NegOccPDPFP_2008-2013

Province of Negros Occidental

PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT

AND PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2008-2013

“Formulated with technical assistance from the National Economic and Development

Authority and the Asian Development Bank using the Guidelines on Strengthening

Provincial/Local Planning and Expenditure Management”

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CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION

1. Historical Background 1

2. Plan Objective and Context 3

3. Coverage of the Plan 5

4. Outline of the Plan 7

II. VISION / MISSION 8

III. THE PLANNING ENVIRONMENT

1. Location, Land Area and Political Subdivision 11

2. Population and Settlements 15

3. Physical Resources 42

4. Economy 72

5. Transportation, Access and Circulation 92

6. Income, Employment, Service Access, and Poverty 99

7. Land Use and Physical Framework 133

IV. DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, GOALS, OBJECTIVES/ TARGETS

1. Development Issues and Problems 154

2. Development Goals, Objectives and Targets 158

V. STRATEGIES, PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, AND ACTIVITIES 162

VI. ANNEXES

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LIST OF MAPS

Map 1 Regional Location Map 12

Map 2 Negros Occidental Province Map 13

Map 3 Population Density Map, by City/Municipality 23

1990, 2000 and 2007 Census

Map 4 Annual Population Growth Rates, by City/Municipality 29

1990, 2000 and 2007

Map 5a Built –up Areas 33

Map 5b Existing Hierarchy of Settlements 40

Map 6 Slope Map 45

Map 7 Geologic Map 52

Map 8 Climate Map 54

Map 9 Land Classification Map 57

Map 10 Land Suitability Map 59

Map 11 Protection Areas Map 71

Map 12 Agriculture Production Land Use Map 90

Map 13 Industries with Best and Declining Potentials 91

Map 14 External Linkages and Internal Circulation Routes Map 98

Map 15 Location of Health Facilities 107

Map 16 Location of Education Facilities 113

Map 18 Location of Security Facilities 116

Map 19 Location of Water and Sanitation Facilities 119

Map 20 Location of Power Facilities 122

Map 22 Location of Solid Waste Facilities 125

Map 24 Province of Negros Occidental, Existing Land Use 134

Map 25 Initial Settlements Growth 138

Map 26 Initial Settlements Growth and Protection Land Use 141

Map 27 Settlements Framework 144

Map 28 Protection Framework 146

Map 29 Production Framework 150

Map 30 Transport/Infra Framework 152

Map 31 Physical Framework 153

Map 32 Project Location 166

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 PDPFP Framework 4

Figure 2 2007 Population of Negros Occidental by municipality/city

Figure 3 2007 Population Density of Negros Occidental

by municipality/city

Figure 4 2007 Population Growth Rate of Negros Occidental

by municipality/city

Figure 5 Protected Areas and Watershed in Negros Occidental 36

Figure 6 Mt. Kanlaon Volcanic Lava Flow Hazard Map 66

Figure 7 Mt. Kanlaon Pyroclastic Flow and Lahar Hazard Map 66

Figure 8 Ground Water Availability Map 70

Figure 9 Overall Distribution of the Regional Economy 72

Figure 10 Share Diagram, Agriculture: Shares of Total Family Income 76 by HH Head, Business/Industry, Region VI, 2000

Figure 11 Histogram, Specialization: Shares of Total Family Income 76 by HH Head, Business/Industry, 2000

Figure 12 Poverty Incidence Map of Negros Occidental 127

Figure 13 The planning environment, development issues/problems, 154

strategies and PPAs.

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Land Area of Cities and Municipalities in Negros Occidental by District 14

Table 2 Region 6 Population, Annual Population Growth Rate, 16

Density, Area by Province, Philippines, 1995, 2000, 2007

Table 3 Population size, annual population growth rate, land area, 18

Density, by cities/municipalities

Table 4 Population shares, cumulative population shares, 19

Additional Population by city/municipality

Table 5 Estimated Population & Density, Negros Occidental, 30

by City Municipality, 2008, 2010, 2013

Table 6 Area and Percentage Distribution by Slope Category 43

Table 7 Seven Major Rivers in Negros Occidental 46

Table 8 Land Classification, by Municipality/City and Congressional District 56

Table 9 Hazard Assessment Profile in Negros Occidental 65

Table 10 Cost of Damage of Calamities and Hazard in Negros Occidental 65

Table 11 Irrigation Development in Negros Occidental 69

Table 12 Data Matrix: Total Family Income (P Million) 73

by Household Head, by kind of Business/Industries, 2000

Table 13 Joint Probability Shares of Family Income (%) 74

by Household Head by Kind of Business/Industry, 2000

Table 14 Concentration: Total Family Income (%) 75

by Household Head, by Kind of Business/Industry, 2000

Table 15 Specialization: Total Family Income (%) 75


Table 16 Cane Production, Negros Occidental, Crop Year 2004-2005 to 2006-2007 77

Table 17 Location Quotients: Total Family Income 78


Table 18 Employment/Unemployment Rate, 2000-2003 100

Table 19 Total & Average Family Income, Region VI, 101

by Province, 1994, 1997, 2000

Table 20 Real Per Capita Income/Province (1994, 1997, 2000) 102

Table 20 Local Service Standards 128

Table. 21 Area Distribution of Existing Land Uses, CY 2003 (Ha) 133

Table 22 Land Use Changes, 1990-2007, Province of Negros Occidental 136

Table 23 Development Issues and Problems 156

Table 24 Development Goals, Objectives, and Targets 159

Table 25 Strategies, Program, Projects and Activities 163

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ACRONYMS

A&D Alienable and Disposable

AFMA Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act

AIP Annual Investment Program

AMCR Average Monthly Crime Rate

ANP Association of Negros Producers

APGR Annual Population Growth Rate

BFP Bureau of Fire Protection

BPO Business Process Outsourcing

BREDCO Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp.

BRIS Bago River Irrigation System

BSWM Bureau of Soils and Water Management

BWFR Bago Watershed Forest Reserve

C/M City/Municipal

CARP Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program

CCAP Call Center Association of the Philippines

CDP Comprehensive Development Plan

CENECO Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc.

CFRM Coastal Fisheries Resource Management Program

CHED Commission on Higher Education

CHICKS Cauayan, Hinobaan, Ilog, Candoni, Kabankalan and Sipalay

CIF Countryside in Figures

CIS Communal Irrigation Systems

CLUP Comprehensive Land Use Plan

CSF Common Service Facilities

CVO Civilian Volunteer Organization

CY Calendar Year

DA Department of Agriculture

DENR Department of Environment & Natural Resources

DepEd Department of Education

DILG Department of Interior and Local Government

DPWH Department of Public Works and Highways

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DRR & CCA Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaptation

DSWD Department of Social Welfare and Development

DTI Department of Trade & Industry

EDC Energy Development Corporation

ESWM Ecological Solid Waste Management

FHSIS Field Health Services Information System

FIES Family Income and Expenditure Survey

FNRI Food and Nutrition Research Institute

GTH gifts, toys, house ware

HEARTS Plus Health, Environment, Agriculture, Roads and other Infrastructure, Tourism, Trade & Investments, Social Services, including Education; Personnel and Human Resource Development, Livelihood and

Employment Opportunities, Urban Planning and Rural Development,

and Systems and Governance

HH Household Head

HDI Human Development Index

IBA International Bird Area

IHWFR Ilog-Hilabangan Watershed Forest Reserve

ILHZ Inter-Local Health Zone

IP Indigenous People

LGU Local Government Unit

MGB Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau

MKNP Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park

MMR Maternal Mortality Ratio

NAMRIA National Mapping and Resources Information Authority

NAST National Academy of Science and Technology

NCIP National Commission on Indigenous Peoples

NEA National Energy Administration

NGCP National Grid Corporation of the Philippines

NGO Non-Government Organization

NIPAS National Integrated Protected Areas System

NNNP North Negros Natural Park

NOCECO Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative, Inc.

NOSP Negros Occidental Scholarship Program

NOTLDC Negros Occidental Technology and Livelihood Development Center

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NPAAAD Network of Protected Areas for Agricultural and Agro-industrial

Development

NPC National Power Corporation

NSCB National Statistical Coordination Board

NSO National Statistics Office

NWRB National Water Resources Board

PAGASA Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services

Administration

PAMB Protected Area Management Board

PDC Provincial Development Council

PDCC Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council

PDIP Provincial Development Investment Program

PDMP Provincial Disaster Management Program

PDPFP Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan

PEMO Provincial Environment Management Office

PHIVOLCS Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

PLPEM Provincial/Local Planning and Expenditure Management

PLUC Provincial Land Use Committee

PNC Provincial Nutrition Council

PPAs Programs, Projects and Activities

PPDO Provincial Planning and Development Office

PPFP Provincial Physical Framework Plan

PRRCFI Philippine Reefs and Rainforests Conservation Foundation, Inc.

PSWDO Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office

PSWMB Provincial Solid Waste Management Board

RA Republic Act

RDC Regional Development Council

RHI Roxas Holdings Inc.

RO-RO Roll-on-Roll-off

RPFP Regional Physical Framework Plan

RSET Regional Socio-Economic Trends

SAFDZ Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development Zones

SCRP Safe and Closure Rehabilitation Plan

SMR Sagay Marine Reserve

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SRA Sugar Regulatory Administration

SRNH Strong Republic Nautical Highway

UNICEF United Nations Children‘s Fund

VMC Victorias Milling Company

VRESCO Victorias Rural Electric Service Cooperative, Inc.

Negros Occidental Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan, 2008 -2013 Chapter I : Introduction

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CHAPTER I

Introduction

1. Historical Background

Negros Island was originally called ―Buglas‖ – an old native word which is to mean ―cut off‖. It

is believed that Negros was once part of a greater mass of land but was cut off either by what

geologists call a continental drift or by the rising waters during the so-called glacial age. Among

its earliest inhabitants were dark-skinned natives belonging to the Negrito ethnic group with their

unique culture.

Spanish explorers Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa and Juan de Aguirre discovered the island of

„Buglas‖ in April 1565. The Spaniards called the land “Negros” after the black natives whom

they saw when they first came to the island in April 1565. Two of the earliest native settlements

were Binalbagan and Ilog that later became towns in 1573 and 1584, respectively. Other

settlements were Hinigaran, Bago, Marayo (now Pontevedra), Mamalan (now Himamaylan) and

Candaguit (now a sitio in San Enrique). On September 6, 1571, Negros was divided into

―encomiendas‖ or Spanish colonial settlements, laying the foundation for a feudal system.

After appointing encomienderos in the island, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi placed Negros under the

jurisdiction of the Governor of Oton in Panay. In 1734, however, the island became a military

district and Ilog was made its first capital. The seat of government was later transferred to

Himamaylan and thereafter Bacolod became the capital in 1849.

The latter half of the 19th century was a period of rapid economic expansion for Negros

Occidental as evidenced by the growth of population resulting from the influx of immigrants

coming from the neighboring provinces like Iloilo, Antique, Capiz and Cebu. The major boon to

the province at this time was the widespread cultivation of sugarcane and the opening of ports to

foreign commerce like those in Iloilo and Cebu. In 1856, Negros Occidental produced only 4,000

piculs of sugar. This increased to 100,000 piculs in 1864 and 2,000,000 piculs in 1893.


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In 1890, the island was divided by the Spanish government into two provinces – Negros Oriental

in the east and Negros Occidental in the west. Negrense revolutionary leaders joined the

Katipunan Movement and prominent Negrenses, Gen. Aniceto Lacson and Gen. Juan Araneta, led

the ―Cantonal Government of the Republic of Negros” which reunited the two provinces.

Spanish rule in Negros came to an end on November 5, 1898.

Negros Occidental was split into two provinces after a plebiscite in Cadiz City on January 3, 1986

- Negros Occidental and Negros del Norte. The creation of the new province was, however,

opposed by the Negros Anti-Partition Movement and the Supreme Court declared the creation

unconstitutional on July 11, 1986. On August 18, 1986, Negros del Norte was formally returned

to Negros Occidental, thus making the province whole again.

Negros Occidental is comprised of 12 component cities, 19 component municipalities and one

highly urbanized City of Bacolod which is also the capital city. As of October 2007, the total

population of Negros Occidental has reached 2,869,766 including Bacolod City (499,497).


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2. Plan Objectives and Context

2.1. Objectives of the Negros Occidental Provincial Development and Physical Framework

Plan (PDPFP)

The Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan is an updated version of the

Provincial Medium Term Development Plan and Provincial Physical Framework Plan that has

been adopted as a planning document by the Provincial Development Council/Regional

Development Council. The PDC, which is the policy recommending body of the province, is

mandated to initiate the formulation or updating of its land use and development plans in

consultation with the concerned sectors in its component local government units.

The PDPFP aims to provide a brief background on the province, its planning context and

environment so as to provide analytical and comprehensive basis for identifying development

programs based on its overall provincial vision.

In order to strengthen and enhance the development of the province, the Provincial Development

and Physical Framework Plan is the primary technical guide to the development of the province.

Its specific objectives are to:

a. Define the overall vision for the province.

b. Provide analytical basis for understanding and identifying existing conditions and key

development issues, problems, opportunities, goals, objectives and targets of the province.

c. Transform the vision into implementable strategies towards the attainment of goals,

objectives and targets.

d. Identify the programs, projects and activities consistent with the proposed strategies, guided

by the vision,

2.2. Context of the Plan

The Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) serves as the link between

national/regional and city and municipal plans.


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Within this framework, policies enunciated at the top levels of government are effectively

translated into a lower level provincial plan to be more responsive to local conditions. Conversely,

policies at the city/municipality stratum are integrated into the provincial plan which serves as the

vertical link between local development objectives and regional and national priorities. At the

provincial level, the Programs, Projects and Activities (PPAs) derived from the PDPFP are the

bases for a multi-year investment program, while the Annual Investment Program (AIP) is the

basis for budgetary allocations for PPAs. A simple framework showing the linkages among the

four processes is presented below.

Fig. 1. PDPFP Framework

Locally funded

projects

PPAs

PDIP/ AIP

Planning

Budgeting

Expenditure Management

Project Evaluation and Development

Investment Programming

Revenue Generation

Implementation Monitoring and

Evaluation


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3. Coverage of the Plan

3.1. Historical Coverage

The Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) is a six-year medium-term

development plan of the province of Negros Occidental, guided by its long-term vision. It is

formulated to coincide with two three-year terms of the present provincial leadership that can be

aligned with a full term of the national leadership. Planning analyses, however, extend beyond

the medium term to consider longer-term trends. These are significant and necessary inputs to the

identification of Strategies, Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs) for the six-year plan period.

3.2. Geographical Coverage

The political boundaries of the province define the primary level of geographical analysis. Other

provinces in Region VI (Western Visayas) as well as the region itself, and the country as a whole,

are also included as benchmarks in some of the analyses.

The PDPFP basically embodies the respective Medium Term Development Plan and

Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of the component cities and municipalities of the

province and as an indicative plan to guide the needed spatial arrangement of provincial land use

physical development activities.

Cities and municipalities within the province serve as the major level of analytical disaggregation,

although barangay-level data are recommended for selected population analysis. Groups or

clusters of municipalities as well as geographically delineated areas like the North Negros Natural

Park, Mount Kanlaon Natural Park, Bago River Watershed among others, are also considered.

References to land and land use which include water and water use are likewise a part of the

planning environment.


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3.3. Sectoral Coverage

The planning environment of the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP)

includes all major sectors for and in the development of Negros Occidental. As much as possible,

and in order to establish comparability and context, sectoral data should be consistent with

regional/national and city/municipal data.

In terms of the traditional sectors that typically serve as templates for public sector planning

analysis and implementation, the core elements correspond as follows:

Core Element Sector

Population Population

Economic Activity Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Trade, Industry, Services,

Tourism

Physical Resources Environment, Natural Resources, Transport

Income/Access to services

Health, Education, Housing, Social Welfare, Public Works,

Energy, Security, Other Services and Facilities (for community groups such as the elderly, children, indigenous people, etc.)

Land Use Physical integration of all sectors


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4. Outline of the Plan

The Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) is organized as follows:

A. Introduction. This introduces the PDPFP, the general assumptions and principles underlying

the plan and the rationale and objectives for updating the plan. It also describes how the various

parts of the plan are organized. Introduction also provides a brief background on the province,

the planning context and policy environment, and objectives and coverage of the plan.

B. Vision. The vision provides the long term view of the province that reflects local aspirations. It

also serves as an inspirational guide for the rest of the PDPFP.

C. The Planning Environment. This describes and analyzes the physical, economic, and social

environments of the province as inputs to the identification of strategies and

programs/projects/activities (PPAs). Statistical tables, graphs, charts and maps are used to

describe the province‘s planning environment.

D. Development Issues/Problems, Goals, Objectives and Targets. It shows the development

issues, challenges, and opportunities facing and accompanying the task of accomplishing the

identified development goals, objectives and targets.

E. Strategies, Programs, Projects, and Activities. For each identified development goal and

objective, specific strategies and PPAs are derived and identified to address the development

issues.

Negros Occidental Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan, 2008 -2013 Chapter II :Vision of Negros Occidental

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CHAPTER II

Vision of Negros Occidental

“An empowered and healthy Negrense in a globally-competitive, ecologically balanced and

peaceful Negros Occidental serving as the organic food capital of Asia under a responsive and

accountable governance.”

Elements of the Vision

The Development Vision of the Negros Occidental Provincial Development and Physical

Framework Plan provides the ultimate goal towards which the province‘s development efforts

shall be directed. It serves as a guide upon which specific development goals, objectives,

framework/strategies/policies, scenarios/targets, major programs and projects to be implemented

shall be anchored.

Consistent with the development vision of the region, the Province of Negros Occidental aspires

to uplift over the plan period 2008-2013 the socio-economic life of its citizenry who are the

principal focus of development. The development in the province should provide opportunities

equitably which can translate into increased income and improved living standards for the

Negrenses.

People (Negrense) - An empowered Negrense means that the people of Negros Occidental will

be able to develop their full potentials, achieve level of maturity and education to make

responsible decisions, and to be able to get involved in activities that require unity and collective

participation.

- A healthy Negrense is one who enjoys clean and green environment, where there are

available healthy and organically grown foods, well maintained health institutions with quality


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comprehensive health and healthcare programs and an environment that promotes sports and

recreation towards healthy minds and bodies.

Economy - A globally-competitive economy involves production of quality/world class

products, services, facilities and infrastructure, including tourism destinations that are better than

or at par with the global market. This also involves development of quality, top caliber skilled

workers and professionals that will excel locally and internationally.

Natural and Physical Environment - Ecological balance means that the province‘s diverse

ecosystems are sustainably protected, preserved and renewed. It also has environment-friendly

and pollution-free local communities promoting sustainable development and sustainable

agriculture.

Community - A peaceful province is one where there is law and order; that the people live in

harmony; and that justice and social equity prevail. A business-friendly, investor-friendly, and

tourist & visitor-friendly province.

Governance - A responsive and accountable governance refers to a government that is

receptive and transparent, supportive and able to address the people‘s socio-economic needs; a

government that promotes gender equity by being sensitive to the special needs and concerns of

women, children, the differently-abled, the elderly, and indigenous people in its development

programs and projects; a government that is strong on social justice, focused on the welfare of the

underprivileged and determined to provide the people with equitable access to needed resources.

It is a government that lives the principle: “a public office is a public trust”.

Outward Looking - Organic Food Capital of Asia is the desired role of the province of Negros

Occidental or the best contribution it can make to the development of the nation. It will devote 10

percent of its agricultural lands to organic production in partnership with the Oriental Negros

province thus, sharing in the $20 billion world market for organic products.


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Mission of Negros Occidental

We shall sustain our delivery of services to the fullest of our abilities, harnessing our potentials,

and building more meaningful teamwork;

We will uphold and promote at all times the principles and policies of the Provincial Government;

and

Cognizant of our avowed purposes, we commit ourselves to make Negros Occidental an organic

food capital of Asia, a challenge to the adventurous, a haven for the travelers, and a real home for

the Negrense.

Negros Occidental Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan, 2008 -2013 Chapter III : The Planning Environment

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CHAPTER III

The Planning Environment

1. Location, Land Area, and Political Subdivisions

Negros Occidental is one of the six provinces that compose Western Visayas or Region VI.

Located in the northwestern portion of Negros Island, it can be found near the central part of the

Philippine Archipelago and lies between two large inter-island water bodies, the Sibuyan and the

Visayan Seas. Geographic location of the region is defined at grid coordinates 1210 5‘ W to 123

0

2‘ 30‘‘ E longitude and 9 25‘ S to 12

0 12‘ 30‘‘ N latitude.

Negros Occidental is composed of 12 component cities, 19 municipalities, one highly urbanized

capital city and 662 barangays. The province is divided into six congressional districts excluding

Bacolod City which is considered a distinct congressional district.

Bacolod City, the provincial capital, lies in the northwestern part of the province. It is set in a

sprawling 16,000-hectare coastal plain.

The province has a total land area of 792,607 hectares or 7,926.07 km2. It is in the western side of

Negros Island, the fourth largest island of the Philippines. The province is approximately 375

kilometers long from north to south, bounded by the Visayan Sea on the north, Panay Gulf on the

west, Tañon Strait and Negros Oriental province on the east and Sulu Sea on the south.


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Table 1. Land Area of Cities and Municipalities in Negros Occidental by District

Province

Municipality/City

Land Area

(sq. km.)

Population

2007

Municipality/

City

Land Area

(sq. km.)

Population

2007

Negros Occidental 7,926.10 2,370,269

Bacolod City 156.10 499,497

TOTAL 2,869,766

1st District 4

th District

Escalante City 125.00 92,035 Bago City 402.10 159,933

Toboso 123.40 41,358 La Carlota City 137.30 63,584

Calatrava 439.60 78,452 Pontevedra, 112.50 46,768

DSBenedicto 170.60 22,979 Pulupandan 23.00 27,072

San Carlos City 384.00 129,809 San Enrique 21.00 22,987

TOTAL 1,242.60 364,633 Valladolid 48.00 34,895

TOTAL 743.90 355,239

2nd

District 5th

District

Cadiz City 516.50 150,750 Hinigaran 160.80 80,528

Manapla 112.90 52,428 Binalbagan 185.40 64,747

Sagay City 389.60 140,511 Himamaylan City 384.20 102,014

TOTAL 1,019.00 343,689 La Castellana 216.50 70,838

Moises Padilla 143.70 39,239

Isabela 177.40 58,819

TOTAL 1,268.00 416,185

3rd

District 6th

District

Murcia 284.60 71,289 Kabankalan City 726.40 166,970

Talisay City 173.40 96,444 Cauayan 519.90 93,569

Silay City 214.80 120,365 Sipalay City 432.70 67,211

E.B. Magalona 113.30 57,424 Hinobaan 424.10 53,894

Victorias City 133.90 88,149 Ilog 281.70 53,460

TOTAL 920.00 433,671 Candoni 191.70 21,748

TOTAL 2,576.50 456,852

Source: NSO 2007 Census, RSET 2007


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2. Population and Settlements

2.1. Regional and National Context

In 2007, the Philippine total population is 88,574,614 million, of which 6,843,643 or 7.73 percent

is from Western Visayas. This makes the region the fourth biggest in terms of population size

among 16 regions in the country.

Among the provinces of Region VI, the Negros Occidental and Iloilo provinces still have the

largest shares of the region‘s population at 41.93 percent and 30.84 percent, respectively. With

the presence of two highly urbanized cities of Bacolod and Iloilo in these two provinces, their

primacy in terms of population has been maintained.

