Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a
province of the
Philippines located in the
Western Visayas region. Its capital is
Bacolod City and occupies at the northwestern half of
Negros island;
Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half. Across the
Panay Gulf and the
Guimaras Strait to the northwest is the island-province of
Guimaras and the province of
Iloilo on
Panay island.
Residents of Negros are called "Negrense". Negros Occidental is predominantly a
Hiligaynon-speaking province. However, on the east coast of the province, facing Cebu Island, a few cities and towns are
Cebuano-speaking. Some
Negrenese also speak
Ilonggo, a dialect strongly influenced by the Spanish language.
Know as the "The Sugarbowl of the Philippines".The sugar industry is the lifeblood of the economy of Negros Occidental, producing more than half of the country's sugar. There are 15 sugar centrals located throughout the plains of the province. Victorias Mill in
Victorias City is the largest sugar mill in the country, and the world's largest integrated sugar mill and refinery. Sugar is transported from plantations to refineries by large trucks that use the national highway, often causing massive damage to the roads.
Because of the priority given to sugar plantations, much of the province's food has to be imported from neighboring islands.
A fishing industry is found in
Cadiz City, and other fishponds dot the province. One of the country's largest copper mines is located in
Sipalay City. There also exists a cottage industry which produced handicrafts made from indigenous materials.
Political
Negros Occidental is subdivided into 19
municipalities and 13
cities. Negros Occidental has the most chartered cities among all the provinces in the Philippines, though many of the cities merely resemble medium-sized towns.
Cities
Municipalities
Physical
The north and western parts of the province are largely composed of plains and gentle slopes. A mountain range lines the eastern part of the province forming the basis of the border with Negros Oriental.
Mount Canlaon, which is partially located in Negros Oriental, rises to a height of 2465 meters and is the highest peak in the
Visayas.
The island of
Negros was originally known to the natives as "Buglas". When the Spaniards discovered the island in April
1565, they named it "Negros" because of the dark-skinned natives they found. Two of the earliest native settlements were
Binalbagan and
Ilog which later became towns in
1573 and
1584, respectively. Other settlements were
Hinigaran, Negros Occidental,
Bago,
Marayo (now Pontevedra),
Mamalan (now Himamaylan) and Candaguit (a sitio in
San Enrique).
Ilog was made the first capital of the province in
1743. This was later transferred to Himamaylan.
Bacolod became the capital in
1849.
The island was divided into
Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental in
1890.
On
November 5,
1898, a rebellion led by
Juan Araneta and
Aniceto Lacson began which ended with the defeat of the Spaniards. Following their victory, the revolutionaries formed a
Republic of Negros which later included
Negros Oriental.
Negros del Norte was created from Negros Occidental on
January 3,
1986. Its creation was declared unconstitutional on
July 11,
1986, and was abolished on
August 18,
1986.
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Official Website of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental
