Valencia, Negros Oriental

Valencia, officially the Municipality of Valencia, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 34,852 people.[3]

Valencia
Municipality
Municipality of Valencia
Geothermal power station in Barangay Puhagan
Seal
Map of Negros Oriental with Valencia highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Valencia
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°17′N 123°15′E
Country Philippines
RegionCentral Visayas (Region VII)
ProvinceNegros Oriental
District3rd district
Barangays24 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorEdgar Y. Teves
 • Vice MayorRomeo T. Alviola
 • CongressmanArnolfo A. Teves Jr.
 • Electorate25,882 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total147.49 km2 (56.95 sq mi)
Population
 (2015 census)[3]
 • Total34,852
 • Density240/km2 (610/sq mi)
 • Households
7,965
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence25.24% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue (₱)172,669,014.63 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6215
PSGC
074623000
IDD : area code +63 (0)35
Climate typetropical climate
Native languagesCebuano
Tagalog
Named afterValencia, Spain

It is located 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) west of Dumaguete City, the most populated city and capital of the province. The municipality was voted as "the greenest and cleanest" town of Negros Oriental in 2007.[5]

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.

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]

Geography

Valencia occupies an area of 14,749 hectares (36,450 acres), 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

Climate
Climate data for Valencia, Negros Oriental
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 28
(82)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 28
(82)		 28
(82)		 28
(82)		 29
(84)
Average low °C (°F) 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 21
(70)		 22
(72)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 26
(1.0)		 22
(0.9)		 28
(1.1)		 41
(1.6)		 95
(3.7)		 136
(5.4)		 147
(5.8)		 126
(5.0)		 132
(5.2)		 150
(5.9)		 98
(3.9)		 46
(1.8)		 1,047
(41.3)
Average rainy days 7.5 6.7 8.9 10.4 21.6 25.6 26.3 25.0 24.1 26.2 19.2 12.1 213.6
Source: Meteoblue (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.) [9]

Demographics
Population census of Valencia
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 8,726—    
1918 8,825+0.08%
1939 9,979+0.59%
1948 7,059−3.77%
1960 10,048+2.99%
1970 13,318+2.85%
1975 14,656+1.94%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1980 14,645−0.02%
1990 18,102+2.14%
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: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][10][11][12]

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

Economy
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 parts 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.[13] 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:

  • Tejero Highland Resort and Adventure Park - is the newest attraction in Central Philippines to offer the best value-for-your-money relaxation and recreation facility. It features a speed dual zipline, ATVs, segway, Aquazorb, slide, natural pools, restaurant and hotel. Located only 3 kilometers from town proper of Valencia, Tejero is the nearest natural attraction from Dumaguete, and considered the most popular of tourist destinations.
  • Casaroro Waterfalls - as the province’s most photographed body of water, it is relatively enclosed by lush greenery and natural rock formations. The falls' cool water gushes down to a swimming hole.
  • Forest Camp - was first opened in 1990, as a 6,000 square meter property, today its 2.2 hectares of land is a vast camping ground, with 2 large nipa hut houses, 4 cottages, a tree house, a 250-people capacity conference/reception hall, a backpacker’s den and a dormitory that can hold up to 20 students.
  • The Spanish Fountain - a relic of the town’s colorful historical past at the heart of the municipal plaza, has a unique sunken design, and was once the town’s major source of water supply (invented by an Augustinian Recollect Friars to channel water from an upland spring).
  • Cata-al War Memorabilia - a private collection by an 84-year-old World War II survivor Porforio Cata-al, at his residence cum museum. It includes bombs, grenades, Japanese and American bills, coins, medals, charred pieces of an authentic military uniform, and a Japanese soldier mummy
  • Filipino-American-Japanese Amity Shrine - on a hilltop of Sagbang, this is a 3-sided pillar representing the 3 countries (Philippines, America and Japan), unveiled in 1977.
  • Banica Swimming Lagoon - known as Tejeros resort, it has 2 man made pools fed by Banica River.
  • Malabo/Pulangbato Falls - is a swimming and diving hole with many reddish rocks.
  • Red Rock Hot Spring - dipping pool
  • Mount Talinis - a 1903-meter peak in the Cuernos de Negros which has a number of volcanic lakes and extensive biodiversity.
  • Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park - a protected area near Mount Talinis surrounding two crater lakes.

Education

Public High Schools[14]
School NameLocation
Pulangbato National High SchoolPulangbato, Valencia, Negros Oriental
Balugo National High SchoolBalugo, Valencia, Negros Oriental
Valencia National High School (Valencia Technical School)Bong-ao, Valencia, Negros Oriental
Valencia National High School -Dobdob ExtensionDobdob, Valencia, Negros Oriental

Public Elementary Schools[14]
  • Badiang Primary School
  • Balabag Elementary School
  • Balili Primary School
  • Balugo Elementary School
  • Bong-ao Elementary School
  • Bongbong Elementary School
  • Caidiocan Elementary School
  • Dobdob Elementary School
  • Dungga Primary School
  • Inas Primary School
  • Liptong Elementary School
  • Malabo Primary School
  • Malaunay Elementary School
  • Nasuji Primary School
  • Palinpinon Elementary School
  • Puhagan Elementary School
  • Pulangbato Elementary School
  • Sagbang Elementary School
  • Valencia Elementary School
  • Vicente I. Villa Memorial School

List of former mayors
  • Mariano Imbo (Captain)
  • Gerardo Imbo (1916 - 1919)
  • Eustaquio Vincoy (1919 - 1927)
  • Guillermo Albina (1928 - 1931)
  • Quiterio Mariño (1931 - 1939)
  • Jose Villamil (1940 - 1946)
  • Rodolfo Gonzalez, Sr. (1946 - 1967)
  • Elpidio Unto (1968 - 1971)
  • Rodolfo Gonzalez, Sr. (1972 - 1980)
  • Saludario Sonjaco (1981 - 1986)
  • Victor Naces (1986 - 1987)
  • Jose Villamil (OIC) (1987 - 1988)
  • Edgar Teves (1988 - 1998)
  • Humberto Sy (1998 - 2001)
  • Rodolfo Gonzalez, Jr. (2001 – 2010)
  • Enrique Gonzalez (2010 - 2013)
  • Edgar Teves (2013–present)
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References
  1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. "Province:". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  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. "Valencia: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  10. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  11. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  12. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  13. pia.gov.ph, PGMA invites industries to invest in Negros Oriental and enjoy 50% power subsidy
  14. "dumaguete.com". Retrieved Sep 30, 2014.
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