The province of Capiz accounts for 10.25 percent of the regional population followed by Antique

and Aklan at 7.52 and 7.23 percent, respectively. The province of Guimaras tails behind at 2.21

percent due to its small land area although its proximity to the City of Iloilo can be a strategic

location for absorption of the city populace‘s spill-over.

The density of the province of Negros Occidental in 2007 which is 362 is higher compared to that

of the national density of 260 and the regional density which is 338. Comparing the 2007

population density for the two highly urbanized cities in the region namely the cities of Bacolod

and Iloilo, Bacolod‘s density of 3,199 is less than half of Iloilo‘s density of 7,479. These account

for the fact that Iloilo City is the seat of most regional government agencies.

Among provinces in Region VI, Negros Occidental shows an erratic growth rate with a

remarkable decrease from 1.43 in 1990-1995 to 1.13 in 1995-2000. The decrease to 1.13 in 1995-

2000 could be attributed to the deteriorating economic conditions in some areas, with the closure

of Maricalum Mining Corporation in Sipalay and some sugar centrals, thus creating migration to

other places to seek jobs and better economic opportunities.

Growth rate of Negros Occidental in 2007 which is 1.56 is higher than the regional growth rate of

1.35 but lesser than the nation‘s growth rate of 2.04. Given the current growth rate of 1.56, it is

estimated that population of Negros Occidental will double after 48 years or in 2055.


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Table 2. Region 6 Population, Annual Population Growth Rate, Density, Area by Province, Philippines, 1995, 2000, 2007

Province

Population Growth Rate Density Land Area

1995 2000 2007 1995 2000 2007 1995 2000 2007 (sq. km.) % (Phil.)

Philippines 68,614,162 76,498,735 88,574,614 2.30 2.36 2.04 202 225 260 340,574 100.00

Region 5,776,938 6,208,733 6,843,643 1.30 1.56 1.35 286 307 338 20,223 6.74

Aklan 410,539 451,314 495,122 1.43 2.05 1.29 226 248 272 1,818 0.61

Antique 431,713 472,822 515,265 1.14 1.97 1.19 171 186 204 2,522 0.84

Capiz 624,469 654,156 701,664 1.26 1.00 0.97 237 248 266 2,633 0.88

Guimaras 126,470 141,450 151,238 1.31 2.43 0.93 209 233 250 605 0.20

Iloilo 1,415,022 1,559,182 1,691,878 1.13 2.07 1.28 371 408 447 4,719 1.57

Iloilo City 334,539 365,820 418,710 1.47 1.93 1.86 5,976 6,538 7,480 56 0.02

Negros Occidental 2,031,841 2,136,647 2,370,269 1.43 1.13 1.56 307 324 362 7,926 2.64

Bacolod City 402,345 429,076 499,497 1.89 1.39 2.12 2,578 2,755 3,200 156 0.05

Source: NSCB, Regional Socio-Economic Trends


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2.2. Population Size, Density and Growth Rate

2.2.1. Size and distribution

The largest city of the province is Bacolod City which has a population of 499,497, accounting for

17.41 percent of the total provincial population. Compared with Iloilo City, the administrative

center of Region VI with a population of 418,710, Bacolod City is the largest city in the region

based on population.

Aside from Bacolod City, there are seven cities with 100,000 and above population namely:

Kabankalan, Bago, Cadiz, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay and Himamaylan accounting for 51.22

percent of the provincial population. The rest of the population is distributed among the 24

cities/municipalities of the province with Candoni having the smallest share at 21,748 or 0.70

percent of the provincial population.

Within the province, only 11 cities and municipalities registered an increase from their 2000

population, with the largest increase experienced by Bacolod City (net increase of 0.68 percent);

Talisay City and Murcia which border Bacolod City had the next largest share increases at 0.28

percent and 0.17 percent, respectively.

These population growth trends suggest that Bacolod City remains the biggest driver of

population growth in the province, as well as in the region. The population of the cities and

municipalities located near Bacolod City: Bago City (159,933), Silay City (120,365), Talisay

City (96,444) and Murcia (71,289), have substantially increased since 2000. Their proximity to

the city of Bacolod makes these areas strategically located to absorb the spillover of the city‘s

population.


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Table 3. Population size, annual population growth rate, land area, density, by municipalities/cities

Province Mun/City

Population 2007

Growth Rate 2007

Estimated Population Estimated Density Additional Population 2007-2013 2008 2010 2013 2008 2010 2013

Negros

Occidental 2,869,766 1.56 2,914,534 3,006,177 3,149,072 368 379 397 279,306

Bacolod City 499,497 2.12 510,086 531,943 566,497 3268 3408 3629 67,000

Bago City 159,933 1.68 162,620 168,130 176,747 404 418 440 16,814

Binalbagan 64,747 1.46 65,692 67,625 70,630 354 365 381 5,883

Cadiz City 150,750 0.83 152,001 154,535 158,415 294 299 307 7,665

Calatrava 78,452 0.69 78,993 80,087 81,756 180 182 186 3,304

Candoni 21,748 1.17 22,002 22,520 23,320 115 117 122 1,572

Cauayan 93,569 0.75 94,271 95,690 97,859 181 184 188 4,290

D.S. Benedicto 22,979 4.03 23,905 25,871 29,126 140 152 171 6,147

E.B. Magalona 57,424 0.73 57,843 58,691 59,986 511 518 529 2,562

Escalante City 92,035 2.11 93,977 97,985 104,319 752 784 835 12,284

Himamaylan City 102,014 1.95 104,003 108,099 114,547 271 281 298 12,533

Hinigaran 80,528 0.99 81,325 82,943 85,431 506 516 531 4,903

Hinobaan 53,894 0.82 54,336 55,231 56,601 128 130 133 2,707

Ilog 53,460 1.93 54,492 56,615 59,957 193 201 213 6,497

Isabela 58,819 2.63 60,366 63,583 68,733 340 358 387 9,914

Kabankalan City 166,970 1.51 169,491 174,649 182,680 233 240 251 15,710

La Carlota City 63,584 1.67 64,646 66,823 70,227 471 487 511 6,643

La Castellana 70,838 2.53 72,630 76,352 82,295 335 353 380 11,457

Manapla 52,428 0.77 52,832 53,648 54,897 468 475 486 2,469

Moises Padilla 39,239 1.73 39,918 41,311 43,492 278 287 303 4,253

Murcia 71,289 2.56 73,114 76,905 82,964 257 270 292 11,675

Pontevedra 46,768 1.46 47,451 48,846 51,017 422 434 453 4,249

Pulupandan 27,072 0.64 27,245 27,595 28,128 1185 1200 1223 1,056

Sagay City 140,511 1.1 142,057 145,199 150,044 365 373 385 9,533

San Carlos City 129,809 1.29 131,484 134,898 140,186 342 351 365 10,377

San Enrique 22,987 0.55 23,113 23,368 23,756 1101 1113 1131 769

Silay City 120,365 1.54 122,219 126,012 131,924 569 587 614 11,559

Sipalay City 67,211 1.11 67,957 69,474 71,813 157 161 166 4,602

Talisay City 96,444 2.76 99,106 104,652 113,559 572 604 655 17,115

Toboso 41,358 0.22 41,449 41,632 41,907 336 337 340 549

Valladolid 34,895 0.95 35,227 35,899 36,932 734 748 769 2,037

Victorias City 88,149 1.05 89,075 90,955 93,850 665 679 701 5,701

Note: *Population including Bacolod City. Source: RSET, NSCB


III - 19

Table 4. Population shares, cumulative population shares, additional population by

municipality/city

Province

Mun/City

Pop

1995

(%

share)

Pop

2000

(%

share)

Pop

2007

(%

share)

1995

Cum.

Pop‟n.

2000

Cum.

Pop‟n.

2007

Cum.

Pop‟n.

1995-

2000

%

change

2000-

2007

%

change

Negros Occidental

Bacolod City 16.53 16.72 17.41 16.53 16.72 17.41 0.19 0.6821

Kabankalan City 5.72 5.84 5.82 22.25 22.56 23.23 0.12 -0.0191

Bago City 5.44 5.52 5.57 27.69 28.08 28.80 0.09 0.0494

Cadiz City 5.17 5.53 5.25 32.86 33.61 34.05 0.36 -0.2797

Sagay City 5.27 5.06 4.90 38.14 38.67 38.95 -0.22 -0.1614

San Carlos City 4.17 4.61 4.52 42.30 43.28 43.47 0.44 -0.0859

Silay City 5.04 4.20 4.19 47.34 47.48 47.67 -0.84 -0.0043

Himamaylan City 3.42 3.46 3.55 50.77 50.94 51.22 0.04 0.0983

Talisay City 2.81 3.08 3.36 53.58 54.02 54.58 0.27 0.2759

Cauayan 3.46 3.45 3.26 57.03 57.47 57.84 0.00 -0.1931

Escalante City 3.28 3.08 3.21 60.32 60.56 61.05 -0.20 0.1242

Victorias City 3.22 3.19 3.07 63.53 63.74 64.12 -0.03 -0.1143

Hinigaran 2.94 2.92 2.81 66.47 66.67 66.93 -0.02 -0.1170

Calatrava 2.87 2.91 2.73 69.34 69.57 69.66 0.04 -0.1747

Murcia 2.26 2.31 2.48 71.61 71.89 72.15 0.05 0.1706

La Castellana 2.45 2.30 2.47 74.06 74.19 74.62 -0.15 0.1649

Sipalay City 2.63 2.42 2.34 76.68 76.61 76.96 -0.21 -0.0769

Binalbagan 2.25 2.27 2.26 78.93 78.88 79.21 0.03 -0.0153

La Carlota City 2.32 2.20 2.22 81.25 81.08 81.43 -0.12 0.0171

Isabela 2.01 1.90 2.05 83.26 82.98 83.48 -0.11 0.1508

EB Magalona 2.24 2.12 2.00 85.50 85.10 85.48 -0.11 -0.1228

Hinobaan 1.68 1.98 1.88 87.17 87.08 87.36 0.30 -0.1023

Ilog 1.80 1.81 1.86 88.98 88.90 89.22 0.01 0.0495

Manapla 1.82 1.93 1.83 90.80 90.83 91.05 0.11 -0.1055

Pontevedra 1.74 1.64 1.63 92.54 92.47 92.68 -0.10 -0.0108

Toboso 1.59 1.59 1.44 94.13 94.06 94.12 0.00 -0.1456

Moises Padilla 1.29 1.35 1.37 95.42 95.41 95.49 0.06 0.0165

Valladolid 1.29 1.27 1.22 96.70 96.68 96.70 -0.02 -0.0537

Pulupandan 1.02 1.01 0.94 97.73 97.68 97.64 -0.02 -0.0641

San Enrique 0.85 0.86 0.80 98.58 98.54 98.45 0.01 -0.0600

D.S. Benedicto 0.72 0.67 0.80 99.30 99.22 99.25 -0.05 0.1281

Candoni 0.70 0.78 0.76 100.00 100.00 100.00 0.08 -0.0212

Source: RSET, NSCB


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2.1.1. Population Density and Urbanization

The region has an average density of 338.4 persons per sq. km. in 2007. The provinces of Iloilo

and Negros Occidental, the two largest provinces in the region, also have the highest densities.

The province of Iloilo has the highest density at 447.2 persons per sq. km., followed by Negros

Occidental with 362.1 persons per sq. km. The high population densities in these two provinces

can be attributed to the presence of two highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod which

account for densities of 7,479.6 and 3,199.9 persons per sq. km., respectively.

A comparison of Negros Occidental‘s population densities in 1995, 2000, and 2007 as reflected

in the population density maps reveals that much of the population are in areas near the highly

urbanized city of Bacolod. This trend is quite noticeable in the cities and municipalities of

Talisay, Murcia, Silay, Pulupandan and Bago. Their proximity to the city of Bacolod makes these

areas strategically located to absorb the spillover of the city‘s population. As a whole, density

maps confirmed the perception that the most significant growth in the province of Negros

Occidental is fueled by Bacolod City and other small cities.

The municipalities with the highest population density are Pulupandan and San Enrique with

1,177 persons per sq. km. and 1,094 persons per sq.km., respectively, aside from Bacolod City

which is 3,199.9 persons per sq.km. Candoni has the lowest at 113 persons per sq.km., followed

by Hinobaan at 127 persons per sq.km. The provincial and national averages are 362.1 persons

per sq.km. and 260.1persons per sq.km., respectively.

Other cities/municipalities with population densities substantially higher than the provincial

average are: Bago City (397), Silay City (312.9), Talisay City (556), Escalante City (736),

Victorias City (658), EB Magalona (506), and Valladolid (726). Outside the province, Bacolod‘s

density is comparable to the largest urban centers of the country, such as the Cities of Davao,

Cebu, Mandaue, Lapulapu and Cagayan de Oro.

Based on the density maps, the highest density settlements are along the coastal areas of the

province. This may be attributed to the presence of most sugar mills, alcohol processing plants

and other industrial complex in coastal municipalities and cities. Other attributes may include the

provinces major roads which are built along the coast line and majority of the Local Government

Units (78 percent) are coastal LGUs, thus accessibility and center of trade and commerce happens


III - 21

in these localities. Historically, most original settlers of the province settled along the coast line

as most of the areas in Negros are still forest areas. Urban centers started along the coast. Thus

the presence of old churches (which serve also as look-out and protective structure in case of

attacks during the Spanish era) are found along nearby coastal area implying a large number of

parishioners worshipping in these churches.

A comparison of the municipalities/cities population densities in 1995, 2000 and 2007 reveals that

much of the population are in areas near the highly urbanized city of Bacolod as well as in the

other cities of northern Negros such as Escalante and San Carlos Cities. Obviously, since

Bacolod is the center of trade and commerce, business and employment is quite high in the capital

city. The provincial capitol is also located in Bacolod City together with most national agencies

with provincial offices. These factors influence LGUs surrounding Bacolod City to take in new

settlements due to business, employment, trade and marketing. Given that Escalante and San

Carlos Cites are emerging growth centers in the province with the presence of seaports in both

LGUs, influx of businesses and shipping activities would cause population to settle in these LGUs

or its nearby localities. Again, trade and commerce are high in these areas due to their close

proximity and relatively cheap transport to Cebu province.

Increases in population density in 2007 are also noticeable particularly in the interior towns of La

Castellana, Isabela and Binalbagan in central Negros, and Manapla in northern Negros. This is

brought about by the strong growth of agriculture in these interior towns. The improvement of

farm to market roads that made products from the uplands becoming easily transported to the

urban areas in the lowlands is also a plus factor in the population growth of these areas as a result

of economic development.


III - 22

Fig. 2. 2007 Population of Negros Occidental by municipality/city.

Fig. 3. 2007 Population Density of Negros

Occidental by municipality/city

Fig. 4. 2007 Population Growth Rate of

Negros Occidental by municipality/city


III - 23


III - 24

2.2.3. Growth Rate

Among the two highly urbanized cities in the region, the City of Iloilo has an increasing

population growth rate from 1995 to 2000 but growth rate slightly dipped in 2007 while Bacolod

City showed a decreasing trend from 1995 to 2000, it had a marked increased by 0.43 percent in

2007. The location regional agencies, big malls and business centers in Iloilo City has boosted its

economic growth and correspondingly, opened employment opportunities that attracted migration

from other provinces. In 2007, Negros Occidental and Bacolod City increased their population

growth rate to 1.56 and 2.12 respectively.

Aside from Bacolod City, which has a bigger & increasing density and growth rate due to its

being a highly urbanized center, there are some municipalities and cities that have high density

but decreasing growth rate or vice versa.

High Densities and Fast-Growing: Bacolod City, Victorias City, Talisay City, Escalante City,

Hinigaran

Bacolod City being the capital city and the center for trade, banking, and commerce including

where most government agencies are located becomes the largest urban center with the highest

density (3,199.9 persons per km2) and the highest population of all LGUs in the province. The

other three component cities namely Victorias City, Talisay City, Escalante City continue to have

a growing settlements. Victorias City is the home of the famous Victorias Milling Corporation

(VMC), the first sugar refinery in the province with diversification into canning and construction.

Despite the significant decline in the operations of VMC, the city government was able to

mitigate its ill-effect by building infrastructures that would spur back the economy of the city.

Talisay City is a recipient of the spill-over of Bacolod City. Also the presence of First Farmers

Sugar Mill, an alcohol processing plant and rapid land development for subdivisions both

socialized and high-end residences accounts for the growing settlement and increase economic

activities in the LGU. Escalante City in the northern end of the province have benefitted from its

conversion to cityhood having installed infrastructures in support to economic development in the

area. Having a seaport connecting Negros and Cebu with the nautical highway program of the

national government and its agriculture and fisheries which is fully supported by the city

government caused the increasing settlement in the city. Hinigaran, the one municipality that

have densities 500 and higher is one of the more economically progressive municipalities in the


III - 25

province. It has a strong fisheries and agriculture economy. It also has a relatively significant

population who are employed in international ocean vessels and Overseas Filipino Workers.

Low Densities and Fast-Growing: Kabankalan City, Sagay City, San Carlos City, Sipalay City,

Silay City, Murcia, Binalbagan

The cities of Kabankalan, Sagay and Sipalay are former municipalities that were recently

converted to cities after the passage of the new Local Government Code. With the increase in the

IRA and other revenues of these cities, they invested it in infrastructures and increase support to

economic and social development of their LGUs. Kabankalan City has developed its role as the

gate-way to Dumaguete City and Cebu in the southern Negros. Sagay City capitalized on its vast

marine and agricultural resources to attract investors and is developing its Export Processing

Zone. Sipalay City dreams of becoming the next ―Boracay‖ or even better with the lessons

learned by Boracay. It has also built-in measures to ensure a safe and lush environment even with

the presence of mining firms in the area. Silay City, with its ―laid-back‖, relax and casual

atmosphere, it is home of the New Bacolod-Silay Airport of international standard. It has

benefitted from its tourism and retirement villages. Two sugar mills are located in Silay City.

Murcia, aside from the spill-over of Bacolod City, has become the weekend spa of Bacoleños and

tourists because of the world famous Mambukal Resort. The presence of BISCOM sugar mill and

refinery and Binalbagan Catholic College made Binalbagan sustain its economic activities despite

several slumped in the sugar industry for the past years. Its fishery and agriculture has given a

boost to its economy.

High Densities and Slow-Growing: EBMagalona, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Valladolid

These LGUs have densities 500 or higher (persons per km2) but economic activities are a little

slow. These LGUs are relatively small in terms of land area and are mostly relying on agriculture

(rice and sugarcane) and fisheries. The high population density may be attributed to its being

coastal LGUs and generally along the main highway where settlements are usually high. Also

most of the agricultural lands in these LGUs are privately owned by just a few landed Negrenses

especially those that are planted to sugarcane.


III - 26

Low Densities and Slow Growing: Bago City, Cadiz City, Himamaylan City, La Carlota City,

Calatrava, Candoni, Cauayan, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Isabela, Manapla, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra,

Don Salvador Benedicto, Toboso

There are four component cities and eleven component municipalities in Negros Occidental that

have densities lower than 500 persons per km2. These LGUs except for Bago City are located

farther from Bacolod City. The landed and feudal culture of Bago City maybe the strong factors

in its conservative growth and development. These values tend to be difficult for them to invest

in other industries or for investors to come to Bago City. The closure of Ma-ao Sugar Mill has

contributed to its slow growth. Cadiz City and La Carlota Cities are existing cities before the

devolution but have never taken off in terms of economic development as they rely too heavily on

agriculture and fisheries. Himamaylan City is just a newly converted city and for a decade now,

there was no major development in the locality. In fact, the transfer of their market site to a new

location has caused a slumped in their economy since their residents would rather buy from the

nearby municipalities than go to their new market.

Candoni, Isabela, Moises Padilla, and Don Salvador Benedicto are all landlocked municipalities

whose main economic activities are agriculture and forestry. There are even no banks in these

areas. Calatrava, Cauayan, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Manapla, Pontevedra, and Toboso are small coastal

towns are quite far from economic centers such as Bacolod City and are highly dependent on

farming (sugarcane, rice, corn) and municipal fishing. Manapla and Ilog are even located

seaward farther from the main highway.

Within the province, the population growth rate of the cities/municipalities near the highly

urbanized city of Bacolod show a remarkable increase from 2000 to 2007. These are Silay City

(-2.76 to 1.55 percent), E.B. Magalona (0.03 to 0.73 percent), Murcia (1.60 to 2.56 percent), Bago

City (1.48 to 1.68 percent), Pontevedra (-0.18 to 1.46 percent) and La Carlota City (nil to 1.67

percent). There is also a remarkable increase in growth rate in the northern city of Escalante (-

0.22 to 2.11 percent) and LGUs in the south such as Himamaylan City, (1.36 to 1.95 percent) and

Ilog (1.25 to 1.93 percent). This could be attributed to their economic growth that correspondingly

opened employment opportunities and attracted migration from other towns/cities and other

provinces.


III - 27

The decline in population growth of various towns/cities from 2000 to 2007 such as Candoni

(3.52 to 1.17 percent), Hinobaan (4.80 to 0.82 percent), Cadiz City (2.60 to 0.83 percent),

Calatrava (1.41 to 0.69 percent), Cauayan (1.11 to 0.75 percent), Manapla (2.44 to 0.77 percent),

Moises Padilla (2.17 to 1.73 percent), San Enrique (1.46 to 0.55 percent), Talisay (3.17 to 2.76

percent), Toboso (1.13 to 0.22 percent) and San Carlos City (3.34 to 1.29 percent) could be

attributed to the deteriorating economic conditions in these areas. Population settlement in

Talisay City must have shifted to Silay City due to the operationalization of the new airport in

Silay City thus the decline in the growth rate of Talisay City and the subsequent increase in Silay

City. Nevertheless, despite the closure of San Carlos Milling Corporation, growth rate in San

Carlos City is expected to rise in the future with the establishment and construction of a Bio-

ethanol Plant in the area.

The movement of migrant sugarcane workers could also be considered as one of the factors in the

decline or growth of population in some areas. Decline in population is expected when the

population census falls within July or August which is considered as off-season or ―tiempo

muerto‖ in the sugar industry, when the migrant workers return to their respective provinces.

The fast-growing settlements in the province (from 2000 to 2007) are Silay City (from -2.76

percent to 1.54 percent), Escalante City (from -0.22 percent to 2.11 percent), La Castellana (from

-0.19 percent to 2.53 percent), Don Salvador Benedicto (from -0.46 percent to 4.03 percent) and

Pontevedra (from -0.18 to 1.46 percent).

Map 4 shows a slow-down in population growth from 1990 to 2000 in the central LGUs of the

province particularly Isabela, La Castellana, Pontevedra, La Carlota City San Enrique, Valladolid,

Pulupandan and even Bago City but made a sudden surge in 2007. This may be explained by the

long drought (El Niño) in the latter part of 1998 until mid 1999 whose effect was felt until 2000.

Central Negros Occidental is the rice granary of the province thus population might have shifted

to non-crop areas such as the coastal cities of Talisay, Cadiz and San Carlos and to some extent

the coastal municipalities of Calatrava, Toboso and Manapla where fishing became their

alternative livelihood. However, by 2007, population seem to have gone back to their respective

localities since economy has started picking up and agriculture has been sustained due to the

thrust of the provincial and municipal/city governments to fully support food sufficiency and

agricultural productivity in the province.


