys, housewares, gifts, furniture and furnishing and organic goods while the Negros Silk Center in Bago City produces 80 percent of the total domestic market for silk.

The creativity and artistry of the Negrenses is reflected in their artworks, such as those exhibited by the Art Association ofBacolod Negros.

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

Negros Occidental is the Philippines’ major sugar producer contributing almost half of the country’s total production with 9 operational sugar factories, 3 of which have refineries.

Aside from raw and refined sugar, Negros Occidental also produces good quality organic powdered sugar, called “Muscovado” that is exported to Europe and the United States where it is preferred by the health conscious consumers.

The province also produces bio ethanol from sugarcane, with 2 integrated bio ethanol distilleries operational at present. More plants are expected to be established, Negros Occidental having been identified as the “Bio Fuel Center of Western Visayas” by the Regional Development Council.

The Department of Agriculture ( DA) has also recognized Negros Occidental as the leader in organic agriculture in Philippines with over 10 organic agriculture farms visited by advocates/ tourists  from various parts of the country.

Another industry being developed is the livestock production that has potential to be another major industry next to sugar. Hogs, chicken, cattle, goat and sheep are dispersed for breeding and fattening. Soon, Negros Occidental will be the sheep capital of the country.

Aside from efforts to reach self-sufficiency in rice, which the DA recognized as one of the Agri Pinoy Rice Achievers Awardees, the province also focuses on tourism promotion and investments in the IT –BPO industry for generation of jobs for its people.