Valencia, Negros Oriental

Valencia
Municipality

Map of Negros Oriental showing the location of Valencia
Valencia

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 09°17′N 123°15′E / 9.283°N 123.250°E / 9.283; 123.250Coordinates: 09°17′N 123°15′E / 9.283°N 123.250°E / 9.283; 123.250
Country  Philippines
Region Negros Island Region (NIR/Region XVIII)
Province Negros Oriental
District 3rd district of Negros Oriental
Barangays 24
Government[1]
 • Mayor Edgar Teves
 • Vice Mayor Romeo Alviola
Area[2]
 • Total 147.49 km2 (56.95 sq mi)
Population (2015)[3]
 • Total 60,000
 • Density 410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 6215
Dialing code 035
Income class 1st class municipality,partially urban

Valencia is a first class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. It is located 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) west of Dumaguete City, the largest city and capital of the province. According to the national 2015 census, it has a population of 34,852 people.[4] The municipality was voted as "the greenest and cleanest" town of Negros Oriental in 2007.[5] The mayor of Valencia is Edgar Teves, who was elected in 2013.

Our Lady of the Abandoned is the patroness of Valencia, and her feast day is celebrated annually every October 12 with the town fiesta. The fiesta is an official non-working holiday for the town.

Geography

Valencia occupies an area of 14,749 hectares (36,450 acres),[2] 35% of which are classified as plains. The town is 65% mountainous, with elevation averaging from 200 to 500 metres (660 to 1,640 ft) above sea level, with the top of Mount Talinis at an elevation of 1,903 metres (6,243 ft) along the municipal southern boundary. The climate in the municipality is relatively cool, especially at higher elevations.

The region is also the most critical watershed area of Negros Oriental, providing abundant drinking water to Valencia and its neighboring municipalities.

Barangays

The town is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.

  • Apolong
  • East Balabag
  • West Balabag
  • Balayagmanok
  • Balili
  • Balugo
  • Bongbong
  • Bong-ao
  • Calayugan
  • Cambucad
  • Dobdob
  • Jawa
  • Caidiocan
  • Liptong
  • Lunga
  • Malabo
  • Malaunay
  • Mampas
  • Palinpinon
  • North Poblacion
  • South Poblacion
  • Puhagan
  • Pulangbato
  • Sagbang

History

Valencia was originally named Ermita, which means "a secluded place", due to its being a refuge from marauding Muslim pirates. In 1856 it was renamed to Nueva Valencia by Spanish colonizers, in honor of its parish priest Fr. Matias Villamayor from Valencia, Spain.

In 1920 it was renamed Luzuriaga (also spelled Luzurriaga) in honour of Don Carlos Luzuriaga, a delegate from Negros island to the Philippine Legislature who promised town officials he would work hard to help improve the town. The town was renamed Valencia in 1948, by virtue of Republic Act No. 252.[6]

During World War II, Malabo was the headquarters of the Free Government and resistance movement in Negros Oriental.[7]:127–135

In 2007, its Municipal Police Station (under the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) headed by Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe) was adjudged the “Municipal Police Station of 2007” in the best unit awards category, and the best town police station in the Central Visayas (General order no. 110 dated January 22, 2008).[8]

Demographics

Population census of Valencia
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 18,102—    
1995 20,147+2.03%
2000 24,365+4.16%
2007 27,933+1.90%
2010 31,477+4.44%
2015 34,852+1.96%
Source: National Statistics Office[3]

The Cebuano language is the common vernacular in Valencia. Hiligaynon, Tagalog, and English are also widely spoken.

Economy

Geothermal power station in Barangay Puhagan
Lanzones fruits grown in Valencia are exported to other towns.

The economy of Valencia is largely based on agriculture. Major products include abaca, copra, corn, flowers, vegetables, root crops, and exotic fruits such as lanzones and rambutan.

The municipality is also the site of a geothermal power station operated by the Energy Development Corporation. It generates electricity that supplies the needs of Negros, Panay, and part of Cebu. The municipal government receives royalties from the power station.

Valencia, specifically, has a 20-megawatt Palinpinon 2 Geothermal Optimization Project in Sitio Nasuji, Barangay Puhagan, 35 kilometers from Dumaguete City. The P 1.74-billion geothermal optimization (expansion) project, funded the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is part of EDC's 192-MW Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field that supplies the power needs of 8 provinces in Negros, Panay, Guimaras and Cebu Islands. Valencia's 192-MW Palinpinon I and II geothermal field ranks 4th in installed capacity nationwide. The Palinpinon field contributed $457.8 million in 2004 foreign exchange savings for 2004, and also generated $267 million savings from January to July, 2008.

Because Palinpinon is such a big source of geothermal energy, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said it received P 250 million in royalties, applied for livelihood, education, related projects, and also for the 50% subsidy on Valencia electric bills consumers.[9] Many residents also work in the nearby city of Dumaguete.

Attractions

The Filipino-Japanese Amity Memorial Shrine is located in Valencia. It stands at the foot of Mount Talinis and marks the spot where the combined Filipino and American troops including the Negrosanon guerrilla units fought the Japanese Imperial Army toward the end of World War II.

Casaroro Falls

Eco-tourism sites include:

Education

Public High Schools[10]

School Name Location
Pulangbato National High School Pulangbato, Valencia, Negros Oriental
Balugo National High School Balugo, Valencia, Negros Oriental
Valencia National High School (Valencia Technical School) Bong-ao, Valencia, Negros Oriental
Valencia National High School -Dobdob Extension Dobdob, Valencia, Negros Oriental

Public Elementary Schools[10]

List of former mayors

References

  1. ↑ "Elected Mayors – Vice-Mayors and Councilors in Negros Oriental". Dumaguete.com. Retrieved 2016-05-16.
  2. 1 2 "Province: Negros Oriental". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2015 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "NEGROS ISLAND REGION (NIR)". Census of Population (2015): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  5. ↑ elgu.ncc.gov.ph, The Greenest and Cleanest Town of Negros Oriental
  6. ↑ "An act to change the name of the municipality of Luzurriaga, province of Negros Oriental, to that of "Valencia"". LawPH.com. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
  7. ↑ Mills, S.A., 2009, Stranded in the Philippines, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, ISBN 9781591144977
  8. ↑ globalnation.inquirer.net, Valencia police station in NegOr adjudged best
  9. ↑ pia.gov.ph, PGMA invites industries to invest in Negros Oriental and enjoy 50% power subsidy
  10. 1 2 "dumaguete.com". Retrieved Sep 30, 2014.
 Sibulan
Santa Catalina Dumaguete
Bacong
   Valencia  
Dauin
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