III - 28

Given the current growth rate, the estimated total population and overall density at the end of the

plan period (2013) of the province are 3,149,072 and 397 persons per square kilometer,

respectively. This translates into an additional population of 279,306.

Negros Occidental has a consistently increasing growth rate from 1.13 percent in 2000 to 1.56

percent in 2007. This may be due to increase in economic activities and opportunities that

encourage migration to the province.


III - 29


III - 30

Table 5. Estimated Population & Density, Negros Occidental, by City Municipality, 2008, 2010, 2013

Note: *Population including Bacolod City

Source: RSET, NSCB

Province Mun/City

Popu-lation 2007

Growth Rate 2007

Estimated Population Estimated Density Additional Population 2007-2013 2008 2010 2013 2008 2010 2013

Negros

Occidental 2,869,766 1.56 2,914,534 3,006,177 3,149,072 303 312 326 212,306

Bacolod City 499,497 2.12 510,086 531,943 566,497 3,268 3,408 3,629 67,000

Bago City 159,933 1.68 162,619 168,129 176,746 404 418 440 16,813

Binalbagan 64,747 1.46 65,692 67,624 70,629 354 365 381 5,882

Cadiz City 150,750 0.83 152,001 154,534 158,414 294 299 307 7,664

Calatrava 78,452 0.69 78,993 80,087 81,756 180 182 186 3,304

Candoni 21,748 1.17 22,002 22,520 23,320 115 117 122 1,572

Cauayan 93,569 0.75 94,270 95,690 97,859 181 184 188 4,290

D.S. Benedicto 22,979 4.03 23,905 25,870 29,126 140 152 171 6,147

E.B. Magalona 57,424 0.73 57,825 58,638 59,879 510 518 528 2,455

Escalante City 92,035 2.11 93,976 97,984 104,318 752 784 835 12,283

Himamaylan City 102,014 1.95 104,003 108,098 114,546 271 281 298 12,532

Hinigaran 80,528 0.99 81,325 82,943 85,431 506 516 531 4,903

Hinobaan 53,894 0.82 54,335 55,230 56,600 128 130 133 2,706

Ilog 53,460 1.93 54,491 56,615 59,957 193 201 213 6,497

Isabela 58,819 2.63 60,365 63,582 68,732 340 358 387 9,913

Kabankalan City 166,970 1.51 169,508 174,700 182,788 233 241 252 15,818

La Carlota City 63,584 1.67 64,645 66,823 70,227 471 487 511 6,643

La Castellana 70,838 2.53 72,630 76,351 82,294 335 353 380 11,456

Manapla 52,428 0.77 52,831 53,648 54,897 468 475 486 2,469

Moises Padilla 39,239 1.73 39,917 41,311 43,492 278 287 303 4,253

Murcia 71,289 2.56 73,113 76,905 82,964 257 270 292 11,675

Pontevedra 46,768 1.46 47,450 48,846 51,017 422 434 453 4,249

Pulupandan 27,072 0.64 27,245 27,595 28,128 1,185 1,200 1,223 1,056

Sagay City 140,511 1.10 142,056 145,199 150,043 365 373 385 9,532

San Carlos City 129,809 1.29 131,483 134,897 140,185 342 351 365 10,376

San Enrique 22,987 0.55 23,113 23,368 23,756 1,101 1,113 1,131 769

Silay City 120,365 1.54 122,230 126,049 132,001 569 587 615 11,636

Sipalay City 67,211 1.11 67,957 69,474 71,813 157 161 166 4,602

Talisay City 96,444 2.76 99,105 104,651 113,558 572 604 655 17,114

Toboso 41,358 0.22 41,448 41,631 41,906 336 337 340 548

Valladolid 34,895 0.95 35,226 35,898 36,931 734 748 769 2,036

Victorias City 88,149 1.05 89,074 90,954 93,850 665 679 701 5,701


III - 31

2.3. Existing Settlement Patterns

2.3.1. Built-up Areas

Of the total land area of 792,607 hectares for Negros Occidental, the Alienable and Disposable

(A&D) areas cover 540,385.62 or almost 68 percent (LEP-FMS, DENR 6). Based on the current

PPFP of the province, Agricultural Land constitutes 531,016.99 hectares, which includes built-up

areas consisting of residential, commercial and institutional areas covering an area of 53,565.5758

hectares.

2.3.2. Built-up Areas due to Development Trends and Directions

Sagay City

The newly updated CLUP of Sagay City includes the proposed Negros Agro-Industrial Center

situated in Brgy. Paraiso which is 3.5 kilometers from the City Hall along the national highway.

The site used to be an agricultural area converted into an agro-industrial zone.

The conceptual master plan estimates the preliminary land use distribution to the Agro-industrial

Zone to be 182.3 hectares which includes residential/commercial, road network and other areas.

Kabankalan City

The city is proposing to construct a domestic airport as part of their Transport Infrastructure

Development Program. The proposed Kabankalan Domestic Airport is located at So.

Cabangahan, Brgy. Hilamonan, Kabankalan City. Total project cost is estimated to range from

P150M to P200M.

At present, the city is processing the requirements for the revision or updating of their CLUP to

include the conversion of the proposed airport site from agricultural to

industrial/commercial/residential use.

Silay City – Proposed New Town Center

Their newly-updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan shows the newly-converted agricultural land

to residential, commercial and industrial areas in the vicinity of the New Bacolod Airport in Silay


III - 32

City. The proposed New Town Center, estimated to be 1,500 hectares in area is also located in

the vicinity of the airport at Brgy. Bagtic.

Sipalay City – Transfer of Government Center

In their revised Comprehensive Land Use Plan, the city is converting an agricultural land in Brgy.

Gil Montilla into residential/commercial usage. The city is developing the barangay into New

Urban Core as Government and Civic Center. The site earmarked for this center is a 177-hectare

contiguous area. The new urban core will cater to multiple zones as government and civic center

and institutional areas where the City Hall, Hall of Justice, as well as the Sangguniang Bayan

Session Hall and office shall be located. All other government offices shall also be located in the

area. A centralized transport terminal for out-of-town vehicles, among other facilities, are

likewise to be located in this zone.

Calatrava

In their latest revision of their Comprehensive Land Use Plan, the municipality is converting

agricultural land to residential/commercial along the national highway until the boundary of

Calatrava and San Carlos City approaching the new Bio-ethanol Plant. These include the national

highway part of Brgys. Refugio, San Isidro, Patun-an, Bantayanon and Buenavista. These will

accommodate future residential and commercial expansion in the area.

Please refer to Map 5a Existing Settlement Areas which shows the built-up areas occupied by

provincial settlements. It includes urban areas (including poblaciones or rural settlements) and

industrial complexes. The primary source of data about the amount and/delineation of built-up

areas are in city/municipal existing land use plans.


III - 33


III - 34

The existing built-up areas on settlements are identified in the respective Comprehensive Land

Use Plan (CLUP) of each municipalities and cities. Generally, settlements are located in A and D

lands. However, there are also settlements within the protected areas and hazardous areas as

identified in the hazard map of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau of DENR.

2.3.3. Built-up Areas Within Protected Areas

Development ―aggression‖ refers to the kind of development which spawns adverse impact on

communities and habitats, threatens the biodiversity and sustainability of ecosystems especially

the protected areas of the province.

In Negros Occidental, the following areas are declared Protected Areas by the DENR: Mt.

Kanlaon Natural Park, North Negros Natural Park, Sagay Marine Reserve, Bago River Watershed

Forest Reserve and Ilog-Hilabangan Watershed Forest Reserve.

A. Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park

The Built-up Areas Map of the Province shows that settlement in the protected areas are very

minimal especially in the town of Murcia, D.S. Benedicto, San Carlos City, La Castellana, La

Carlota City and Bago City. These are the cities and municipalities located in the vicinity of the

protected areas of Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park. Each municipality and city identified built-up areas

or settlements such as barangays and sitios inside the identified area of protection including the

initiatives, programs/projects in order to protect against inappropriate forest exploitation and

disrupted land use which are defined in their Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUP).

B. North Negros Natural Park

The North Negros Natural Park (NNNP) having an aggregate area of 80,454.50 hectares is

considered to be the largest watershed of the Province being the main source of water for

seventeen (17) municipalities and cities. It is also a wildlife sanctuary where rare and endangered

species of flora and fauna exist, such as the Hornbill (Tarictic and Kalaw), Bleeding Heart Pigeon,

Visayan Warty Pig and the Philippine Spotted Deer and home to some species of plants and

animals not found elsewhere in the world. Birdlife International has identified NNNP as an

International Bird Area (IBA).


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There are numerous threats to the ecological integrity and biodiversity of NNNP. The presence of

large settlements inside the Park composed of 8,814 households within the 42 barangays exert

pressure on the resources of NNNP.


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Figure 5. Protected Areas and Watershed in Negros Occidental


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2.3.4. Hierarchy of Settlements

The role and functions and size of each hierarchy level are identified in order to provide direction

for interaction and sharing of services/facilities among cities and municipalities. The hierarchy of

centers also enhances the optimization of limited land resources through the identification of

urban growth centers and priority areas for development.

As an additional guide using the scalogram, there are some settlements that perform central place

functions but are not identified as urban centers. These towns perform marketing and/or servicing

roles in their influence areas.

The results showed that the provincial capital, small cities and large towns have the most

functionally complex hierarchy of settlements. The scalogram shows a pronounced hierarchy of

settlements led by Bacolod City, with a centrality index of 358.66; closely followed by Silay City

with 265.72 centrality index. Sagay City ranks third with a centrality index of 132.40.

The existing settlement patterns may be described as a four-level hierarchy.

Regional (Metropolitan) Centers: Population of 400,000-1M - Bacolod City

In the Philippines, there is no official definition of a metropolitan area. However, the term has

been used for a number of years, such as Metro Manila or Metro Cebu. The closest concept to a

metropolis in the Philippines is that of a ―highly urbanized city‖ which, in reference to the Local

Government Code, is a city having a population of 200,000 or more.

In Region VI, only Iloilo and Bacolod Cities are classified as highly urbanized cities.

Metropolitan Iloilo, composed of the municipalities of Leganes, Oton, Pavia, San Miguel and

Iloilo City, is facing rapid growth in the recent years.

Unlike Metropolitan Iloilo where efforts have been exerted to institutionalize the inter-local

cooperation among the Metro Iloilo localities, Metro Bacolod at present remains just a term used

to group LGUs which has a semblance of inter-local cooperation which includes the cities of

Bacolod, Silay, and Talisay. On the other hand, the emerging Metro Third covers the cities of

Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, Victorias, and the municipalities of E.B. Magalona and Murcia.


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Home to almost half a million Negrenses, Bacolod City, a highly urbanized city, performs the

multiple roles of commercial, residential and institutionalized functions in the province of Negros

Occidental. Hence, it is the center of commerce & trade, entertainment, culture, education and

seat of government offices, services and facilities in the province.

Large Towns/Cities: Population of 100,000 - 400,000

(Kabankalan City, Bago City, Cadiz City, Sagay City, San Carlos City, Silay City and

Himamaylan City)

With a population of over 150,000, Kabankalan City is the second largest city of Negros

Occidental and considered as the most progressive and fast developing city in the southern part of

the province. Cadiz City is also an emerging city in the northern part of Negros Occidental. Bago

City is strategically located to absorb the spillover of Bacolod City‘s population. San Carlos City

is also considered as the commercial and industrial center in the northern tip of Negros

Occidental. A Bio-ethanol Plant is already operating in San Carlos City, considered also as the

gateway to Cebu province.

The presence of sugar mills in Sagay City, Silay City and Kabankalan City, distillery plant in

Bago City and bio-ethanol plant in San Carlos City, in terms of settlement, indicates some level of

family income, attracts business, commerce, trading and industry-related activities in the areas.

Medium Towns/Cities: Population of 50,000 - 100,000

(Talisay City, Escalante City, Victorias City, Sipalay City, La Carlota City, Towns of Hinigaran,

Calatrava, Murcia, La Castellana, Binalbagan, Isabela, E. B. Magalona, Hinobaan, Ilog and

Manapla)

Escalante City, Victorias City and Talisay City are also considered as emerging cities in northern

Negros Occidental. Recently, more businesses and modern commercial centers are investing in

these areas especially Talisay City and Murcia that absorb spillover investments from Bacolod

City such as subdivisions. Victorias City and Talisay City are also the sites of leading sugar mills

in the province.


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As for the rest of the medium towns, these towns also provide for convergence of trading

activities for some small towns.

Small Towns: Population - < 50,000

(Pontevedra, Toboso, Moises Padilla, Valladolid, Pulupandan, San Enrique, S. Benedicto and

Candoni)

These are the small towns with mostly agriculture-based economy. Some of these towns are

poised to become bigger towns such as D.S. Benedicto with negative growth rate to 4.03 percent

and Pontevedra from negative growth rate to 1.46 percent. Valladolid, San Enrique and

Pulupandan are rice producing towns of Negros Occidental with Pulupandan having a national

port.

Pulupandan (1,177), San Enrique (1,094) and Valladolid (727) have the highest densities of the

province excluding Bacolod (3,200) and Escalante (736) Cities.


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Summary and Overall Trends

Among the provinces of Region VI, Negros Occidental and Iloilo still have the largest share of

the region‘s population at 41.90 percent and 30.84 percent, respectively. With the presence of

two highly urbanized cities of Bacolod and Iloilo in these two provinces, their primacy in terms of

population had been maintained.

Negros Occidental (2,370,269) ranks as the fifth largest province in the Philippines excluding the

highly urbanized city of Bacolod (499,497); but if it includes Bacolod City then Negros

Occidental with a population of 2,869,766 is the second biggest province in the Philippines next

to Cebu (2,439,005) plus the population of Cebu City, Mandaue City & Lapulapu City; and bigger

than Cavite (2,856,765); Bulacan (2,826,926); Pangasinan (2,645,395); Laguna (2,473,530) which

ranks first, second, third, and fourth, respectively.

Region 6 has an average density of 338.4 persons per square kilometer in 2007. The provinces of

Iloilo and Negros Occidental, the two most populated provinces in the region, also have the

highest densities with 447.2 persons per square kilometer and 362.1 persons per square kilometer,

respectively.

Negros Occidental‘s growth rate (1.56) is the biggest in the region but lower than the Philippines‘

growth rate of 2.04.

Given the current growth rate, the estimated total population and overall density at the end of the

plan period (2013) of the province are 3,149,072 and 326 persons per square kilometer. This

translates into an additional population of 212,306. This figure excludes the estimated population

of Bacolod City of 566,497 by 2013.

Existing settlement areas and built-up areas are presented in Map 5a and Map 5b. Built-up areas

in protected areas (Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park and North Negros Natural Park) are also noted and

identified. Initiatives and programs for the protection and maintenance of the said parks are also

presented by DENR-MKNP for the Mt. Kanlaon National Park and PEMO, Negros Occidental for

the North Negros Natural Park, with the coordination of PAMB.


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3. PHYSICAL RESOURCES

3.1. General Land and Water Characteristics and Resources.

3.1.1. Topography and Slope

The northern and western parts of Negros Occidental are largely level plains and gently rolling

slopes separated from the eastern seacoast and its neighboring province by mountain ranges of

varying elevations including a series of volcanic peaks. Mt. Kanla-on, an active volcano, rising at

an elevation of 2,435 meters above sea level, is the highest in the province and is also considered

to be the highest in Central Philippines. Mt. Kanla-on has been classified as a large strato-

volcano type which is part of a chain of volcanic mountains along the central spine of the island

of Negros and along the Negros Trench that includes Mt. Silay (1,533.67m) and Mt.

Mandalagan (1,879.30m). The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

(PHIVOLCS) classified these two mountain ranges as potentially active volcanoes with no

historical records of eruption but morphologically young-looking. Two other inactive volcanoes

of lesser elevations are Mt. Solitario (locally called Mt. Lunay - 307.9m) in the north and Mt.

Malapantao (618.9m) in the southern end. These mountains are not found in the present

classification of volcanoes of the PHIVOLCS but local people have confirmed the existence of

these volcanoes. Also, no record of eruptions was found for both mountains and their long period

of inactivity is evident from too much weathering and erosion of deep and long gullies (valleys).

The coastline of Negros Occidental is more irregular compared to that of its adjacent province,

Oriental Negros which forms the other half of Negros Island.

Negros Occidental consists mainly of moderately sloping to rolling terrain fit for agricultural

production. A large portion or about 46 percent of the land area of the province is categorized as

within the slope of 0-8 percent and about 25 percent within the 8-18 percent slope. These are

found in the northern and western parts of the province which are generally considered to be

largely level plains. Only 13 percent are within the 18-30 percent slope and the rest or 16 percent

is above 50 percent slope. Thus, about 71 percent of the province‘s land resources is within the

relatively level or flat range (0-18% slope) and only 29 percent in the protection-oriented slope

range or the land of sierras of varying elevations (18% and above).


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Table 6. Area and Percentage Distribution by Slope Category

Slope Category (%) Area (‗000 ha.) % Share

0-3 191.10 24.00

3-8 171.60 21.60

8-18 200.40 25.30

18-30 102.10 13.00

30 over 127.41 16.10

Source: DA-BSWM

3.1.2. Land and Water Resources

Negros Occidental is a longish stretch of land which is approximately 374 kilometers from its

northern tip, San Carlos City to Hinoba-an at the southern end. Negros Island is shaped like a

man‘s boot when viewed on the map. It has a total area of 7,926.07 square kilometers or 792,607

hectares.

The province has several islands that have significant socio-economic importance beside its

ecological significance in the islands‘ biodiversity. Among others, the following islands are

considered to have aesthetic values and are potential tourism destinations in the province.

Sipaway Island

Sipaway Island in San Carlos City is essentially a white-sand beach coral island situated some 3.5

kilometers off the eastern coast of the city. Sipaway is about seven (7) kilometers in length and

one-and-a-half (1.5) kilometers at the widest. Sipaway Island‘s white sand beaches are

comparable to that of Guimaras Island. Although it‘s not as powdery white as Boracay sand, it‘s

still beautiful and unspoiled. And there are areas where people can picnic for free.

Geographically known as Refugio Island, Sipaway Island is a favorite destination both of local

and foreign tourists. It is just 10 to 15 minutes away from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental by

pumpboat. Life in the island is very laidback. The island is one of the major tourism attractions

of San Carlos City.


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Lakawon Island

Lakawon Island is located three kilometers off Cadiz Viejo, Cadiz City. This is a 15-hectare

island rimmed with white sand beaches, coral reefs and coconut & talisay trees. Several fishing

communities reside in the island and are also the source of labor for the resorts and hotels therein.

Lakawon Island is one of the major tourism attractions in Cadiz City. It is a 20-minute boat ride

from the mainland (Barangay Cadiz Viejo) to Lakawon.

Molocaboc Island

Molocaboc is an island barangay located 21 kilometers and 600 meters (21.6 kilometers) from the

town proper of Sagay City, and 8.5 kilometers to the north from the shore of Old Poblacion. The

island has an area of 428 hectares and is composed of three islets namely: Molocaboc Grande,

Molocaboc Diutay and Matabas Islet. Residents of the island are mostly fisherfolk and farmers.

Bulata Island

Bulata Island, some 125 kilometers south of Bacolod City, is a forty three-(43) hectare island

lying some 3.2 kilometers off the coast of the seashore town of Cauayan. Its white-sand beaches

and dazzling underwater world rich in marine life makes it ideal for marine research and

recreation. Presently, the island was declared as a marine sanctuary by the local Sangguniang to

protect it from further destruction and poaching from illegal fishers.


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Major Rivers

Negros Occidental has the most number of rivers in the region, six of which are considered as

major rivers namely: Sicaba, Himoga-an, Malogo, Bago, Binalbagan, Ilog and Sipalay. Himoga-

an river and its tributaries emanate from the eastern slope of a chain of volcanic mountain ranges

in the northern part of Negros Island. Sicaba River starts from Mt. Silay and empties into

Visayan Sea around Cadiz City. Malogo or Silay River originates from the western slope of Mt.

Silay and empties into Guimaras Strait. Ilog River is the largest in the province. It is the

principal drainage-way of the Ilog-Hilabangan River basin. Its headwaters originate at the north-

western tip of the basin with the river flowing in a southeast direction until it reverses its course to

a general northwest direction and discharges into Panay Gulf. Sipalay River flows to the Sulu Sea

coming from the mountainous areas near the boundary of Sipalay City and Candoni.

Table 7. Seven Major Rivers in Negros Occidental

River Location Discharge

(Million cu.m.)

Estimated Watershed

Area (km2)

1. Sicaba River Cadiz City 329 122

2. Himoga-an River Sagay City 1,387 578

3. Malogo River Victorias City 574 228

4. Bago River DSB, Murcia, Bago 1,822 759

5. Binalbagan River Binalbagan 1,641 746

6. Ilog River Kabankalan, Ilog 4,499 2,044

7. Sipalay River Sipalay City 640 291

The Provincial Development Council of Negros Occidental has approved the proposed Irrigation

Highway Project of Negros Occidental connecting all seven major rivers for agriculture, hydro

power, domestic and industrial use including the overriding tourism potential of the project.

Several private organizations both local and foreign have signified interest in the proposal of the

province.


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Fishery and Aquatic Resources

Of the 32 local government units, 12 cities and 13 municipalities are located along the coast of the

province. On the other hand, 176 coastal barangays of the 662 barangays of the province are

located in the 467.5 kilometers stretch of coastline of the province. The municipal waters in the

province occupy a total of 5,176.91 square kilometers.

Fishing areas cover the fishing grounds that surround the island, namely: the Visayan Sea on the

north, the Sulu Sea on the south, Tañon Strait on the east and the Guimaras Strait and Panay Gulf

at the southern portion of the province.

Fish culture in ponds has grown to more than 9,000 hectares in late 1980s to early 1990s with

more than 3,000 hectares of prawn farms. However, by early 1990s prawn areas had drastically

declined due to problems with diseases. Other species grown in fishponds include bangus,

tilapia, shrimps, bulgan and kikiro. Sea farming and sea ranching are also being practiced in the

province.

Negros Occidental‘s fish production used to be more than the per capita consumption, however,

over the years and due to coastal resources degradation and destruction, the province has become

a net importer of fishery products.

Water Sources

Water sources for domestic supply are categorized into three major sources: ground water, spring

and surface source.

Ground Water source are divided into solo shallow well and deep Well. Shallow well areas are

those water-bearing rock formations extending not more than 20 meters in depth below the

ground surface while in deep well areas, the lower aquifers are located more than 20 meters below

the ground surface. According to the Provincial Water Supply, Sewerage and Sanitation Sector

Plan of Negros Occidental (2000), deep well areas cover approximately 75 percent of the

province, widely distributed in the surroundings of northwestern volcanoes and the central part of

the province.


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Spring is a natural outlet of groundwater at the ground surface. The province has 997 developed

springs categorized into Level II and Level III water supply. Such springs emanate from

volcanoes and mountains in the northwestern and southern parts of the province.

The major source of surface water in the province are Himogaan, Sicaba, Malogo, Napilas, Bago,

Binalbagan, Hilabangan and Sipalay Rivers. According to National Water Regulatory Board

(NWRB), 67.4 percent of the surface water use is registered for irrigation and 27.8 percent of

water rights were registered for industrial use.

Natural Points of Interest

Other natural points of interest noteworthy to mention are describe below. These natural points of

interest are given attention because of their aesthetic beauty, historical importance and ecological

value.

