Valencia, Negros Oriental

Not to be confused with Valencia City, Bukidnon.

Valencia
—  Municipality  —
Map of Negros Oriental showing the location of Valencia.
Valencia Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°16′55″N 123°14′42″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas
Province	Negros Oriental
District	3rd district of Negros Oriental
Founded
Barangays	24
Government
• Mayor	Enrique Gonzalez
Area
• Total	147.49 km2 (56.9 sq mi)
Population (2000)
• Total	24,365
• Density	165.2/km2 (427.9/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	6215
Dialing code	035
Income class	1st class municipality,partially urban
Website	elgu.ncc.gov.ph

Valencia is a first class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. It is located 9.4 kilometre west of Dumaguete, the largest city and capital of the province. According to the national 2000 census, Valencia has a population of 24,365 people in 4,860 households. Valencia has a land area of about 15,000 hectares, 35% of which are classified as plains. The municipality was voted as "the greenest and cleanest" town of Negros Oriental in 2007.

The mayor of Valencia is Enrique Gonzalez, elected in 2010.

People and culture

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.

Economy

Lanzones fruits grown in Valencia are exported to other towns.

Geothermal power station in Barangay Puhagan

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 National Power Corporation. It generates electricity that is supplies the needs of Negros, Panay, and part of Cebu. The municipal government receives royalties from the power station which are used to subsidize electricity costs of local residents. Each household receives a monthly rebate of P800 on their electricity bill.

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 the Philippine National Oil Company's (PNOC) 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.

Many residents also work in the nearby city of Dumaguete.

Climate, culture and eco-tourism

Valencia is generally hilly and has a cool climate.

Cebuano is the common vernacular in Valencia. English is widely spoken.

Valencia eco-tourism incorporates the idea of sustainable development. It promotes - community development through tourism and environmental protection; environmental education and protection; community-based resource management; community development; preparation of the community in the management and utilization of their natural resources. The region is also the most critical watershed area of Negros Oriental. It provides abundant water to Valencia and its neighboring municipalities.

Eco-tourism sites include:

• 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 friar 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, 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 swimming and diving hole with many reddish rocks.
• Mt. Talinis a 1903 meter peak in the Cuernos de Negros. It has many volcanic lakes, breathtaking views and remarkable biodiversity.

Geography

Casaroro Falls

Valencia occupies an area of approximately 150 km², located 9.4 kilometre west of the provincial capital, Dumaguete. The town is 65% mountainous, with elevation ranging from 200 to 500 meters above sea level. The climate in the municipality is relatively cool, especially in areas of high elevation.

The town is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.

Apolong Balabag East Balabag West 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 in behalf 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.

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).

Mayors

• Mariano Imbo (Captain)
• Gerardo Imbo (1916 - 1919)
• Eustaquio Vincoy (1919 - 1927)
• Guillermo Albina (1928 - 1931)
• Quiterio Marino (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 - present)

Historical

Filipino-Japanese Amity Memorial Shrine

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

External links

• Official website of Valencia, Negros Oriental
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Province Profile
• Negros Oriental Province, Telecommunications Profile, RADIO AND TV BROADCAST STATIONS
• Valencia, Negros Oriental