Bagacay Cave – Located at Barangay Bagacay, Calatrava, some 8 kilometers from the town

proper of Calatrava. Bagacay Cave is accessible by foot after a 40 to 60 minute hike. It is famous

for its mat-weaving history dated as far back as the Second World War. This cave is now a tourist

attraction in Calatrava.

Kevin‟s Reef – Kevin‘s Reef is a submerged reef found at the off-shore of the sea-side town of

Toboso. It has an area of about 80 hectares submerged to about 2 fathoms (12 ft.) deep. The reef

can be accessed via a 10-minute pump-boat ride. Aside from being a divers‘ haven, the reef serve

as an ecosystem for the marine life in Toboso where fishing is one of its main source of income.

Mainit Hot Spring – The hot spring is located in Barangay San Isidro, Toboso, about 12

kilometers from the town proper. It is a tourist attraction in Toboso.

Kampanoy Cave – The cave is located at Barangay Gen. Luna, Toboso, some 5 kilometers from

the town proper. Once inside the cave, one can see a feature of a large dome-cathedral. The cave

used to be mined for guano and rock phosphate but now it is a tourist attraction particularly those

that do cave adventure.


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Dalisun Falls – This historical and magnificent waterfall at Sitio Vergara, Barangay Bug-ang,

Toboso, cascades down from a height of about 250 feet. Japanese treasures were supposed to

have been found at the top of the waterfall, thus making it as one of the tourism attraction in the

locality. It also provides the water for potable and domestic needs of Toboso.

Tamlang Cave – The cave, located at Barangay Tamlang, Escalante used to be the hide-out and

headquarters of the Filipino guerilla forces in the north during the Second World War. Stalactites

and stalagmites in all forms and sizes, cave pearls and diamond rays are imbedded in the cave and

50 other caves in Escalante City.

El Sueño Island – Located about 2 kilometers to the east of Barangay Washington, Escalante

City with an area of about one hectare and is accessible by foot during low tide. It is a coral island

with little vegetation that is partly visible during high tide and is an ideal dive site. Fisheries also

abound in the island as El Sueño is an important marine ecosystem in Escalante City.

Isla Puti – Isla Puti which means ―white sand‖ appears to be a large reef-island with some

thriving vegetation found on its two-hectare area. The island is an ideal place for a day‘s trip

from the main village of Bagong Banwa, Escalante City for coastal recreation. The island just

like the rest of the islands in Escalante City is a valuable marine ecosystem in the city where

fisheries is a major economic activity.

Patag Valley – The valley of 315.16 meters above sea level is located at the foot of Mt. Silay.

After the landing of Americans in 1945 for the liberation of Negros, some 6,000 soldiers of the

Japanese Imperial Army fled and took refuge in this mountain for their last stand. Presently, the

area still abounds with concrete bunkers, foxholes and tunnels used by the Japanese. It is now

one of the major agri-eco-tourism site of Silay City.

Mambukal Resort – Situated at Barangay Minoyan, Murcia, Mambukal Resort has an elevation

of roughly 274.32 feet above sea level at the northwestern foot of Mt. Kanlaon. It boasts of its

pristine environment, hot springs, bats, and seven waterfalls. It also serves as a gateway for

trekkers to Mt. Kanlaon. Most endemic flora and fauna have been preserved in the resort. Areas

surrounding Mambukal are target for natural resource rehabilitation and protection.


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Guintubdan Campsite – Located in Sitio Guintubdan, Barangay Ara-al, La Carlota City,

Guintubdan Campsite is a small village with an elevation of 750 meters above sea level at the

western foot of Mt. Kanlaon. The place is also an ideal jump-off point for trekkers to the Mt.

Kanlaon summit.

Enchanted Lake Linao – The lake is located in Barangay Bato, Hinigaran, some 10 kilometers

from the town proper. It is famous for the tale of the giant ―Kugtong‖, a local fresh water fish

locals say eats carabaos that drinks or bathe in the lake. It is also a source of irrigation water for

agriculture. Freshwater fisheries also abound in the lake.

Calatong Forest - The 1,000 ha-Calatong forest is one of several limestone rainforest fragments

in southwestern Negros Island. It has an elevation ranging from 20-270 m above sea level. The

site is about 90 percent limestone rocks and 10 percent soil and several caves. Calatong Forest is

home to the threatened Philippine Bare Back Fruit Bat and a major watershed of Sipalay City.

Ubong Point – Ubong Point is found near the once timber town of Hionoba-an, the last town in

the south of Negros Occidental. Ubong Caves are actually three different caves. Two of the

caves have a dry entrance, while one is accessible only from the sea. The caves with dry

entrances are easy to visit. The third cave, which is accessible from the sea is a little different.

The entrance of the cave is widened by the sea and forms a huge and impressive portal. The cave

behind is accessible only with small fishing boats or by swimming, but swimming is not

recommended as the sharp rocks and the waves often cause bad injuries. Because of its

inaccessibility this cave and its speleothems are in the best state of all three caves. The caves

played a role during World War II, when the Philippines were occupied by the Japanese. The

American Forces landed near Hinoba-an and used the town as their island headquarters. The

submarine USS Gledgeon landed at Ubong Point and occupied Ubong Cave as command post.

The cave was used to supply guerillas with food and arms. The caves are named after their

location, Ubong Point, which is a peninsula on the west coast of the island near the former timber

town Hinoba-an.


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3.1.3. Main Geological Features of the Province

The geology of the province is considerably affected by the volcanic activity of Mt. Kanlaon, the

latest explosion of which was in 2006. The erosion of sediments from the higher lands and the

violent eruptions had filled up the portions of the western and southern parts of the province. The

mudflow carried soil materials into the Guimaras Strait.

The rock units in the province are classified into three main groups based on the geologic ages. In

geologic age these are: the Miocene and Older Systems, the Plio-Pleistocene Series and Recent

Deposits or the Holocene Series.

The soil of the province is generally considered to come from two distinct origins. The western

portion, largely influenced by the proximity of the seacoast, is of coralline origin while the

southern and western parts are of volcanic origin. Silay fine sandy loam, Silay clay loam,

Guimbala-on clay and Fara-on clay are the predominant types of soil which have been considered

well-suited to the growing of the province‘s major crop, sugarcane. Also prevalent are Bago clay

which are favorable for rice and corn culture.

3.1.4. Mineral Resources of the Province

The province is rich in mineral deposits and some areas have soil formations with potential for

mining. Minerals which abound in the province are copper, comprising the biggest bulk, as well

as gold, silver, manganese and molybdenum. The biggest deposit is in the City of Sipalay where

two major mining firms are located. Non-metallic minerals for agricultural and industrial use

including construction materials are also abundant in the province. These include rock phosphate,

dolomitic and agricultural limestone. There are also the sand, gravel, boulders and aggregates

that are used for construction purposes.

Most non-metallic minerals are abundant in the northernmost areas in the province such as

Toboso, Calatrava, Escalante City, Sagay City and in Ilog. On the other hand, two major mining

firms operate in southern Negros Occidental. These are Philex Gold Philippines, Inc. in Hinoba-

an and Maricalum Mining Corporation that mines copper in Sipalay City.


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3.1.5. Climate of the Province

Negros Occidental has two pronounced seasons, the wet and the dry. The dry season is from late

December to early parts of May for northern Negros Occidental and from November to May for

southern Negros Occidental. The rainy season starts in June in Northern Negros Occidental,

reaches its peak in September and ends in October. The southern areas of the province experience

rainy season starting June, attain its peak in August and level off towards the dry season. The

northern monsoon prevails during the dry season while it is the southwest monsoon that

dominates during the rainy season.

In terms of agro-climatic zones, the province can be divided into four zones:

Zone A. This includes cities of Talisay, Silay, Victorias, parts of Cadiz & Sagay, Escalante and

municipalities of E.B.Magalona, Manapla, Toboso, and parts of Calatrava. This is a moderately

high rainfall area due to its geographic position which is easily affected by the northeast and

southwest monsoon. The dry season is not distinct and lasts for only 2-3 months (March-May)

and relatively wet for the rest of the year. The crop growing period spans 8-9 months.

Zone B. This zone covers parts of San Carlos City, parts of Don Salvador Benedicto,

Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, and the whole of Candoni, Sipalay City, Hinoba-an, Bago

City, Pulupandan, Valladolid, San Enrique, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla,

Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Isabela, Binalbagan, Ilog, and Cauayan. These areas have a distinct dry

and wet season. The dry season lasts about six months (late December to May). Some rainfall

occurs especially in December to February due to the prevailing northeast monsoon. The length

of crop growing period is 5-6 months.

Zone C. This includes parts of San Carlos City, parts of Calatrava, Bacolod City, Murcia, and

parts of Don Salvador Benedicto. This is a transition zone between Zones A and B. There is no

distinct dry and wet season but it is characterized by a relatively low annual rainfall.

Zone D. This covers the mountain range of Cadiz City, Sagay City, Himamaylan City,

Kabankalan City, Candoni, Sipalay City and Hinoba-an. This is a high rainfall area due to induced

cloud formation given the high elevation (500 meter +) and cooler temperature. Temperate crops

such as cabbage, baguio beans and coffee are grown throughout the year.

Highest recorded rainfall in the province occurred in the months of May to November.


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3.2. Land Use Potentials, Constraints and Development-Related Issues

3.2.1. Land Classification

More than 68 percent of the total land area (792,607 hectares) of Negros Occidental is considered

Alienable and Disposable (A & D) while the rest are Classified Forest Land (31.82%).

The 6th

congressional district occupies the largest portion of land in the province at 32.50 percent

of the total land area of Negros Occidental, followed by the 5th congressional district at 15.99

percent while the 4th

congressional district occupies the least land area at 9.38 percent only.

Correspondingly, the 6th congressional district has the biggest portion of the A & D lands at 24.66

percent followed by the 5th

congressional district which occupies 17.95 percent. The 3rd

congressional district has the least A & D lands at 11.73 percent of the total land area of the

province.

Moreover, because it has the biggest area, most of the Classified Forest Lands are found in the 6th

congressional district. The 1st congressional district is the second biggest where forest areas

occupy 18 percent of its total land area and where the North Negros Natural Park is located.

Among LGUs, Hinoba-an has the largest forest land in the province at about 28,000 hectares

followed by Cauayan and Sipalay City. All three LGUs are located in the 6th district. On the

other hand, Kabankalan City has the largest A & D lands in the province at more than 54,000

hectares followed by Cadiz City at 38,000 hectares and Bago City at about 36,500 hectares.


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Table 8. Land Classification, by Municipality/City and Congressional District

Source: LEP- FMS, DENR 6

Location Total Land

Area (Ha.) Alienable &

Disposable (Ha.)

Forest Land (Ha.)

Total Classified

Negros Occidental 792,607.00 540,385.62 252,221.38 252,221.38

Bacolod City 15,610.00 15,610.00

1st DISTRICT 124,256.00 78,633.21 45,622.79 45,622.79

Calatrava 43,960.00 30,179.00 13,781.00 13,781.00

Escalante City 12,500.00 11,116.00 1,384.00 1,384.00

Don Salvador Benedicto 17,056.00 5,796.00 11,260.00 11,260.00

Toboso 12,340.00 11,289.21 1,050.79 1,050.79

San Carlos City 38,400.00 20,253.00 18,147.00 18,147.00

2nd

DISTRICT 101,900.00 82,732.82 19,167.18 19,167.18

Cadiz City 51,650.00 38,030.00 13,620.00 13,620.00

Manapla 11,290.00 10,896.80 393.20 393.20

Sagay City 38,960.00 33,806.02 5,153.98 5,153.98

3rd

DISTRICT 91,997.00 63,416.94 28,580.06 28,580.06

E.B. Magalona 11,332.00 6,267.00 5,065.00 5,065.00

Murcia 28,455.00 17,808.00 10,647.00 10,647.00

Talisay City 17,340.00 10,620.00 6,720.00 6,720.00

Victorias City 13,390.00 10,585.00 2,805.00 2,805.00

Silay City 21,480.00 18,136.94 3,343.06 3,343.06

4th

DISTRICT 74,393.00 69,695.00 4,698.00 4,698.00

Bago City 40,210.00 36,559.00 3,651.00 3,651.00

La Carlota City 13,732.00 12,685.00 1,047.00 1,047.00

Pontevedra 11,250.00 11,250.00 -

Pulupandan 2,300.00 2,300.00 -

San Enrique 2,100.00 2,100.00 -

Valladolid 4,801.00 4,801.00 -

5th

DISTRICT 126,801.00 97,023.75 29,777.25 29,777.25

Binalbagan 18,540.00 10,388.75 8,151.25 8,151.25

Himamaylan City 38,420.00 25,435.00 12,985.00 12,985.00

Hinigaran 16,080.00 16,080.00 -

Isabela 17,740.00 13,710.00 4,030.00 4,030.00

La Castellana 21,651.00 18,224.00 3,427.00 3,427.00

Moises Padilla 14,370.00 13,186.00 1,184.00 1,184.00

6th

DISTRICT 257,650.00 133,273.90 124,376.10 124,376.10

Candoni 19,170.00 6,971.00 12,199.00 12,199.00

Cauayan 51,990.00 25,886.50 26,103.50 26,103.50

Hinoba-An 42,410.00 14,543.90 27,866.10 27,866.10

Ilog 28,170.00 14,395.50 13,774.50 13,774.50

Kabankalan City 72,640.00 54,605.00 18,035.00 18,035.00

Sipalay City 43,270.00 16,872.00 26,398.00 26,398.00


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3.2.2. Land Suitability

According to the DA-BSWM (Map 10), Negros Occidental is suitable to rice paddies, cultivated

annual crops, perennial tree and vine crops, production forest, forestry plantation,

fishponds/mangroves because of its varied land topography and soil characteristics.

Rice paddies and cultivated annual crops are suitable in central and northern Negros Occidental.

Thus, most of the areas are planted to rice and sugarcane. The Bago River Irrigation System

(BRIS), the biggest irrigation system in the province, provides irrigation to more than 13,200

hectares, mainly rice (12,777 hectares) and sugarcane (500 hectares). Fishponds/Mangroves are

also best suited in the central and northern part of the province. Both crops and fisheries are

mostly located in areas with less than 3 percent slope. In areas with about 18 percent slope (i.e.

Calatrava, Toboso and Escalante City), perennial tree and vine crops are also suitable.

In southern Negros Occidental and the far north of the province, where 18 percent and higher

slopes abound, forestry plantations, production forest and perennial tree and vine crops are highly

suitable. On the other hand, cultivated annual crops are best grown in areas with less than 18

percent slope.

The province has a potential of 100,000 hectares for irrigated rice production area. Present

irrigation development status, however, shows that less than 50 percent are being developed with

available areas for expansion. Practically all areas planted to sugarcane can also be planted to

corn. Almost all kinds of vegetables are already being produced in the low lands with the

proliferation of hybrid and all-season vegetable varieties.


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3.2.3. Protection Areas

Protection lands in the province includes all protection land categories as follows: National

Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), Non-NIPAS, areas prone to hazards, other

environmentally constrained areas, and Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development Zones

(SAFDZ)

a. National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Areas

Areas proclaimed, designated or set aside by law, presidential decree, presidential proclamation or

executive order as a national park, game refuge, bird and wildlife sanctuary, wilderness area, strict

nature reserve, watershed, mangrove reserve, fish sanctuary, natural and historical landmark, or

protected and managed landscapes and seascapes including virgin forests.

The Sagay Marine Reserve consists of 32,000 hectares of marine waters in Sagay City,

was declared as a protected area in June 1995 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No.

592. Initially started with the Carbin Reef, which has an aggregate area of 200 hectares,

it has expanded in 1990 to cover Maca Reef, Maca Shoal and Panal Reef. Also known as

the Sagay Marine Reserve (SMR), it was established in 1978 to preserve and maintain a

highly productive, biologically diversified, and ecologically balanced marine ecosystem

through community-based management.

It has watchtowers in Carbin and Maca Reefs equipped with solar-powered lights and

surveillance equipment to assist fishermen navigating at night as well as to strengthen law

enforcement activities. The sanctuary, with its coral reefs, mangroves and sea grass beds,

is the main reason for the lucrative fishing industry in Sagay City.

Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP), with a land area of 24,577.6 hectares of rainforest

and verdant vegetation sliced from the cities of Bago, La Carlota, San Carlos and

Canlaon (in Negros Oriental) and the towns of Murcia and La Castellana, was proclaimed

as a protected area through Presidential Proclamation No. 1005 on May 8, 1997. Mt.

Kanlaon is one of the mountain ranges found in the heart of Negros Island. One of the

country‘s 13 most active volcanoes, Kanlaon is the highest peak in central Philippines at


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an elevation of 2,435 meters above sea level, the most dominant and attractive feature of

which is its active summit-crater.

Mt. Kanlaon was declared a National Park by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 721

on August 8, 1934; among the very first areas declared as such after the National Park

System was institutionalized in 1932. It was later proclaimed in 1997 as a protected area

under the category of a Natural Park, following the present system of classification. Rare

endemic species such as the Bleeding Heart Pigeon and the Negros Fruit Dove can be

found in this park, which makes bird watching a prime attraction. Other birds include

woodpeckers, bulbuls, babblers, warblers and flycatchers. The Guintubdan Nature Camp

in La Carlota City is one of the best take-off points in climbing Mt. Kanlaon.

Another component of the NIPAS is the former North Negros Forest Reserve, declared as

the North Negros Natural Park (NNNP) through Presidential Proclamation No. 895 on

August 15, 2005. NNNP is, so far, the largest protected area in Western Visayas and the

second in the Visayas Island, with a total land area of 80,454.50 hectares covering five

component cities and five municipalities.

Among the various forested areas of Negros Island, it has the largest remaining forest

cover estimated at 22,288.80 hectares. Being part of the Bago River Watershed, NNNP is

the main source of water for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses of towns and cities

in the northern part of Negros Occidental.

NNNP constitutes several ecosystems that serve as important habitats to assorted wildlife

species, many of them endemic to the Negros-Panay Bio-geographic Zone, and mostly

considered as threatened. Among the threatened mammal species found in the NNNP are

the Philippine Spotted Deer and the Visayan Warty Pigs. Some 44 percent of the 140

bird species recorded in the area are known to be found only in the Philippines. Among

them are the Visayan Hornbills, Negros Bleeding Heart Pigeons, Visayan Flower Picker

and Blue-Nape Parrot. The area is also noted for its diverse floral composition, especially

the dipterocarp species of trees.


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The Bago Watershed Forest Reservation (BWFR) lies in the northwestern portion of

the Negros Island within the province of Negros Occidental. It falls within the

jurisdiction of eight local government units comprising four cities (Bago, San Carlos, La

Carlota and Talisay) and four municipalities (Murcia, Don Salvador Benedicto,

Pulupandan and Calatrava). As a whole, the watershed covers an aggregate land area of

94,325.37 hectares.

The BWFR occupies 66 percent or 61,926 hectares of the entire Bago watershed while

Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park and North Negros Natural Park cover an area of 13.7 percent or

12,872 hectares and 19 percent or 18,102.7 hectares, respectively. It was declared as a

protected area on June 28, 1990 under Presidential Proclamation No. 604.

The Ilog-Hilabangan Watershed covers an area of 10,211 hectares. It has an influence

area of about 5,520 square kilometers including 15 local government units in both the

Negros Occidental and the Oriental Negros provinces affecting more than a million

populace. It was declared as a protected area on June 28, 1990 under Presidential

Proclamation No. 602. The Ilog-Hilabangan River Basin is the 11th largest river basin in

the country and is the largest in Negros island.

b. Non-NIPAS areas

Non-NIPAS are areas with outstanding physical and aesthetic features, anthropological

significance, and biological diversity but are not yet included under NIPAS. These include areas

with elevation > 1,000 meters and slope > 50%. It also covers mangrove forests, buffer strips,

freshwater swamps and marshes and eroded river banks.

Non-NIPAS with elevation > 1,000 meters areas are also located in the NIPAS declared

areas (Map 11). These would include Mt. Mandalagan, Mt. Silay and the upper portion

of Mt. Kanlaon.

Non-NIPAS with slope > 50% are found in the upland portions of Silay City, Talisay

City, Murcia, DSBenedicto, San Carlos City, Isabela, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City,

Kabankalan City, Cauayan, Candoni, Sipalay City and Small area of Hinoba-an.


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These areas are watersheds and forest lands which are quite significant ecosystem for the

lowland community in terms of water and remaining endemic flora and fauna in the

province.

Danjugan Island is the largest of the Bulata Islands in Cauayan, Negros Occidental,

whose white sand beaches and underwater world rich in marine life makes it a favorite

destination of foreign and local diving enthusiasts and conservationists. Managed by the

Philippine Reefs and Rainforests Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PRRCFI), this 1.5

kilometer-long and half-kilometer-wide island is comprised of lush tropical forest, five

lagoons, beach and mangrove forests, seagrass beds and coral reefs. PRRCFI regulates

the influx of visitors to Danjugan in consideration of the island‘s carrying capacity at any

given time.

In February 2000, the national government has declared the surrounding fringing reefs

around the island as the Danjugan Island Marine Reserve and Sanctuaries – the first of its

kind in Negros Occidental and the first marine protected area in the country developed

and managed by the private sector. The DENR, Department of Agriculture, the

Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development and the University

of the Philippines recognized Danjugan Island in 2001 as the ―Best Managed Reef‖.

c. Areas Prone to Natural Hazards

Negros Occidental is prone to various natural hazards like typhoon, tsunami, volcanic activity,

flooding, earthquakes as well as El Niño or prolonged dry season. Based on the report of the

Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council of the province, 31 cities and municipalities (excluding

Bacolod City), all 31 LGUs are under threat of typhoon and flooding, earthquake and El Niño

phenomenon. A total of 28 cities and municipalities are prone to landslide. Of the two major

volcanoes in the province, Mt. Kanlaon and Mt. Mandalagan, only Mt. Kanlaon has a history of

activity. During volcanic eruption, airfall tephra and ballistic projections could affect La

Castellana and to some extent, portions of Pontevedra, Isabela, San Carlos City, La Carlota City,

Murcia, D.S. Benedicto and Moises Padilla .


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There are fault lines are following the north-east direction affecting Himamaylan City, Candoni,

Ilog, Kabankalan City, San Carlos City, Calatrava and Toboso. Twenty-six cities and

municipalities located in coastal areas are prone to strong wave action.

The greatest damage to agriculture, infrastructure and private property was in 2008 when typhoon

Frank devastated many of the provinces in Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental. Total

damage to agriculture reached P289 million, infrastructure – P71 million, property – P14 million.

Total persons affected were more than 100,000 with 22 casualties.

Several areas of the province particularly those nearby stream, rivers and coastal areas are prone

to liquefaction. Liquefaction1 is the process that leads to a soil suddenly losing strength, most

commonly as a result of ground shaking during a large earthquake. Liquefaction will most likely

to occur in sands and silts and quite loose in the ground. Such soils do not stick together the way

clay soils do and they are below the water table. When an earthquake occurs the shaking is so

rapid and violent that the sand and silt grains try to compress the spaces filled with water, but the

water pushes back and pressure builds up until the grains ‗float‘ in the water. These areas are

located near the coastal areas of Silay City, Talisay City, Bacolod City, boundary of Pulupandan

and Bago City, San Carlos City, Kabankalan City and boundaries of Sipalay City and Cauayan.

Soil subsidence may occur near the coastal areas of Talisay City and Bacolod City. In

Kabankalan City, possible soil subsidence may happen along Ilog-Hilabangan River. Soil

subsidence is the sudden sinking or gradual downward settling of the earth's surface with little or

no horizontal motion. Subsidence may be caused by natural geologic processes, such as solution,

thawing, compaction, slow crustal warping, or withdrawal of fluid lava from beneath a solid crust;

or by man's activity, such as subsurface mining or the pumping of oil or ground water

(Wikipedia).

The only area declared as ancestral domain in Negros Occidental is the Damutan Valley in the

municipality of Hinoba-an. Worth mentioning is barangay Carol-an in Kabankalan City which is

1 Fact sheets compiled and distributed by the Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand, March 4, 2011


III - 65

recognized by the city government as their ancestral domain however, as of this writing, it has not

yet been conferred with the NCIP and the DENR for its official declaration.

Table 9. Hazard Assessment Profile in Negros Occidental

HAZARDS LGU‟S Under

Threat Total LGU‟s

% LGU‟S under

Threat

1. Landslide 28 31 90 %

2. Flood 31 31 100%

3. Typhoon 31 31 100%

4. Earthquake 31 31 100%

5. Volcanic Eruption 8 31 26%

6. El Niño 31 31 100%

Source: PDCC, Negros Occidental

Table 10. Cost of Damage of Calamities and Hazard in Negros Occidental

INDICATORS 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Damage to Agriculture (PhP)

287 M 95 M 58 M 15 M 15 M 13 M 10 M 289 M 15 M

Damage to Infra-structure

(PhP) 108 M – 27 M – – 5 M 5 M 71 M –

Damage to Property (PhP)

395 M 95 M 85 M 10 M 10 M 10 M 10 M 14 M 10 M

Families Affected (PhP)

73, 846 15, 960 12, 288 3, 524 5, 576 3, 200 22, 584 20, 901 18, 896

Persons Affected (No.)

397,375 85, 881 64, 291 32, 740 33, 246 16, 000 112, 920 103, 566 84, 408

Relief Assistance (PhP)

7.3 M 1.4 M 0.5 M 0.622 M 0.421 M 0.288 M 2.032 M 1.8 M 1.626 M

Human Casualty (No.)

58 18 8 8 7 4 5 22 6

Source: PDCC, Negros Occidental


III - 66

Fig. 6. Mt. Kanlaon Volcanic Lava Flow Hazard Map

Fig. 7. Mt. Kanlaon Pyroclastic Flow and Lahar Hazard Map


III - 67

d. Other Environmentally Constrained Areas

Other environmentally constrained areas are those not mentioned in previous discussion but needs

attention and probably, protection.

Difficult Area for Ground Water

Some areas of the province are not suitable for well development. The areas categorized

as difficult for ground water availability largely consist of rock formations older than

Miocene epoch. Ground water availability in the aforesaid rocks is very low and water is

rarely released in the opened rock fractures.

About 25 percent of the provincial area are classified as difficult areas to exploit

groundwater, in which the volcanoes and the mountain system exist. These are located in

the northwestern and southern portions of the province.

The water quality problem in deep wells includes ironic groundwater and saline water

intrusion. Saline water intrusion problem is predominant in Ilog, Bago City,

EBMagalona, Manapla and Toboso. High ironic content areas are found in Kabankalan

City, Isabela, Murcia and Cadiz City.

Severely Eroded Areas

The municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto, which used to be a forest area, is severely

eroded. The rapid removal of forest trees has greatly affected the retention of natural soil

cover. Since the area is mountainous and rolling, soil run-off and erosion are usual

phenomena during heavy rains. Other areas that are severely eroded are the upland

potions facing the coastline of San Carlos City, Calatrava, Toboso, Escalante City,

Cauayan and Sipalay City. There are also spots of severely eroded areas on the upland

areas of Silay City, EB Magalona, La Carlota City and Bago City. Most severely eroded

areas are found at the foot hills of non-NIPAS areas (Map 11).


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e. Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development Zones (SAFDZ)

SAFDZ refers to the areas within the Network of Protected Areas for Agricultural and Agro-

industrial Development (NPAAAD) identified for production, agro-processing and marketing

activities to help develop and modernize, with the support of government, the agriculture and

fisheries sectors in an environmentally and socio-culturally sound manner (RA 8435 - AFMA)

Some areas classified as SAFDZ have varying degrees of conversion restrictions. Administrative

Order 20 provides that “all irrigated lands, irrigable lands already covered by irrigation projects

with firm funding commitments, and lands with existing or having the potential for growing high-

value crops so delineated and included within the SAFDZ shall not be converted for a period of

five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act: Provided, however, that not more than five percent

(5%) of the said lands located within the SAFDZ may be converted upon compliance with existing

laws, rules, regulations, executive orders and issuances, and administrative orders relating to

land use conversion” (RA 8435).

Most of the large irrigated areas are located in the 4th

, 5th, and 6

th congressional districts of the

province. Only Murcia covers a large portion of irrigated lands in the 3rd

district with Victorias

and EB Magalona having a smaller hectarage of irrigated lands relative to Murcia. DS Benedicto

and Calatrava have large irrigated areas in the 1st district. Thus, conversion from agricultural

lands (SAFDZ) into non-agricultural use such as residential or commercial is highly regulated and

evaluated thoroughly by the LGU and the Provincial Land Use Committee (PLUC).

These irrigated areas are largely planted to rice, vegetables, high value crops and sugarcane.


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Table 11. Irrigation Development in Negros Occidental

Local Government

Unit Irrigation Service

Area (Ha) Local Government

Unit Irrigation Service

Area (Ha)

Bacolod City 94.95

District 1 District 4

San Carlos City 237.00 Bago City 9,487.03

Calatrava 782.00 Pulupandan 225.60

Toboso 120.00 Valladolid 3,041.25

Escalante City 50.00 San Enrique 879.20

DS Benedicto 614.32 Pontevedra 300.00

La Carlota City 387.00


Sagay City 454.66 Moises Padilla 1.251.50

Cadiz City 483.47 La Castellana 646.76

Manapla 29.00 Isabela 577.00

Hinigaran 102.50

Binalbagan 1,100.00

Himamaylan City 1,006.53


Victorias City 314.00 Kabankalan City 674.28

E.B. Magalona 200.00 Ilog 528.84

Silay City 40.00 Cauayan 972.00

Talisay City 169.00 Candoni 261.50

Murcia 744.74 Sipalay City 926.65

Hinoba-an 390.27

Grand Total 27,091.05

Source: NIA; OPA, Negros Occidental


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Fig. 8. Ground Water Availability Map


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4. ECONOMY

4.1 Economic Structure

4.1.1 External Context of the Local Economy

The total family income in the province is P43,604 million, based on the Family Income and

Expenditures Survey, 2000. This is 38 percent of the total family income of Region VI of

P114,428 million or the highest in the region. The biggest source of income is other service

industries with P18,135 million, followed by agriculture with P10,285 million.

Of the total income of households in Region VI of P114,428 million, Negros Occidental accounts

for P43,604.17 million or 38 percent of the total. Iloilo province comes next in terms of total

family income with P40,600.80 million or 36 percent of the regional total. Guimaras province

ranks last with only 1.82 percent. Compared with other provinces, the total family income of

households derived from agriculture accounts for 8.99 percent of the total family income of

households in the region. Other than agriculture, the province also accounts for large share in

community, recreational and personal services and also in other service industries.

Fig. 9. Overall Distribution of the Regional Economy

Figure 6.

Overall distribution of the regional economy

Aklan

7.22% Antique

7.32%

Capiz

10.05%

Guimaras

1.82%

Negros Occ.

38.11%

Iloilo

35.48%


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Total family income of households of Negros Occidental derived from agriculture accounts for

48.63 percent of the total family income in the entire region. Likewise, other service industries

which accounts for 40.28 percent have contributed much in the total family income in the region.

Other service industries account for 41.59 percent of the total family income of households in the

entire province, followed closely by agriculture with 23.59 percent. Other businesses or

industries account for relatively small shares. (refer to FIES for definition of other service

industries)

Among the provinces, Negros Occidental accounts for the biggest share of agriculture in the total

provincial economy (23.59 percent). On the other hand, agriculture in Guimaras accounts for

only 8.76 percent of the total provincial economy.

Table 12. Data Matrix: Total Family Income (P Million) by Household Head, by kind of

Business/Industries, 2000

Province

Kind of Business/Industry

Agricul-ture

Manufac-turing

Construc-tion

Mining

& Quarry-

ing

Whole-

sale &

Retail

Community, Recreational & Personal

Services

Transpor-tation,

Storage & Commu-nication

Services

Other

Service Indus-tries

Not Defined

Total

Aklan 1,336.50 155.11 22.88 - 697.15 251.00 181.10 3,271.08 2,350.21 8,265.90

Antique 1,959.12 26.95 - - 614.04 57.66 94.32 2,432.98 3,196.19 8,381.26

Capiz 2,491.26 99.14 - - 574.94 279.43 468.20 4,856.99 2,719.22 11,489.18

Guimaras 182.85 14.25 8.69 - 231.06 - 51.83 950.73 647.57 2,086.98

Iloilo 4,894.56 759.43 309.85 26.73 3,563.46 852.17 1,276.66 15,375.35 13,542.66 40,600.80

Negros Occidental 10,284.99 622.20 148.23 10.53 2,811.34 1,239.92 822.81 18,135.43 9,528.72 43,604.17

Region VI

21,149.28 1,677.08 489.65 37.26 8,491.99 2,681.05 2,894.92 45,022.56 31,984.59 114,428.38


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4.1.2 Patterns of Industry Concentration and Specialization

In terms of patterns of industry concentration, we can say that Negros Occidental placed more

focused on agriculture (48.63 percent) and the service industries (40.28 percent) being ranked first

in these two sectors. Iloilo dominated the rest of the industries to include manufacturing,

construction, mining and quarying, wholesale and retail, and community, recreational and

personal services at 45.28 percent, 45.28 percent, 71.74 percent, 41.96 percent, and 41.96 percent,

respectively.

Capiz ranked third in agriculture and other service industries and fourth in manufacturing and

construction. Aklan, where tourism is strong due to the presence of Boracay, ranked fifth in

agriculture and fourth in other services in the region but ranked third in manufacturing,

construction, wholesale & retail, community, recreational & personal services and transportation,

storage, communication services. Guimaras consistently ranked last, being a small province,

compared to other larger provinces in the region.

Table 13. Joint Probability Shares of Family Income (%) by Household Head by Kind of

Business/Industry, 2000

Province


Agricul-ture

Manufac-turing

Construc-tion

Mining &

Quar-rying

Whole-sale

& Retail

Community, Recrea-tional

& Personal Services

Transpor-tation,

Storage &

Commu-nication Services

Other Service Indus-tries

Not Defined

Total

Aklan 1.16 0.14 0.02 - 0.61 0.22 0.16 2.86 2.05 7.22

Antique 1.71 0.02 - - 0.54 0.05 0.08 2.13 2.79 7.32

Capiz 2.18 0.09 - - 0.50 0.24 0.41 4.25 2.38 10.05

Guimaras 0.16 0.01 0.01 - 0.20 - 0.04 0.83 0.57 1.82

Iloilo 4.28 0.66 0.27 0.02 3.11 0.75 1.12 13.43 11.84 35.48

Negros Occidental

8.99 0.54 0.13 0.01 2.46 1.08 0.72 15.85 8.33 38.11

Region VI 18.48 1.46 0.43 0.03 7.42 2.34 2.53 39.35 27.96 100.00


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4.1.3 Basic Sectors and Corresponding Industries

Region VI‘s economy still rely to a larger extent in agriculture and the service industries. Negros

Occidental and Antique provinces have an almost similar percentage of family income

specializing in the sector of agriculture at 23.59 percent and 23.38 percent, respectively. It may

be presumed that the other services industries may also be agriculture-based industries. This may

be so since vast tract of lands in the region are still into agriculture use. Sugarcane, rice and corn

are still largely planted in the region.

Table 15. Specialization: Total Family Income (%) by Household Head, by Kind of


Province


Agricul-ture

Manufac-turing

Construc-tion

Mining &

Quar-rying

Whole-sale & Retail

Comm-unity,

Recrea-tional & Personal Services

Transpor-tation,

Storage, Communi

-cation Services

Other Service Indus-tries

Not Defined

Total

Aklan 16.17 1.87 0.29 0.00 8.43 3.05 2.19 39.57 28.43 100.00

Antique 23.38 0.32 0.00 0.00 7.33 0.69 1.13 29.02 38.13 100.00

Capiz 21.68 0.86 0.00 0.00 5.00 2.43 4.08 42.28 23.67 100.00

Guimaras 8.76 0.69 0.42 0.00 11.07 0.00 2.46 45.56 31.04 100.00

Iloilo 12.06 1.87 0.76 0.07 8.78 2.10 3.14 37.86 33.36 100.00

Negros Occidental

23.59 1.43 0.34 0.02 6.45 2.84 1.89 41.59 21.85 100.00

Table 14. Concentration: Total Family Income (%) by Household Head, by Kind of


Province


Agricul-ture

Manufac-turing

Construc-tion

Mining &

Quar-rying

Whole-sale

& Retail

Community, Recrea-tional

& Personal Services

Transpor-tation,

Storage & Communi-

cation Services

Other Service

Industries

Not Defined

Aklan 6.32 9.25 9.25 0.00 8.21 8.21 8.21 7.27 7.35

Antique 9.26 1.61 1.61 0.00 7.23 7.23 7.23 5.40 9.99

Capiz 11.78 5.91 5.91 0.00 6.77 6.77 6.77 10.79 8.50

Guimaras 0.86 0.85 0.85 0.00 2.72 2.72 2.72 2.11 2.03

Iloilo 23.15 45.28 45.28 71.74 41.96 41.96 41.96 34.15 42.34

Negros Occidental

48.63 37.10 37.10 28.26 33.11 33.11 33.11 40.28 29.79

Region VI 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00


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0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Agriculture

Manufacturing

Construction

Mining

Wholesale

Communication

Transportation

Other Services

Not Defined

Agriculture Manufacturing Construction Mining Wholesale Communication Transportation Other Services Not Defined

Series1 23.59 1.43 0.34 0.02 6.45 2.84 1.89 41.59 21.85

0

5

10

15

20

25

Aklan Antique Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Neg. Occ.

Series1 16.17 23.38 21.68 8.76 12.06 23.59

Figure 10. Share Diagram. Agriculture: Shares of Total Family Income by HH Head

Business/Industry, Region VI, 2000

4.1.4 Sectors that Account for Large Shares

The province identifies the following sectors/economic activities that account for large shares in

terms of production, income and number of jobs generated:

Figure 11. Histogram. Specialization: Shares of Total Family Income by HH Head



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a. Sugar Industry

The sugar industry in Negros Occidental is the lifeblood industry of the Negrense

considering that it accounts for 60 percent of the total production of the country making it

the top producer of sugar in the country. The sugar industry of Negros Occidental, which

generated $75 million (P58 billion) in sugar exports in CY 2006 employed around 525,000

workers in the countryside.

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) reported that as of 2008, the Province of

Negros Occidental has 14 sugar mills. However, only 10 sugar mills are operating with an

average sugar production of 123,937 MT. Victorias Milling Company in Victorias City is

the largest sugar mill in the country, and the world's largest integrated sugar mill and

refinery. The area harvested in 2006-2007 slightly increased but the tonnage of cane milled

decreased. High cost of production, mill-gate prices and other factors greatly affected the

production of sugarcane.

Table 16. Cane Production, Negros Occidental, Crop Year 2004-2005 to 2006-2007

Source: SRA, Bacolod City

b. Manufacturing

The Province have major industries that provide significant economic impact in terms of

employment and investments generation. In the manufacturing sector, the two most

promising sectors that can provide greater impact in the provincial economy are the

Processed Food and the Gifts, Toys and Households Wares (GTH) sectors, with Negros

Occidental positioning itself as the Giftware and Holiday Décor Center of the country, total

investments reached to P 64,472,000 and employed 134 workers in 2000. Other industries

are garments, furniture, and metalworking.

Area Harvested (in Hectares) Gross Tons of Cane Milled (MT)

2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007

Negros

Occidental 164,455.00 164,308.00 165,058.00 11,169,736.70 11,576,869.00 9,926,590.00


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c. Trading and Retailing

Under the Services Sector, the Trading/Retailing sub-sector accounts for the largest share in

terms of employment and investments.

d.Tourism

Negros Occidental is not only known as the sugar bowl of the Philippines but is also noted

for its scenic spots, mountains and beach resorts. There are also a variety of arts and antique

shops as well as ceramics, shell and handicraft stores which are considered tourist

attractions.

Other points of interest in the province include several historical and religious landmarks.

These spots are scattered throughout the province, although some is within the city‘s

environment.

Considered as one of the major industries in the province, tourism has a promising potential

in terms of generating revenues and employment that will contribute to the local as well as

national economy of the country.

Tourist arrivals and receipts showed a fluctuating trend for the period covering 2006-2008

with 2007 indicating a downtrend which is attributed to the global crises. The CY 2008 has

a remarkable increase with 1,066,753 tourist arrivals with total receipts of P2,447,261,073.

Table 17. Location Quotients: Total Family Income by Household Head, by Kind of


Province


Agricu-ture

Manufac-turing

Construc-tion

Mining &

Quar-rying

Whole-sale

& Retail

Community, Recreational & Personal

Services

Transportation, Storage &

Communication

Services

Other Service

Industries

Not Defined

Aklan 0.87 1.33 0.65 0.00 1.14 1.30 0.88 0.01 1.02

Antique 1.26 0.19 0 0.00 0.99 0.29 0.43 0.74 1.36

Capiz 1.17 0.61 0 0.00 0.72 1.02 1.61 1.07 0.85

Guimaras 0.48 0.38 1.28 0.00 1.48 0.00 0.87 1.16 1.12

Iloilo 0.65 1.27 1.77 1.89 1.18 0.90 1.25 0.96 1.19

Negros Occidental

1.28 0.97 0.79 0.88 0.87 1.21 0.75 1.06 -0.78


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4.2 Potentials for Contributing to Local Economic Growth

4.2.1 Economic Based Industries

Industries that the province are relatively efficient, and have greater impact to local economic

growth:

Sugar Industry

Sugar industry remains the biggest industry in the Province, in terms of employment and

value added. Below are the major products and bi-products of sugar industry:

With the establishment of San Carlos City and Binalbagan Bio-ethanol plants and their

expected full operation, local and regional economy will greatly be benefitted in terms of

income, production and employment generation.

As one of the by-products of sugar, molasses has contributed and add-up to the income

generation of the industry because of the demand in local and national economy.

Issues/problems

The monocrop economy of the province has brought periods of crisis in the sugar industry

in the early years due to depressed prices of the commodity in the world market. From this

sad experience of over-dependence to a monocrop economy, the province has learned one

of its hardest lessons. While there are vast tracts of lands that are suitable to various uses,

production in many areas are marginal due to high cost of production inputs. This makes the

province a perennial importer of basic crops such as rice, corn, vegetable and fruits.

Coupled with this, global competitiveness has brought the sugar industry to struggle in

terms of competition in the global market.

Prospects

Sugar as the dominant industry in the province accounts for 60% of the provincial economy

which most of the populace are dependent on considering of its monocrop status. With the


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stable global market prices, plus the establishments of bio-ethanol plants, the prospects of

sustaining the positive trend of the industry have gained momentum.

The Provincial Government aggressively supports the move of sugar planters to utilize

excess sugar for the production of bio-ethanol and other bio-fuel sources in line with the

implementation of the Bio-fuels Act. The realization of this endeavor will greatly

contribute to the local and national economy

Tourism

Tourism industry holds economic importance to the national and regional development in

the country particularly in the Province of Negros Occidental. Tourists allocate income to

spend for their vacation, leisure, adventure, attendance to special events and other tourism-

related activities. There is, therefore a need to vigorously pursue the establishment and

improvement of tourism facilities and services in the various sites within the province.

Success in tourism development means increase in employment and income and generating

more revenues for public services. With these perceived benefits, Tourism Development

and Promotion has been identified as one of the priority agenda reflected in HEARTS Plus

agenda of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental

Issues and Problems

One of the issues and problems that beset the tourism sector is the inadequate tourism

promotion and institutional support. Tourism development should be based on sound

management of resources and must be sensitive to local customs and traditions. There is a

need to provide full support to tourism alliances and encourage the development and

promotion of tourism circuits within and outside the province.

Another concern that needs to be addressed is peace and order situation. The perception of

an unstable peace and order situation scare tourists away and keep them from visiting

various tourism attractions in the province. Moreover, the inadequate tourism

facilities/amenities and services need to be further enhanced to attract more visitors and

encourage then to keep coming.


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Prospects

The province is endowed with natural points of interest, historical-cultural landmarks and

heritage, and local events/festivals which are potential ―tourism winners‖. Although

sugar will remain as the major industry, tourism industry will greatly contribute to the

provincial economy. With the active support to tourism industry from the local

government units, the rich historical/cultural heritage, natural tourists‘ attractions and a

wide array of tourism products will make the province attractive for investors.

Employment

Tourism industry, considered as one of the major industries, has substantially contributed

to the local and regional economy in term of revenue and employment generation. In CY

2008, total receipts amounted to P2.4 Billion and employed huge number of local

manpower province-wide.

4.2.2 Local employment growth

Industries employing or likely to employ local labor are the following:

Manufacturing

DTI-Negros Occidental data on Business Name Registration, for a five-year period (2004-

2008) recorded an increasing trend in investment generation in the Province of Negros

Ocidental. Except for the years 2006 and 2007, there was a negative percent change in

investment of 92% in the latter year, which was brought about by the registration in the

Processed Food and Beverage sector amounting to P3.21Billion in 2006. In 2008, again,

there was a tremendous increase of investment of 367 percent compared to year 2007.

Zeroing-in on the priority manufacturing sectors, i.e., the Processed Food, Gifts, Toys and

Housewares (GTH), Garments, and Furniture & Furnishings, investments generated in the

same period were in fluctuating trend. The furniture, garments, and GTH groups recorded a

negative percent change in the years 2007 and 2008 (of which the former is the base year).


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Only the processed food sector, on the other hand, exhibited a positive change of 556% (in

the same period, 2007-2008).

Adverse effects of the economic slow-down, global competition (influx of imported-

cheaper products), and competition among local players are cited for the unfavorable

generation of investments.

Trading/Retailing

Based on the data sourced from DTI-Negros Occidental Provincial Office, investments in

trading/retailing business are characterized by an erratic trend based on the yearly

registration. However, despite the crisis, last year‘s investments has increased by 144

percent compared to 2007 recorded investments. This indicates that business owners are

more likely to venture in trading business than manufacturing because the latter cost them

much in the production inputs (which often times unpredictable). While in trading, minimal

requirements are needed to engage in business, with much focus only be given to the selling

efforts for a faster inventory turn-over and return on investment.

1. Industry Concentration and specialization (map, by-products, location)

Processed food – Mostly (at least 90%) concentrated in Bacolod City

GTH – at least 98% located in Bacolod City

2. Key support Infrastructure

Infrastructure Existing Proposed

6.1 Common Service Facilities (CSFs)

a. Food Laboratory

b. Training Center

c. Labeling and Packaging Center

Negros Occidental

Technology and Livelihood

Development Center

(NOTLDC)

- Food Laboratory for Nutritional Facts

Analysis, Shelf Life Testing and other related tests.

- Strengthen the services of NOTLDC


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4.2.3 Competitiveness and Market Share

Industries/products that are becoming more competitive and are increasing market shares

Tourism

Major Tourist Destinations

Negros Occidental is characterized by vast agricultural plains, mountain lands and some of

the country‘s lush forests. Among of its sights and attractions in the island are the inland

resorts, beach resorts, historical and cultural and various festivals of the local government

units.

Inland Resorts

Mambukal Resort is one of the resorts in the island that is famous for its sulfur springs,

leisure traits leading to the three waterfalls, mountain streams, lush valleys and hiking trails

up to Mount Kanla-on which is a perfect place for eco-tourist.

Historical and Cultural

Among the major historical and cultural attractions in the province are: The Provncial

Capitol Building, built in 1927 using the Neo-Roman architectural design. Once used as

headquarters of the Japanese Imperial Army during Workd War II. It is presently the seat of

the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental. San Diego Pro-Cathedral, Silay City-

This church is one of the most beautiful modern-day churches in the country. It is the only

Pro-Cathedral outside of Metro Manila. It was build in 1920 and designed by Italian

architect Lucio Bernasconi. The Ruins of Don Mariano Lacson Ancestral House, The

Negros Museum and other historical and cultural attractions which worth visiting for in the

province.

Tourism Offerings

There are several tourism offerings and some of the recommended offerings are the scaling

of Mt. Kanlaon, waterfalls trek, Negros Sugar Tours, VMC Tours, Cultural Tours, Hofilena

Heritage House.


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Accessibility

By air, Silay City is the entry point to Negros Occidental which is 50 minutes from Manila

and 30 minutes from Cebu. There are nine daily flights to and from Manila and 4 daily

flights to and from Cebu. Negros is accessible by boat (18 hours from Manila and from

Iloilo (45 minutes) by fast ferries through Bacolod City. By land from Cebu, Bacolod is

approximately five to seven hours away and five hours to and from Dumaguete. Within the

island, the main roads are all concreted with some that are rough in selected areas. Tourist

destinations can be reached through public and private transports. There are also habal-

habal, tricycle and jeepney that provided rural transportation in going to and from tourist

destination.

Negros Occidental is not only known as the sugar bowl of the Philippines but is also noted

for its scenic spots, mountains and beach resorts. There are also a variety of arts and antique

shops as well as ceramics, shell and handicraft stores which are considered tourist

attractions.

Other points of interest in the province include several historical and religious landmarks.

These spots are scattered throughout the province, although some is within the city‘s

environment.

Considered as one of the major industry in the province, this industry has a promising

potential in terms of generating revenues and employment that will contribute to the local as

well as national economy in the country.

4.2.4 Potentials for Local Economic Growth

Bio-Fuel Industry

The bio-fuel industry is thriving in the province. The bio-ethanol plant of San Carlos

Bioenergy Inc. in San Carlos City which was inaugurated in 2009, is now operational.

Likewise, Roxol Bioenergy Corp., the bio-ethanol arm of listed sugar conglomerate Roxas

Holdings Inc. (RHI) has engaged the services of Indian-based firm KBK Chem-Engineering


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Pvt. Ltd. to build a P1-billion turnkey bio-ethanol plant next to Central Azucarera de la

Carlota in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

If all of the sugar mills in Negros Occidental go into power co-generation they could easily

produce 150 megawatts of much needed additional power for the province. So far only

three of 10 sugar firms in Negros Occidental are going into power co-generation: First

Farmers Holding Corporation in Talisay City with its bagasse bio-mass co-generation

power plant, and the ethanol plants in San Carlos City and Central Azucarera de La Carlota.

The Provincial Government aggressively supports the move of sugar planters to utilize

excess sugar for the production of bio-ethanol and other bio-fuel sources in line with the

implementation of the Bio-fuels Act. The realization of this endeavor will greatly

contribute to the local and national economy

4.3 Local Factors

Physical Resources

Access to major tourist destinations and attractions in the province has greatly improved during

the past years with a good road network in place. The new tourism highway traversing the

hinterlands of Negros Island connects San Carlos City to Bacolod City and provides tourists with

diverse attractions along the way. The road from Bacolod City to the southern part is also well-

paved allowing tourists to reach the rich diving grounds and other marine attractions found in

southern Negros. The completion and operation of the New Bacolod Airport in Silay City will

expand tourism and trading activities as well as meet the present and future air traffic needs in the

two major hubs of the region. The proposal for a bridge connecting Negros Island, Panay and

Cebu will hugely improve accessibility and economy of Negros, Panay and Cebu.

Human Resources

With the availability of skilled and trainable human resources, the increasing manpower needs of

the different sectors could be adequately addressed.


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Major Universities and Colleges

Educational has always been considered indispensable in bringing about the desired behavioral

and attitudinal changes in the population to effect socio-economic development. The far-reaching

and enduring effects of education on individual and societal growth and progress call for serious

efforts to continuously improve and promote the accessibility of our educational system to the

changes n the socio-economic spheres including the demands of development initiatives in the

most efficient and effective fashion.

In the province, there are 14 public tertiary education and 26 private education institutions

offerings various courses from 2 year course to post graduate courses. These institutions are under

the supervision of Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Knowledge Resources

Business Process Outsourcing

Bacolod City or Negros Occidental considered as the next wave areas outside Metro Manila are

encourage and by industry and government leaders to sustain their readiness and competitiveness

for the business outsourcing sector. The Commission on Information and Communications

Technology and Business Processing Association of the Philippines emphasized the need for the

indicated areas to work hard in the areas of talent development, business environment and

government support.

Beside the on-going call centers in Bacolod City, the Provincial Government leaders are

announcing the interest of Call Center investor to put up call center facilities and building beside

the PNB provincial lot.

At present, there are five major call centers operating in Bacolod City namely: Teleperformance,

Teletech, BCG Digital World and Convergy‘s.


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Capital (financial or investment resources)

Support Infrastructure

Priority Infrastructure Existing

Nature/Status Potential Constraints

Common Service Facilities (e.g.

Laboratories – Food, slaughter house)

Limited/non-

existent

Technical, financial and physical

support

Telecommunication/ISP Existing Un-optimized use of technology

Technology Development

Equipments/Facilities Limited

Technical, financial and physical

support

Banks, Financial Institutions, Loan Porfolio

Data on the operations and total resources of banks in the province show, to some extent,

indicators of the status of its economy. The growth in the number of operating banking

institutions gives insights on the pace at which business and trade grow. Statistics on total loans

show not only the volume of capital lent to the entrepreneurs, merchants, consumers, agriculture

and industrial sectors but also the rate of return of their loan investments. Indeed, the banking

sector plays a vital role in the development of productive activities of proprietors or corporate

institutions in the area. The presence and accessibility of establishments providing these services

to existing and prospective investors contribute to the realization of programs and projects aimed

at industrial and entrepreneurial advancement.

In 2007, number of banks in the province totaled 157 with deposits amounting to P44.2 billion

which comprises 44.12 percent of the total deposits in the region.

Data below shows the breakdown of financial institutions operating in the province:

Financial Institutions No. of Banking

Offices

Deposits

(In Billions)

Universal and Commercial Banks 100 P 40,302

Thrift Banks 12 2,707

Rural & Cooperative Bank 35 1,198

Total P 44.206


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Road and Bridges

The provincial road totaled to 422.74 km with 41 percent concrete, 4 percent asphalt, and 55

percent gravel. The Provincial Government also maintained 69 bridges, disaggregated as follows:

concrete – 688.72 lm, steel – 436.67 lm, bailey – 144 lm, and overflow – 512 lm.

Privately-owned and public utility vehicles are the means of transportation within the urban center

of Bacolod City. In the neighboring towns and cities, tricycle is the means of transportation. In

most parts of the province, public utility jeepneys and mini-buses are being used as the main

mode of land transport from one municipality to another. Bus lines are likewise available to

provide inter-province land transportation in the Island of Negros Occidental.

Proposed New Routes and Transport Facilities

The New Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road is one of the major infrastructure projects in the

province that should be given priority. The project aims to provide smooth access to the new

Bacolod Airport from Bacolod City and to reduce traffic congestion at Bacolod Coastal Road,

north section, to form flexible road network and to guide and support sound urbanization of

Bacolod, Talisay and Silay Cities.

Communication

As of 2004, there were already 117 cell sites and four paging sites in Negros Occidental. For

every 100 population in the province, there are only 1.8 or almost two persons with telephone

lines as of 2006.

4.4 Summary

i. Economic Structure

In industry concentration, the top three industries of Negros Occidental that have a large

contribution in terms of production value, employment or income were identified as

follows: Agriculture, manufacturing and other service industries. While In terms of

industry specialization, other service industries dominated this sector with Negros


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Occidental ranking third at 41.69 percent with Guimaras on top of the rank followed closely

by the Province of Capiz with 42.28 percent. Antique has the bottom figure.

ii. Industries with Best and Declining Potentials

The industries with Best Potentials and declining potentials are the sugar and tourism

industry considering that the gains and failures of these industries are dependent on the

market forces of the global economy. Sugar is the dominant industry in the province and

accounts for 60% of the provincial economy which most of the populace are dependent on

considering of its mono-crop status. Tourism as a growing industry shows positive

potentials as one of the industries that contribute substantially to the local economy.

4.4.3 Local factors

The construction of the Bacolod-Silay International Airport in Silay City coupled with the

improvement of the tourism facilities and the development of the ports in the province will

definitely enhance the growth potentials of the tourism industry and other major industries that

make substantial contribution to the local economy. The emergence of the Business Process

Outsourcing (BPO) Industry in the province has benefitted the Negrenses in terms of generating

employment and additional revenue. Also, the conducive business climate and the stable peace

and order situation in the province have encouraged investors to come in and put their

investments in the province.


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5. TRANSPORTATION, ACCESS AND CIRCULATION

Transportation is a key element that affects the interactions among population, economic, and

other social activities, and other resources of the province. In many cases, strategies involving

transportation projects provide important opportunities for enabling and catalyzing development.

This section will describe the access routes and facilities in the province, and indicate how these

relate to the location of urban centers and other settlements, the land and water resources of the

province, and production activities. Further, the section will also discuss the characteristics of

transportation that are usually not fully covered in individual sectoral analyses—external linkages

and internal circulation as a whole.

5.1 External linkages

Negros Occidental can be found at the central part of the Philippine archipelago and is easily

accessible through land, air and water routes.

5.1.1 Land, Air and Water Access Routes and Key Transport Infrastructure and Facilities

Access through land

Negros Occidental can be reached from Negros Oriental, its sister province and the other half of

Negros Island, through several routes. From the south, it can be reached though the Mabinay-

Kabankalan Road; from the southeast, through the Bayawan-Hinobaan Road; via the central part,

through Canlaon City-Salvador Benedicto Road; and through the coastal stretch via

Vallehermoso-San Carlos City Road. These roads are vital link between Bacolod City, the

provincial capital and the other cities of the province including Dumaguete City, the provincial

capital of Negros Oriental. The development of these inter-island road networks boosts the

island‘s trade and commerce. Population‘s access to basic services has been augmented and

tourism industry is expected to spruce up and will eventually contribute to the economic growth

through new investment and tourism opportunities, as well as boosting employment on Negros

Island.


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Access through Water

Negros Occidental which is surrounded by coastal waters is accessible by sea. The Provincial

Capital, which is Bacolod City, is an 18-hour cruise to and from Manila, 45 minutes to and from

Iloilo on fast sea craft, 2 hours from Iloilo City via Dumangas route on RORO facility. The

Banago (a private port owned by Negros Navigation Company, Inc.) and BREDCO (Bacolod

Real Estate Development Corp.) ports are the vessels‘ entry point. BREDCO Port has daily

access to Iloilo, with different shipping lines such as Super Cat, Weesam Express and Ocean Jet.

Banago Wharf is access route to Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Dipolog and Zamboanga served by

shipping line of Negros Navigation. There are 23 operational ports in the province based on

PMO-Pulupandan records, 17 are privately-operated and six are being managed by the Philippine

Ports Authority. There are nine major ports in the province, namely, Pulupandan Port, in

Pulupandan, Cadiz Port in Cadiz City, San Carlos Port in San Carlos City, Danao Port in

Escalante City, Victorias Port in Victorias City, Maricalum Port in Sipalay City and Salvacion

Port in Hinoba-an.

Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH)

The SRNH is a priority project of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo which

makes use of the Roll-on-Roll-off (RORO) services that combine land and inter-modal trunk

routes to connect all the major economic centers of the Philippine archipelago through innovative,

efficient and affordable means.

Negros Occidental is part of the SRNH route which covers 919 kilometers of land travel and 137

nautical miles of sea travel interconnecting 17 provinces and cities, namely: Oriental Mindoro,

Tagaytay/Cavite, Marinduque, Romblon, and Batangas in Luzon; Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Capiz,

Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras and Siquijor in the Visayas, and

Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte and Dapitan City in Mindanao.

The province is connected with other provinces in Panay Island and Cebu City in Region VII

through the roll-on roll-off system (RO-RO) of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway. Through

Dumaguete City, the province could be linked to Bohol, Cebu, Zamboanga, Dapitan and other

parts of Mindanao. The RO-RO terminals in the province are BREDCO Port in Bacolod City,

Escalante Port, San Carlos Port and Pulupandan Port.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iloilo_City

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumangas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercat

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Weesam_Express&action=edit&redlink=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ocean_Jet&action=edit&redlink=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Princesa_City

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cagayan_de_Oro_City

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipolog_City


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The Department of Public Works and Highways had undertaken improvement works at the major

alternate route in the province. Road shoulder, embankment, flood control and drainage along the

Negros Translink Eco-Tourism Highway or the Bacolod-Murcia-D.S. Benedicto-San Carlos City

were constructed. The construction of this road completes the intermodal component of the

transport system between the islands of Panay, Negros and also Cebu. A vital bridge in Cauayan

and the Bacolod South Kabankalan Road, classified as part of the north-south backbone of

Philippine‘s arterial road network as it traverses from Bacolod City to Kabankalan City on the

southern portion of Negros Occidental leading further to Dumaguete City was constructed and

widened from four to six lanes.

Access through Air

Negros Occidental is served by the Bacolod-Silay airport in Silay City, an airport of international

standard which replaced the Bacolod City Domestic Airport, in Bacolod City proper, in 2007.

The airport is located 15 kilometers northeast of Bacolod City on a 181-hectare site in Barangay

Bagtic, Silay City. The airport, could accommodate international traffic, and is expected to

become the primary gateway to Negros Island. It is one of the three airports of international

standards envisioned to serve the Western Visayas region, alongside Kalibo International Airport

in Aklan and the New Iloilo Airport in Iloilo.

Bacolod-Silay Airport is 45 minutes by air from Ninoy Aquino International Airport and 30

minutes from Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Commercial Airlines serving in the Province

are Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Air Philippines, and Zest Airways.

The total number of passengers accommodated in 2008 was recorded at 840,711, which posted an

increase of eight percent from the 2007 figure.

Being built to international standards, the Bacolod-Silay Airport is still designated as a Principal

Class 1 domestic airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. It has one primary

runway 45 meters (150 ft) wide and 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) long. The runway runs in a direction

of 03°/21°, and can currently handle aircraft as large as the Airbus A330. Further, the

construction of a 500-meter (1,600 ft) expansion of the present runway can accommodate even

larger aircraft like the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A340. The airport is equipped with an

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacolod_City_Domestic_Airport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negros_Island

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Visayas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalibo_International_Airport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Iloilo_Airport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninoy_Aquino_International_Airport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mactan-Cebu_International_Airport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Airlines

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cebu_Pacific_Air

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Philippines

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zest_Airways

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Aviation_Authority_of_the_Philippines

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A330

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A340


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Instrument Landing System, making it capable of handling night and low-visibility landings. The

entire airport complex is designed to handle an excess of one million passengers and 16,715 tons

of cargo annually and consists of 21 buildings with a total floor space of 108,450 sq ft.

The Bacolod City Domestic Airport has been inactive when the Bacolod-Silay Airport started

operations in 2007.

5.1.2 Linkages and/or Facilities that should be given High Priority for Improvement

Construction of Airports in San Carlos and Kabankalan Cities

The construction of community airports in San Carlos City and Kabankalan City is a vital part of

the Transport Infrastructure Development Program of the province. With the construction of

these community airports, the two cities are envisioned to encourage more investments and

tourism traffic to the southern and northern parts of Negros Occidental.

The San Carlos City community airport was started in 2003 with the construction of the access

road and development of the airside and land site facilities. To date, San Carlos City has already

allocated a total of Php 70 Million thru its local development fund with an expended amount of

Php 55 Million and rate of accomplishment is at 23 percent.

The feasibility study for Kabankalan Airport development project was completed March 2009.

Out of the 97 hectares needed for the airport 85 were already acquired by the Local Government

12 is still to be expropriated. The province and the city of Kabankalan has initially allocated Php

75 Million for site acquisition and is still willing to appropriate additional fund for the site

development, acquisition of lots for relocation of affected households and other incidental

expenses.

With an airport of international standard in place and the construction of two airports in northern

and southern Negros Occidental, it is hoped that the vast economic potentials of the province will

finally be harnessed to its full potential. The three airports are major parts of the province‘s

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrument_Landing_System


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infrastructure. It will support employment generation and facilitate the fast movement of the

general public and goods, thereby fostering trade and commerce

5.2 Internal Circulation

5.2.1 Description of Internal Circulation Routes

Road and Bridges

In Negros Occidental, the provincial and national roads and bridges totaled to 1,776.21 km with

28 percent concrete, 34 percent asphalt, 37 percent gravel and one percent allotted to bridges.

Bacolod City, the province‘s capital, is accessed from the south through the Bacolod South

National Road which passes through 13 cities and municipalities, and from the north through the

Bacolod North National Road which traverses about 11 northern municipalities and cities in the

province.

Privately-owned and public utility vehicles are the means of transportation within the urban center

of Bacolod City. In the neighboring towns and cities, tricycle is the means of transportation. In

most parts of the province, public utility jeepneys and mini-buses are being used as the main

mode of land transport from one municipality to another. Bus lines are likewise available to

provide inter-province land transportation in the Island of Negros Occidental.

―Trisikad‖, a smaller version of tricycle but manually driven using a BMX bicycle proliferates in

Bacolod City and are fast growing in the urban areas of the LGUs. In San Carlos City and to

some extent in Calatrava town, a bigger adaptation of the ―Trisikad‖ using American bicycle is

predominant in these areas as a major mode of transportation. It is locally called ―Pedicab‖.

―Habal-habal‖ is a motorcycle with modified backseat and foot rest to accommodate three or four

passenger and/or baggage are plying the upland barangays of LGUs.


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Roads of importance include the Bacolod-San Carlos City National Road, Bacolod-Kabankalan-

Mabinay National Road, Bacolod-Murcia-Salvador Benedicto-San Carlos National Road. These

roads are vital links in the transport system between the islands of Panay, Negros and also Cebu.

5.2.2 Proposed New Routes and Transport Facilities

The New Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road is one of the major infrastructure projects in the

province that should be given priority. New Bacolod (Silay) Airport Access Road project runs

parallel to and about 3-4 kms east to Bacolod Coastal road. The access road will traverse mostly

sugarcanes fields in the outskirts of Talisay and Silay Cities. It branches off to the tip of the

existing Bacolod Circumferential Road and ends at Silay-Guimbalaon road at about 500-meter

west of the new Bacolod-Silay Airport. The project aims to provide smooth access to the new

Bacolod Airport from Bacolod City and to reduce traffic congestion at Bacolod Coastal Road,

north section, to form flexible road network and to guide and support sound urbanization of

Bacolod, Talisay and Silay Cities.

Further, a sugar road is also proposed for construction along the proposed irrigation highway.

The proposed sugar road is envisioned to shorten travel time particularly transport of farm

products to market.

Negros Occidental has been proposing for a bridge that will connect Negros Island and Panay and

also connect Negros Island and Cebu. Data from PPA in 2004 showed that domestic and foreign

cargoes passing the Pulupandan seaport alone is more than 4 million metric tons almost similar

with Iloilo port. Passenger traffic from the same source showed that 3.2 million passenger uses

the Negros port. These trans-link bridges will largely improve the economy, tourism and will

provide jobs for the Visayas area thus, stabilizing peace and order in the region.


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6. INCOME, EMPLOYMENT, SERVICE ACCESS AND POVERTY

Economic growth or the lack of it directly affects employment and income. This affects

expenditures and the ability to access goods and services. If income is low, access to goods and

services may be limited to the point that basic needs are not met, resulting in poverty. Poverty, in

turn, affects the quality of production inputs and eventually economic growth itself (Guidelines on

PLPEM Vol. 2).

Poverty is measured through ―Means-based‖, lack of income necessary to consume a basic bundle

of goods and services; ―Outcome-based‖, shortfall in consumption of a basic bundle of goods and

services necessary to do basic functions; or the ―Perception-based‖, which is a subjective

valuation of the family situation.

This section will attempt to describe the income and employment characteristics of the provincial

population, the level and extent of access to basic services, and the extent of poverty in the

province.

6.1. Employment/Unemployment

6.1.1. Employment/Unemployment Rate

Negros Occidental‘s employment rate had a positive increased from 87.1 percent in 2000 to 93

percent in 2003 with an average annual rate of 1.99 percent for the four-year period. The

province ranked sixth in terms of employment in Region VI in 2000 but showed a remarkable

improvement in the ensuing years, ranking 3rd

in 2003 with the province of Capiz ranked 1st. The

province‘s employment rate was higher than the region by 1.7 percent in 2003.

6.1.2. Historical Trends

Unemployment rate in the province was the highest in 2000 at 12.9 percent while regional

unemployment rate was at 11.1 percent. The province of Capiz had the lowest rate of

unemployment at 5.6 percent in the same year followed by the province of Guimaras with 7.3


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percent. Nevertheless, unemployment in the province had a down trend from 2000 to 2003 at

12.9 percent to 7 percent, respectively. Negros Occidental ranked 3rd

lowest unemployment rate

(7%) compared to other provinces in the region and is lower compared to the regional

unemployment rate of 8.7 percent.

Table 18. Employment/Unemployment Rate, 2000-2003

Area Employment Rate Unemployment Rate

2000 2001 2002 2003 2000 2001 2002 2003

Region VI 88.9 88.7 91.2 91.3 11.1 11.3 8.8 8.7

Aklan 87.7 89.7 90.9 93.6 12.4 10.4 9.1 6.4

Antique 89.1 86.6 90.9 82.3 10.9 13.4 9.1 17.7

Capiz 94.4 94.2 93.9 94.5 5.6 5.8 6.1 5.5

Guimaras 92.7 89.6 88.0 90.8 7.3 10.4 12.0 9.2

Iloilo 89.8 86.6 89.3 88.9 10.2 13.4 10.7 11.1

Negros Occidental 87.1 90.0 92.2 93.0 12.9 10.0 7.8 7.0

Source: NSO (RSET 2007)

6.2. Family Income

The total family income of the Province of Negros Occidental has increased from P23.8 billion in

1994 to P31.6 billion in 1997 with a slight decrease in 2000. The 2000 total family income of the

province was 14 percent share of the total family income of the Philippines and 24 percent of the

total family income of Region VI. In the region, the province with highest total family income in

2000 was Iloilo, followed by Negros Occidental, Capiz, Antique, Aklan and Guimaras. The

annual average growth rate of Negros Occidental from 1994 to 1997 was 10.7 percent but

incurred a negative growth rate from 1997 to 2000 with 0.40 percent. Almost all the provinces in

the region as well as the whole country were affected by the Asian economic slowdown in 1997.


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In terms of average annual family income, Negros Occidental registered an increase of 20 percent

in 1997 from its 1994 level with an annual average growth rate of 6.5 percent. However, for the

period 1997 to 2000, it registered a lower family income growth rate of 9.2 percent or an average

annual growth rate of 3.1 percent. During this period, the Province ranked last in terms of

average family income and average annual growth rate, while Iloilo and Guimaras ranked 1st and

second, respectively in the average family income category. The 2000 average family income of

the province was P73,923.00 or 51 percent of the average family income of the country. While

the annual regional figure was P109, 600 or 67 percent as compared with the province of Negros

Occidental.

Table 19. Total & Average Family Income, Region VI, by Province, 1994, 1997, 2000

Area

Total No. of Families Total Family Income (‘000) Average Family Income

(‘000)

1994 1997 2000 1994 1997 2000 1994 1997 2000

Philippines 12,754,944 14,192,462 15,269,655 1,060,709,593 1,748,060,769 2,199,431,875 83,161 123,168 144,039

Region VI 1,133,399 1,249,979 1,211,732 72,625,996 108,460,218 132,805,985 64,078 86,770 109,600

Aklan 81,243 89,135 86,466 5,717,576 7,779,360 8,609,265 70,376 87,276 99,568

Antique 91,295 98,329 92,247 3,870,298 8,161,827 8,755,803 42,706 83,005 94,917

Capiz 125,715 140,999 131,121 5,893,481 12,394,520 13,022,037 46,880 87,905 99,313

Iloilo 289,321 290,481 291,472 17,036,113 24,317,609 32,095,069 58,883 83,715 110,114

Guimaras - 24,692 26,091 - 1,827,289 2,638,452 - 74,003 101,125

Negros Occidental

420,918 466,808 422,175 23,824,288 31,586,381 31,208,300 56,601 67,665 73,923

Source: NSCB (RSET 2001 & 2007)

Meanwhile, the Real Per Capita Income in the Province declined drastically in 2000. The Real

Per Capita Income in 1994 was P12,256.00, P12,320.00 in 1997 and only P11,723 in 2000. For


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1994, the province ranked second in this category but ranked sixth in 1997 and 2000. This would

mean that the Negrense families could buy less compared to families of four provinces in the

region.

Table 20. Real Per Capita Income/Province (1994, 1997, 2000)

Province Real Per Capita Income (in Php) 1994, 1997 & 2000

1994 Rank 1997 Rank 2000 Rank

Aklan 14,239 1 16,806 1 13,134 5

Antique 9,289 6 16,718 2 16,304 2

Capiz 9,399 5 15,206 4 13,706 4

Guimaras 12,070 4 14,440 5 16.072 3

Iloilo 12,071 3 15,678 6 11,723 1

Negros Occ. 12,256 2 12,320 6 11,723 6

Source: NSCB (CIF 2007)

6.3 Social Services

6.3.1. Health

1. Hospital Bed-Population Ratio

The Province of Negros Occidental had a bed to population ratio of 1:1,588 in 2005.

In Region VI, almost all the provinces have an unmet need of bed-population ratio with the

present ratio of 1:3,025 populations. The Province of Negros Occidental is in the process

of completing the requirements in upgrading the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital

from a second level hospital to a tertiary level hospital by increasing its number of bed

capacity from 100 beds to 200 beds. It will also upgrade its facilities and equipment.


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2. Doctor-Population Ratio

There are 30 licensed hospitals in Negros Occidental in 2005, 20 of which are government-

run hospitals and 10 are privately-owned hospitals. There were no additional licensed

hospitals recorded in 2006 and 2007. The province has a total of 19 municipal health

offices and 12 city health offices and 528 barangay health centers.

The existing provincial doctor-population ratio is 1: 20,000 the same with the national

standard of 1:20,000 populations.

3. Percent of Infants with Low Birth Weight

For 2006 and 2007, the Province of Negros Occidental had been consistent in having the

most number of low birth weight infants with 5 percent of all live births having a weight of

below 2500 grams. These groups, like any other preschoolers, should be given appropriate

interventions such as complete newborn care, exclusive breastfeeding, complete

immunization, growth monitoring, newborn screening and micronutrient supplementation.

Vitamin A deficiency is still a serious health problem affecting the children in Negros

Occidental. The 1998 National Nutrition Survey by FNRI revealed that Vitamin A

deficiency affected 48.2 percent of preschoolers aged 6 months to 5 years which was even

higher than the regional and national prevalence of 40.9 percent and 38 percent,

respectively. The Vitamin A deficiency prevalence in Negros Occidental, in fact, is the

highest in Western Visayas. Vitamin A supplementation coverage among the preschoolers

in the province (FHSIS, 2007) was 89.84 percent which is below the national target of 95

percent. The municipalities with very low coverage were Toboso (73%) and Hinigaran

(77.6%) while the municipalities with higher coverage than the national target are

Victorias City, Silay City, Murcia, La Carlota City, Isabela, Moises Padilla, Ilog and

Cauayan. Only 11.14 percent among the high-risk children who are underweight and

prone to getting infectious diseases like diarrhea, pneumonia and measles were given high

dose of Vitamin A capsules.

The same survey also showed that iron deficiency anemia affects 30.8 percent of the

preschoolers which is slightly lower than the regional and national prevalence of 32.1


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percent and 31.8 percent, respectively. The Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) with funds

from the Provincial Government usually procures only 10 percent of the total requirement

for iron supplementation of the preschoolers. There were children given iron syrups but

these were not reflected in the FHSIS since there was no reporting system to capture this

information.

Another strategy to prevent iron deficiency secondary to heavy worm burden was regular

deworming being integrated during the Garantisadong Pambata Program since 2006, yet,

only 63.72 percent of the preschoolers were given deworming tablets in 2007 while only 4

percent of pre-schoolers were given the same in 2006. The low coverage in 2006 was

attributed to the delayed arrival of deworming drugs and some resistance among the health

workers in giving the drugs without stool examination.

Health record shows that out of 149,328 weighed children aging 0-7 years old, 8.54

percent were below normal, 89.71 percent are normal, and 0.86 percent were above

normal. The data also shows that the malnutrition rate in Negros occidental has been

decreasing for the past three years.

The Province has ensured the accessibility of public health services to the people through

the provision of quality health care and gives focus and priority to health services.

Among the provinces in Region VI, Negros Occidental has the least number of

underweight children while Antique suffers the highest rate of underweight children.

4. Crude Birth Rate

The crude birth rate of the province in 2007 is 18.98 per 1,000 population, which is a ratio

of 6:1,000 population. This is lower than the national rate of 25 per 1,000 population.

North Central ILHZ has the highest Crude Birth Rate (CBR) at 22.64 per 1,000 population

followed by D‘BESTCA at 20.73 and CASAMA at 18.47 per 1,000 population.

There are 6 Inter-Local Health Zone (ILHZ) in Negros Occidental, which are as follows:

1. D‘BEST CA ILHZ – Don Salvador Benedicto, Escalante City, San Carlos City,

Toboso and Calatrava


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2. CASAMA ILHZ – Cadiz City, Sagay City, and Manapla

3. North Central ILHZ – Victorias City, E.B. Magalona, Silay City, Talisay City and

Murcia

4. MIDLAND ILHZ – Bago City, Pulupandan, Valladolid, San Enrique, Pontevedra

and La Carlota City

5. South Central ILHZ – Himamaylan City, Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, La

Castellana and Hinigaran

6. South Negros ILHZ – Candoni, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Cauayan, Kabankalan City and

Sipalay City

5. Morbidity: Rates by Leading Causes

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) (993) and Acute Lower Respiratory Infection

(ARTI) and Pneumonia (800) topped the ten leading causes of morbidity in Negros

Occidental in 2007. This was followed by influenza, (584) diarrhea, (664) bronchitis,

(360) hypertension, (317) TB/PTB, (233) urinary tract infection, (189) acute gastroenteritis

and parasitism (113) URTI and ARTI registered 22,964 cases and pneumonia registered

18,941 cases.

The causes of morbidity are perceived to be the result of poor environmental sanitation,

unsafe drinking water, unhealthy lifestyle or poor health habits. Six of the 10 leading

causes are communicable diseases. Only hypertension, parasitism, acute gastroenteritis

and urinary tract infection are non-communicable diseases.

The leading causes of infant morbidity (FHSIS, 2007) in Negros Occidental were acute

lower respiratory infection and pneumonia, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea,

bronchitis, influenza and acute gastroenteritis. All of these are infectious yet preventable

diseases.

6. Mortality

For several decades, pneumonia has led the top causes of mortality in the Province

followed by hypertensive cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the heart and all types of

cancer. In 2006, hypertensive vascular diseases have overtaken pneumonia as the leading


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cause of mortality implying an increasing influence of lifestyle in the health burden of the

province. Of the ten leading causes of mortality in 2007, only three cases are infectious in

nature, namely, pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and Septicemia, while the rest,

cardio-vascular, cancer and kidney diseases are lifestyle-related diseases which are

considered to be preventable. This implies a double burden of having to address both

infectious and lifestyle-related diseases.

Infant deaths from 2006 to 2007 decreased in North Central and Midland ILHZs while

under five deaths decreased in South Central ILHZ only. For 2007, the under five deaths

were highest in South Negros ILHZ (2.39) and lowest in Midland ILHZ (1.20). Infant

deaths were highest in D-BESTCA ILHZ (6.49) and lowest in Midland ILHZ (2.41).

Pneumonia remains the leading of cause of infant morbidity in the province. Other causes

include URTI, diarrhea, influenza and bronchitis.

7. Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)

The Province has a Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of 39 in 2007 which is below the

national benchmark of 100 per 100,000 live births. MMR In 2006 was 32, 41 in 2005 and

45 in 2004, which shows that for the last three years there is a minimal decrease in

maternal mortality cases.

Hypertension in pregnancy, uterine atony and postpartum hemorrhage are among the

leading causes of maternal mortality in the province. Other causes of maternal deaths are

complications related to pregnancy occurring in the course of labor, delivery, and

postpartum. These include placental retention, and septicemia; all of which could have

been prevented with complete prenatal care.


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6.3.2 EDUCATION

Literacy Rate

The Province of Negros Occidental posted the third highest literacy rate of 91 percent in Western

Visayas in 2004. The highest is Iloilo followed by Aklan, Capiz and Antique.

On the other hand, Western Visayas placed sixth in the whole country in terms of literacy rate

with 92.8 percent after National Capital Region with 99 percent, Ilocos Region with 97.4 percent,

Central Luzon, Bicol Region and Southern Tagalog.

The functional and simple literacy rates of all cities/municipalities were very high. Almost all of

them reached 90 percent. This shows that both pupil and students learn very well in school.

Although the province of Negros Occidental has a good performance in terms of literacy there is

still a need to sustain and maintain the educational facilities in the far flung areas of the province.

However, recent data based on key performance indicators reported by the DepEd Central office,

8 of the bottom 40 school divisions in the Philippines are in Western Visayas. These include the

divisions of Roxas City in Capiz, and the 7 divisions in Negros occidental (Cadiz, Silay, Bago,

Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, Sagay and San Carlos).

The Department of Education should advocate their Alternative Learning System to sustain the

high literacy rate

To complement with the measures of education, the province of Negros Occidental implemented

the Negros Occidental Scholarship Program (NOSP) which includes Pagkaon Scholarship for

children of marginal farmers and fisherfolks; District Education Scholarship for children of all

deserving indigent families, Vocational/Technical Scholarship, among others. Full scholarship is

provided to grantees of the program.


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Elementary Cohort Survival Rate

For the last five years from SY 2003- 2008, the cohort survival rate of the province was below 80

percent. Correspondingly, 20 percent of the elementary pupils did not graduate in the SY 2007-

2008. Of the six (6) Dept. of Educ. School Divisions in Negros Occidental, Cadiz City division

has the highest cohort survival rate. Low cohort survival rate were observed in the Division of

San Carlos City (47.41), Division of Kabankalan City (58.75), Division of Negros Occidental

(56.02), and La Carlota City (76.31). The most common reasons for low elementary cohort

survival rate are poverty which forced children to be absent from school to work to augment the

family income, the attitude of parents towards education, and poor health of school children.

In Western Visayas, the cohort survival rate in SY 2007-2008 was only 62.21 percent

compared with that of the province‘s accomplishment of 80 percent. Nevertheless, the DepEd

should continue to advocate to all parents to give priority to their children‘s education and prevent

child labor by implementing Food-for-School programs of DSWD as well as regular physical

check-up of school children.

Secondary Cohort Survival Rate

In SY 2007-2008, the total cohort survival rate of the province for secondary education was only

77 percent. It shows that 23 percent of the students have not graduated in SY 2007-2008. The

common reason of low cohort survival rate in the secondary education is because of economic

situation of the household that these children are required to earn a living to augment the family

income.

The regional data on cohort survival rate for SY 2006-2007 was only 60.61 percent compared

with the province‘s 77 percent. DepEd has increased the number of its integrated schools to

accommodate free secondary education especially the poor.

Classroom-Student ratio on elementary

In the effort of the government to provide more adequate educational facilities and services, the

classroom-pupil ratio in the elementary government schools has improved from 1:34 in SY 2004-

2005 to 1:32 in SY 2008-2009. This means that one (1) classroom accommodates 32 pupils,


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which is still within the national standard ratio of 1:40. This means that there are still enough

classrooms for elementary students in Negros Occidental.

In Region VI, classroom-pupil ratio is 1:30 in school year 2008-2009.

Classroom-Student ratio in Secondary

The classroom-student ratio in government secondary schools has not been improving

significantly from SY 2004-2005 (1:50) to SY 2008-2009 (1:49). It is even higher than national

standard ratio of 1:45. Although the difference of 4-5 students per room is not very physically

significant, there is still a need to construct more classrooms for secondary level. This is so if

there will be higher cohort survival in the elementary in the future.

In Region VI classroom-pupil ratio is 1:46 in SY 2008-2009. This means that the situation in

Negros Occidental may be true to all provinces in the Region.

Completion Rate Elementary

The data shows that the division of Cadiz City in school year 2008-2009 has the lowest

completion rate at 42 percent compared with other divisions in the province, followed by San

Carlos city with 45.26 percent; Negros Occidental division with 53.80 percent; Kabankalan with

56.76 percent; Bago with 66.80 percent; and La Carlota with 75.49 percent.

In Western Visayas completion rate in SY 2007-2008 is 62.51 percent of which Iloilo province

got the highest completion rate, followed by Antique, third Aklan, fourth Capiz and fifth Negros

Occidental.

Completion Rate Secondary

Division of Bago City has the lowest completion rate of 49.50 percent, followed by Cadiz City

with 51.90 percent, San Carlos City with 57.46 percent, La Carlota with 66.15 percent and

Kabankalan with 68.20 percent.

In Western Visayas, Aklan has the highest completion rate in SY 2007-2008, followed by Negros

Occidental, in third Antique, in fourth Iloilo and in fifth, Capiz.


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Drop-out Rate for Elementary

Regional data shows that from 2007 to 2009, Negros Occidental has the highest drop-out rate at

3.06 percent, second is Antique, third Iloilo and 4th Capiz.

In Negros Occidental, San Carlos City School Division has the highest drop-out rate of 5.66

percent for SY 2008-2009 followed by the Division of Negros Occidental with 3.09 percent,

while division of Cadiz City ranked third. Unfortunately, some of the divisions have no data

submitted.

Data also shows that drop-out rate for the Division of San Carlos City is consistently high for the

four consecutive school years covering 2005-2006, 2006-2007 and 2008-2009. Compared with

other school divisions, these figures represented pupils who dropped-out from school because

most of them were working in the sugarcane field during milling season.

Drop-out Rate – Secondary

Data for Region VI shows that Negros Occidental is among the highest drop-out rate of 7.21

percent in school year 2007-2008. This is followed by Capiz at 6.75 percent, Iloilo at 6.41

percent, Antique at 4.73 percent and Aklan at 4.39 percent.

In Negros Occidental, for school year 2008-2009 Cadiz City ranked no. 1 in terms of drop-out

rate in secondary level at 9.13 percent followed by the division of Bago City (6.81%), La Carlota

(6.73%), Kabankalan (6.55%) and San Carlos City (6.23%) while some divisions were not able to

submit their data.

Number of Teachers

The teacher-pupil ratio in the public elementary schools decreased from 1:35 in SY 2004-2005 to

1:34 in SY 2008-2009. Based on the national standard of teacher-pupil ratio which is 1:34 to

1:20, the province is within the expected ratio. Furthermore, the secondary school teacher-student

ratio has decreased from 1:41 in SY 2004-2005 to 1:35 SY 2008-2009 which is lower than the

national standard ratio of 1:40 to 1:45.


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Enrolment in Elementary

Enrolment in the elementary schools has reached 371,580 in SY 2008-2009, with 98 percent

enrolled in government school, 369,949 in 2007-2008 and 370,624 in 2006-2007. Variances in

elementary school enrolment for the last three school years are not significant.

Negros Occidental has the highest enrollment in the Region compared to Aklan which has an

enrollment of 76,323; Antique has 78,344; Capiz has 88,523 and Iloilo‘s elementary enrolment

was 223,061 in school year 2008-2009.

Enrolment in Secondary Schools

The number of students enrolled in secondary schools in SY 2008-2009 reached 162,165, 85

percent of which were enrolled in government schools. In 2007-2008 enrolment reached 163,732

and 162,310 in 2006-2007. Again, there is no significant difference in the secondary enrolment

for the past three school years.

Negros Occidental is the second highest enrollment in secondary schools in the Region compared

to Aklan which has an enrollment of 33,666; Capiz at 46,514 and Antique at 35,789. Highest

secondary enrolment is Iloilo at 223,068 in school year 2008-2009.

Comparative figures for elementary and secondary enrolment show that only about 44 percent of

elementary graduates enroll in the secondary level. However, in Iloilo, almost 100 percent of

elementary graduates would attend secondary schools.

Number of Teachers

The teacher-pupil ratio in the public elementary schools decreased from 1:35 in SY 2004-2005 to

1:34 in SY 2008-2009. Based on the national standard of teacher-pupil ratio which is 1:34 to 1:20,

the province is within the expected ratio. Furthermore, the secondary school teacher-student ratio

has decreased from 1:41 in SY 2004-2005 to 1:35 SY 2008-2009 which is lower than the national

standard ratio of 1:40 to 1:45.


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6.3.3 Housing

Housing is a special concern, particularly for physical planning because it occupies the largest

portion of the built-up land. Many of these informal settlers also occupy disaster-prone areas such

as flood-prone area.

In the Province of Negros Occidental, unplanned and informal settlements have flourished

especially in the cities of Bacolod and other component cities. A lot of people from the interior

towns and migrants from other provinces flock to these cities or municipalities in search for

greener pastures resulting to the urban blight, breakdown in basic services and deterioration of

urban environment, especially in the housing areas. Many of these informal settlements are

located in disaster-prone areas such as creeks, riverbanks and foreshores.

In general, providing housing is not a problem of supply but a problem of affordability, by which

the cost of land and housing is no longer within the reach of the informal settlers.

However, there are many factors and ways that could alleviate their current situation such as

direct and indirect subsidies in the cost of land and land development, construction and financing.

Government subsidies also have some assistance in various forms, the purpose of which is to

provide security of land tenure to the informal settlers in ways that entail the least dislocation.

Example of these are projects such as Slum Upgrading Program, Gawad Kalinga, Relocation sites

to dislocated settlers and many others.

Number of Households

The number of households in Western Visayas, increased to 1.21 million, or by 107 thousands

from 1995 figure of 1.10 million. The average household size decreased slightly to 5.12 from the

1995 figure of 5.22 persons.

The number of households in Negros Occidental increased to 503,663 or by 38,234 from 1995

figure computed at 465,429. The average household size slightly increased to 5.32 from 1995

figure of 5.2. This means that for every 100 households, the number of members increased by 12

persons.


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Occupied Housing Unit

Of the 493,996 occupied housing units, 95.68 percent are single detached, 1.56 percent are

duplex, 0.70 percent are multi-unit residential, 0.18 are commercial/industrial/agricultural, and

0.03 are institutional living quarters.

6.3.4. Security

The total crime volume in 2008 is lower at for the period registered at seven hundred thirty

incidents compared with 2007 at 439. Of these incidents, 439 were index crimes and 291 were

non index crimes. Compared to last year 2007, crime volume reached a total of seven hundred

ninety one (791) incidents; four hundred fifty eight (458) were index crimes while three hundred

thirty three (333) were non index crimes.

Comparatively, crime volume decrease by sixty one (61) incidents or 7.71 percent. The 2007

figure shows that these were index crime and non index crimes. In 2008 index crimes decreased

by nineteen (19) incidents or 4.14 percent, while non index crimes decreased by forty two (42)

incidents or 12.6 percent.


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The average monthly crime rate (AMCR) for 2008 registered at 2.80 person per 100,000

population which is notably lower by 0.24 compared to last year 2007 with 3.04.

The adoption of the community-Oriented Policy System and the DILG‘s community safety

program Barangay at Pulisya Laban sa Krimen are distinct efforts towards the collaboration

between the LGU‘s and the police force in keeping the community secured. Both programs are

anchored on the importance of the barangay tanods and members of anti-crime CVO‘s as force

multipliers that are primodial to the effectiveness of the governments peace and order efforts.

More significantly, the presence of policemen in the barangay to act as barangay tanod

supervisors is an initiative aimed at reinvigorating and empowering the barangay tanods into a

competent auxillary public safety force.

The downtrend in crime incidents could be attributed to the strict enforcement of checkpoints and

police visibility as part of crime prevention measures. The province of Negros Occidental is

relatively peaceful compared to other provinces in the country as there were no incidents of

kidnapping, bank robbery or violent acts of terrorism committed.

The actual police to population ratio is 1:1586 in 2008 lower compared to the national standard of

1: 1,000.

Number of firemen and fire trucks/ City/Municipality

The province of Negros Occidental has a total of 253 firemen. The ideal firemen population ratio

is 1:2000 and with the present scenario, the province still need 107 firemen to serve the entire

population.

Of the 31 cities/municipalities only Salvador Benedicto has no fire truck to serve the population

in case of fire. Under RA 6975 which provides that, the Bureau of Fire Protection shall establish

at least one fire station with adequate personnel equipment in every city/municipality.

Fire prevention programs and other disaster preparedness programs shall be implemented and

information drive be conducted.


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6.4 Utility/Infrastructure Services

6.4.1 Water and Sanitation

Out of 32 cities/municipalities in the province, 17 are served by water districts, the rest are LGU

managed local water facilities. The different water districts and waterworks make 68, 675 service

connections in the Province, including Bacolod City. Sipalay City Water District charges the

highest cost for water among the water districts at P279 per 10 m3 followed by Binalbagan at

P215 and Silay City at P200. On the other hand, La Castellana Water District charges the least at

PhP70 per m3 followed by La Carlota at P110 per m

3.

Households with access to safe water supply reached 444,290 comprising 95 percent of the total

actual households of 467,305 as per report of the Provincial Health Office in 2008. Households

with access to level I water supply has reached to 47.78 percent, down from 50.04 percent in

2007. The decrease could be attributed to the number of households with access to; level II water

supply and level III water supply. Access to Level II increased from 21.79 percent in 2007 to

22.50 percent in 2008. Level III water supply increased by 24.79 percent of households, slightly

up from 24.01 percent in 2007.

Households who have sanitary toilets and satisfactory garbage disposal reached 84 percent while

79 percent comprise of households with basic sanitary facility.


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6.4.2 Power

The power requirement in Negros Occidental is supplied mainly by the Palinpinon Geothermal

Power Plant in Negros Oriental. The power is being transmitted by the National Power

Corporation to 32 cities and municipalities through the three electric cooperatives: VRESCO,

NOCECO and CENECO. The total number of households with electric connections reached

354,519, including that of Bacolod City. The three electric cooperatives distributed a total of

771,491 mw of electricity in 2008, registering an increase of three percent (3%) from the 2007

distribution of 744,999 mw. Service connections in 2008 by type of consumer reached 329,492

which is five percent (5%) higher from the 2007 connections of 312,978. Fifty percent (50%) is

used by residential connections, 21 percent by industrial connections, and the rest is used for

street lights, irrigation and other connections.

Other power sources include the Northern Negros Geothermal Plant supplying the areas of Bago

City and Murcia in Negros Occidental has already been opened by the Energy Development

Corporation. Presently, EDC is expanding its wells within the buffer zone of the Mt. Kanlaon

Natural Park to generate more geothermal power and is expected to be fully operational in 2011.

Rural electrification projects are being implemented province wide through the initiatives of the

Electric Cooperatives, National Electrification Administration and Local Government Units.

Off-Grid Power Generation. The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, through the Asian

Development Bank, has initiated the Renewable Energy and Livelihood Development Project for

the Poor, or RENEW Project that began in 2004 and that was completed and made operational in

July 31, 2008 to reduce poverty in off grid areas of Negros Occidental. The executing agency for

the project is the Department of Energy while the implementing agency is WinRock International.

The project that will tap renewable energy to provide sustainable livelihood systems for the poor

operates in 11 communities in Negros Occidental and benefits 1,200 families. Hybrid renewable

energy systems that use biomass and solar power for fish drying have been established in Sipaway

Island, San Carlos City and Molocaboc Island in Sagay City.

Three micro-hydro systems at 34 kilowatts each are also being established in Sitio Balea,

Barangay Laga-an, Calatrava; Sitio Vergara and Magtuod in Brgy. Bug-ang, Toboso and Brgy.


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Baclao, Cauayan, to boost agri-based livelihoods. Communities can also avail of loans for

installation of household connections and other relevant projects.

Alternative Fuels/Bio-fuel. San Carlos Bio-Energy Inc. in San Carlos City has been inaugurated

by PGMA in 2009 and its bioethanol plant is now operational. Likewise, Roxol Bioenergy Corp.,

the bioethanol arm of listed sugar conglomerate Roxas Holdings Inc. (RHI) has engaged the

services of Indian-based firm KBK Chem-Engineering Pvt. Ltd. to build a P1-billion turnkey

bioethanol plant next to Central Azucarera de la Carlota in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

If all of the sugar mills in Negros Occidental went into power co-generation they could easily

produce 150 megawatts of much needed additional power for the province. So far only three of 10

sugar firms in Negros Occidental are going into power co-generation: First Farmers Holding

Corporation in Talisay City with its bagasse bio-mass co-generation power plant, and the ethanol

plants in San Carlos City and Central Azucarera de La Carlota.

The Provincial Government aggressively supports the move of sugar planters to utilize excess

sugar for the production of bio-ethanol and other bio-fuel sources in line with the implementation

of the Bio-fuels Act.

6.4.3 Drainage/Flood Control

Negros Occidental has seven major rivers namely: Himogaan River in Fabrica, Sagay City,

Sicaba River in Cadiz City, Malogo River in Victorias City, Bago River in Bago City, Binalbagan

River in Binalbagan, Ilog-Hilabangan River in Ilog and Sipalay River in Sipalay City. Of these

seven major rivers, Ilog-Hilabangan is considered to be the most flood-prone and highly

destructive. It has an influence area of 2044 km2 and a discharge of 4499 m

3.

The province aims to construct an irrigation highway tapping all seven major rivers whose total

discharge is estimated at 9,989 million cubic meter. The irrigation highway will serve as catch

basin for most water run-off and other excess water controlling flash floods, thus, preventing

further soil erosion and pollution in the coastal areas. This project may also be a source for

hydro-power, industrial and domestic water needs.


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6.4.4 Solid Waste Management

To ensure the protection of public health and environment, the province institutionalized an active

Provincial Solid Waste Management Board with functions to plan and implement programs of the

province on solid waste management. A 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan in accordance

with Republic Act 9003, known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, will be

formulated. The plan shall contain all the components provided in Section 17 of this act.

Out of 31 component cities and municipalities, 22 of which, has already prepared their 10-year

Solid Waste Management Plan. The Provincial Government is looking into the establishment of

an engineered type of sanitary landfill in selected areas/LGUs. Putting up this type of sanitary

landfill requires substantial resources, thus, the Province is planning to adopt the cluster-scheme

approach. The City of San Carlos, having its sanitary landfill fully operated, is willing to cater

LGUs in the 1st Congressional District while the cities of Sagay and Kabankalan with their

sanitary landfill facilities having launched recently, are expected to cater LGUs in the 2nd

and 6th

districts, respectively. Other LGUs are still on open dumpsite facility.

On the other hand, almost all component cities and municipalities in the Province have already

formulated their Safe and Closure Rehabilitation Plan (SCRP) except for Calatrava, San Enrique,

Isabela and Candoni.

In general, the Plan outlines a new framework of solid waste management in the Province and this

will basically address future waste management needs. It will reduce the volume of the solid

wastes flow through the implementation of waste reduction and recycling program. The Plan will

now serve as the basis for the Province‘s solid waste management for the next several years.

Proposed Solid Waste Facility of Bacolod City. The City of Bacolod intends to construct and

operate a sanitary land fill at a 7-hectare site in Purok Acacia, Barangay Felisa which is

approximately 9 kms from the center of the city. The sanitary landfill is part of the City‘s

integrated Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Project. On March 3, 2010, the

Sangguniang Panlungsod of the city approved a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign the

contract between the City and the contractor for the design and build a sanitary landfill. The


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contract price is Php 32,899,636.99 and target completion is 180 calendar days from receipt of

notice to proceed.

6.5 Other Services and Facilities

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office has been promoting the well being of

women and children, youth, senior citizens, person‘s with disabilities and victims of disasters. As

of 2007, the disaster victims reached a total of 22,533 families or 112,665 persons who were

given relief assistance and rehabilitation services. One of the facilities provided is the core shelter

unit and a total of 732 units were constructed since 2000.

As of 2008, there are 1,602 Day care Centers serving a total of 63,420 pre-school children. From

2007, there is an increase of 41 DCCs in 2008; the number of pre-school enrollees increased by 3

percent from 61,305 to 63,420.

Out of 31 LGU‘s, 25 have Senior Citizens Centers serving 53,100 registered senior citizen

members as of 2007. There is a decrease of 32 percent in the number of registered members from

2006 to 2007.

Based on the survey conducted in 2007, there are 3,102 households of Indigenous People (IP) in

the province. Classified according to tribes, are ata negrito in Isabela, Bukidnon in Salvador

Benedicto, and Magahat in Hinobaan

To help uplift the indigenous peoples‘ social and economic condition the province through NCIP

provided livelihood projects and other programs and services.


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6.6 Poverty

Traditionally, poverty is defined as ―the minimum amount of income below which a person

cannot attain a predetermined bundle of goods and services, as deemed necessary for the

fulfillment of certain basic consumption needs or minimum basic needs‖

The new concept of poverty today is redefined as not simply the lack of material resources, but

also the absence of capabilities, opportunities, and power that will allow an individual to fully

assume his/her role as a member of the community.

The annual per capita poverty threshold in 2006, or the amount required to be spent to satisfy the

nutritional requirements and other basic needs of an individual is P13,975.

The province ranked number 5 in terms of poverty incidence among families in Region VI.

Poverty incidence of families notably decreased by 10.2 percentage points from 41.6 in 2000 to

31.4 in 2003. Poverty incidence of population also increased by 2.5 from 39.5 in 2004 to 42.0 in

2006.

Western Visayas is one among the only four regions that had successfully reduced its poverty

incidence in 2006. However, it also continued to have the highest number of poor families. It

accounted for 9.1 percent of the total number of poor families in the country, 0.8 percentage point

lower than the region‘s share in 2003.

Based on the National Statistic Coordination Board (NSCB) poverty Mapping/ Municipal Level

Small Estimates for 2001 reveals that three municipalities were on the alarming situation namely;

Moises Padilla,Manapla, and San Enrique, Himamaylan City is in worse situation 19 cities/muns

in better situation and Isabela in best situation other has no data.


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Figure 12. Poverty Incidence Map of Negros Occidental


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Table 20. Local Service Standards

SERVICES STANDARD

SOCIAL SERVICES Education and Culture

Elementary Education

Classroom 1 per 40 pupils

Teacher 1 per 40 pupils

Library

Separate building or room, well, lighted,

ventilated, free from noise, accessible and centrally located

Teacher-librarian 1 per 500or less pupils

Full and part-time teacher-librarian 1 each per 5001-1,000 pupils

Full-time librarian & part-time teacher-

librarian 1 per 1,000-2,000 pupils

Full-time librarian 1 for every additional 1,000 pupils

Secondary Education

Classroom 1 per 40-45 students

Teacher 1 per 40-45 students

Library

Separate building or room, well lighted,

ventilated, free from noise, accessible, and centrally located

Librarian/Teacher-Librarian 1 per enrolment of 500 or less students

Full-time librarian Additional 1,000 students

Sports and Recreation

Municipality Park 1 park with a minimum of 5,000 sqm area per 1,000 population and maximum walking distance

of 100-150 meters

Sports and Athletics

Public playfield/athletic field with a minimum of

0.50 hectares per 1,000 inhabitants

1 sports facility per barangay

Natural Environment Area

Presence of natural, undisturbed and scenic areas

suitable for recreation, with scientific and

ecological significance consisting of forest, water resources and other land forms


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Table 20. Local Service Standards (continuation)

SERVICES STANDARD

Health

Medical and allied personnel

1 Government Physician per 20,000 population

1 Public Nurse per 20,000 population

1 Rural Health Midwife per 50,000 population

1 Government Dentist per 50,000 population

1 Rural Sanitary Inspector per 20,000 population

1 Barangay Health Worker per 20,000 HH

1 Barangay Nutrition Scholar per barangay

1 Health Educator per 50,000 population

Primary Hospital 10 bed capacity

Secondary Hospital (Prov./District) 25- 50 bed capacity

Medical Transport

Ambulance 1 per LGU

Service Vehicle 1 per LGU

Protective Services

Police Force 1 Policeman per 1,000 population (Urban)

1 Policeman per 1,000 population (Rural)

Fire Protection Service

1 Fireman per 2,000 population

14 Firemen per fire truck

1 Fire Truck per 28,000 population

Jail Services 1 Jail per LGU

Welfare Services

Women‘s desk

Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs

Day Care Center/Feeding Center

Rehabilitation Center (for victims of

drug abuse, vagrants, victims of

disasters, calamities, child abuse, etc.)

Adult Community Program

1 per LGU


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SERVICES STANDARD

Environmental Protection

Solid Waste Management 100% collection and disposal

Pollution Control Absence of air, water and industrial pollutants

100% free from toxic and hazardous substances

Public Buildings and Facilities

Municipal Hall/Prov‘l. Capitol

Socio-Cultural Center

Museum

Barangay, Municipal and City Halls

Presence

ECONOMIC SERVICES

Infrastructure Services and Existing Road Network

Provincial Road

Provincial Road connecting all component

municipalities and cities (except island

municipality)

Municipal Road Municipal Road connecting major clusters of

population to the town proper

Feeder Road (Barangay road, rural road, or

farm-to-market road)

Connecting all barangays to municipal or

provincial road

Water Supply (Municipality)

Level I

Point source (such as rain collector, wells and

springs generally for rural areas where houses

are scattered too thinly to justify a distribution system)

Level II

Communal faucet system generally for rural

areas where houses are clustered densely enough

to justify a piped distribution system to a number

of households. Piped system with individual connection in urban areas, with average output of

150 liters per person per day.

Sewerage Services (Municipality) Existence of functional sewer system. Absence

of stagnant water formation


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SERVICES STANDARD

Market and Slaughterhouse

Accessible from all directions and through all modes of transportation; site located in urban

area; Standard Sections and Facilities:

Wet Section

Semi-wet section

Dry goods section

Storage facilities

Eateries

Parking space

Running water

Proper lighting

Proper ventilation

Drainage

Treatment plant or settling pond


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7. LAND USE AND PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK

This section describes the existing land uses in the province and identifies an integrating physical

framework for future development.

7.1 Existing land use, trends and potential expansion

7.1.1. Existing land use

The 792,607-hectare land of Negros Occidental is mainly utilized for: production, protection and

built-up or settlement use, with most or 84 percent of the land utilized for production. Production

lands are categorized into crop lands (rice, corn, mango, banana, other food crops, sugarcane,

coconut, coffee, and other industrial crops and grasses/shrubs); fishponds; industrial development

areas; tourism; and production forest.

More than 13 percent of the land in the province are protection land where Mt. Kanlaon Natural

Park, North Negros Natural Park, Bago River Watershed and Ilog-Holabangan River Watershed

are located. Most of these areas have more than 30 percent slope. Mangrove areas are also

included in the protection use zone.

More than 2 percent or 17,257 hectares remaining land are used for built-up or settlement use.

These areas are usually found along the coastline. Bacolod City, the capital city, occupies the

bigger bulk of built-up and settlement areas. Population density is also higher in this major urban

center being the center for trade and commerce in the province. Notably, there are settlements or

built-up areas found within forestland, occupying 4,095 hectares.


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Source: DA ,DENR/RPFP

Table. 21. Area Distribution of Existing Land Uses, CY 2003 (Ha)

LAND USE TYPE Area

I. Production Land Use 668,771.24

1. Crop Lands 519,001.25

1.1 Rice 62,503.00

1.1.1 Paddy Irrigated 38,969.00

1.1.2 Paddy Non-Irrigated 16,620.00

1.1.3 Upland 6,914.00

1.2 Corn 30,638.00

1.3 Mango 4,368.00

1.4 Banana 9,300.00

1.5 Other Food Crops 830.00

1.6 Industrial Crops 128,410.00

1.6.1 Sugarcane 90,320.00

1.6.2 Coconut 35,830.00

1.6.3 Coffee 1,967.00

1.6.4 Other Industrial Crops 293.00

1.7 Grasses/Shrubs 282,952.25

2. Fishponds 11,318.00

2.1 Within A&D 5,856.00

2.2 Within Forestland 5,462.00

3. Industrial Development Areas 405.00

4. Tourism 200.00

5. Production Forests 137,786.99

5.1 Rangeland for Grazing 0.00

5.2 Industrial Tree Plantation 10,465.38

5.3 Community Based Forest Management 19,654.95

5.4 Integrated Social Forestry 23,321.09

5.5 Regular Reforestation and Other Development Projects 5,486.20

5.6 Other Land Uses 78,859.37

5.6.1 Ancestral Domain Claims 3,889.53

5.6.2 Civil Reservations 2,119.00

5.6.3 Military Reservations 0.00

5.6.4 Naval Reservations 0.00

5.6.5 Communal Forest 1,093.00

5.6.6 Open Access 71,757.84

II. Protection Land Use 106,638.43

1. NIPAS Areas 104,877.06

1.1 Natural Park 22,600.00

1.2 Forest Reserve & Other Forest Land for Forest Purposes 71,445.00

1.3 Watershed Forest Reserve 10,832.06

2. Non-NIPAS Areas 1,761.37

2.1 Mangroves 1,761.37

III. Built-Up Areas 17,257.33

1. Within A&D 13,162.00

2. Within Forestland 4,095.33


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7.1.2. Trends

Several factors have cause changes in the physical landscape and land use of the province. These

contributing factors include the increasing population growth rate and density, especially in urban

areas. Population density has increased from 323/km2 in 2000 to 363/km

2 in 2007. This means

that there are 40 more people in a given area in 2007 than seven years ago. Population growth

rate of the province have been increasing and almost half a million people were added in the last

twelve years. The increasing population has put tremendous pressure to the limited physical

resources of the province and has encouraged encroachment in environmentally-critical and

protection areas.

The rapid conversion of prime agricultural lands to other uses is another factor that causes the

change in land use. Some landowners convert their agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses

because of financial and operational issues, particularly in those areas covered by the Agrarian

Reform Program. Most of these prime agricultural lands are being converted to residential and

commercial subdivisions.

The establishment of major infrastructure projects like sea ports and airports has spurred

development in many areas of the province. To accommodate these developments, many LGUs

updated their comprehensive land use plans, reclassifying agricultural lands to non-agricultural

uses. Increased access has also encouraged many cities and municipalities to update their CLUPs

to accommodate requests for lands for non-agricultural uses such as housing, commercial and

industrial uses. As of 2010, eight LGUs have already updated their CLUPs and the rest are in the

process of completing the updating of their land use plans and their comprehensive development

plans. Updating of CLUPs will pave the way for the reclassification and eventual conversion of

agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses.

Below are the land use changes observed in the province since 1990:


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Table 22. Land Use Changes, 1990-2007, Province of Negros Occidental (to be filled-up)

1990 2007 % Changes (1990-2007)

Agricultural Use

Non-Agricultural Use

Other Land Uses

Total

7.2 Physical framework

In this section, a framework to guide future physical developments and the location of PPAs in

the province is derived. The framework is composed of several proposed general components

(settlements, production, protection, transport/other infrastructure) that relate vertically to similar

regional (RPFP) and local (CLUP) plans.

The framework is the product of integrating and reconciling the previous components of the plan

environment. By definition, it sets the physical parameters by which future growth and

development, including identified PPAs, can take place.

7.2.1. Initial Settlement Growth

Considering the existing land uses as against the existing settlement hierarchy and expansion

trends will help us assess the future land and space requirements of the province. There is a need

to delineate approximate future settlement and built-up areas based on the demand for land i.e.

how existing settlements are expected to grow and expand geographically.

Map 25 shows primarily the built-up expansion areas that are foreseen by the province based on

the analysis of the various factors discussed in 7.1.2 (Trends). Apparently, Bacolod City will

continue to expand its built-up areas in the north and south periphery including the northern

boundary of Bago City.


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From Talisay City to Victorias City, new built-up areas will be developed along the main artery as

areas surrounding the New Bacolod Airport in Silay City are also developed. These

developments of built-up areas will be the trend along the main highway of the province both

from south to north. Except for the 3rd

district, alliances among LGUs have already been formed

to initially to address management of common natural resources such as, coastal resources.

However, these LGU alliances will expand to address emerging issues on urbanization, housing,

solid waste management, and other social and economic concerns.

The establishment of an Export Processing Zone for Negros agribusiness in Sagay City coupled

with a new sea port for roll-on roll-off vessels and a community airport in San Carlos City will

promote economic activities from Victorias City to San Carlos City, which is expected to cause a

surge in the opening of new areas for built-up and settlement zones. The possibility of a nautical

bridge connecting Negros Island to Panay Island through E.B. Magalona town has stirred interest

among land owners in the area. Demand for reclassification and conversion of lands along the

main highway is inevitable.

The construction of a community airport in Kabankalan City and the development of Sipalay City

and Hinoba-an as tourism areas will boost the economy of the 6th district. With the continuous

improvement of the road network in the district, there will be influx of both local and foreign

tourists in the southern part of Negros Occidental including investors. Thus, new growth areas in

Kabankalan City and Sipalay City would likely emerge.

As computed, estimated amount of new settlement land requirement to accommodate additional

population between 2000 to 2010 is 136 hectares.


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7.2.2. Initial Settlements and Protection Land Use

The objective of this section is to check if the likely areas of growth and expansion as identified in

Map 25 are in conflict or not with the supply of land as defined by identified protection areas. If

there are conflicts then these should be eliminated or minimized by modifying the results in initial

settlement growth framework accordingly - by trying to avoid expansion into the protected areas

and/or minimizing the impact of expansion into protected areas.

In Negros Occidental, existing and potential land use conflicts are derived as a result of map

analysis, observations and extracted from CLUP of cities and municipalities:

1. All 25 coastal LGUs are prone to coastal flooding, storm surge and coastal erosion.

2. Some of the built-up areas of the following LGUs are flood prone to wit: Kabankalan City,

Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Pontevedra, San Enrique, Silay City, Talisay City, Manapla,

Cadiz City, Victorias City

3. Sipalay City, Kabankalan City, Bago City, Murcia, San Carlos City, D.S. Benedicto are

LGUs where some of its built-up zones are inside protected watershed areas

4. There are four potential LGUs namely: Isabela, Kabankalan City, Bago City, Murcia

wherein some of their existing and expansion built-up zones are located in protected forest

areas

5. La Castellana and Moises Padilla have built-up areas which are affected by potential

volcanic eruption

6. One major fault line traverses the major growth center of Kabankalan City

7. Sagay City and the municipality of Manapla are found along major rivers thus, relatively

prone to flooding.


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Given these land use conflicts, policies are identified that would mitigate or prevent future land

use conflicts. These may include the following:

1. Mainstreaming of disaster risk management in development and land use planning and in

the development investment plan portfolio.

2. Strict implementation of buffer zones establishment along river easement and coastlines by

LGUs and DENR through co-management scheme.

3. Allowable activities that have minimal impact on environmental quality of protected areas

will be identified and enforced through forest land use plan, coastal zoning or water use

plan among others.

4. Increase public awareness on values of protection areas and disaster preparedness.

8. Increase public participation in conservation and disaster mitigation efforts in their

communities.


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7.2.3. Overall Physical Framework

The overall physical framework incorporates the land use and other physical requirements of

other sectors with the results of step B to derive an overall physical framework plan.

Settlements Framework

Metro Bacolod

Bacolod City is the highly urbanized capital, communication, trade and service center of the

Province of Negros Occidental, one of the twin provinces of Negros Island in the cluster of the

Visayan Islands in the heart of the Philippine Archipelago. Bacolod is bounded in the northwest

by the cities of Talisay; in the northeast by Silay and Victorias; in the east and southwest by the

town of Murcia; in the southwest by the City of Bago; and in the west by the Guimaras Strait.

Bacolod has an upbeat local economy and unlimited opportunities for trade and investments

because the city is home to a high percentage of the Philippines top 20 corporations. It is

acclaimed as the Most Business Friendly City in the Philippines in 2007 by the Philippine

Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The city has an effective maintenance of clean and green

surroundings as evidenced by a HALL OF FAME AWARD as the Cleanest and Greenest Highly

Urbanized City in the Philippines. It has a low percentage of illegal settlers and a systematic

traffic planning that offers the luxury of driving through the wide roads in a highly urbanized

center.

Bacolod City is now considered as the Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing

hub of Western Visayas with the presence of 8 major call centers. It has a stable peace and order

condition where incidence of crime is low and there is high police visibility and a crime solution

of 97 percent.

The concept of Greater Bacolod Area was never materialized in the last 15 years when it was

conceptualized. Apparently, Bacolod City seem to develop by itself as evidenced by the various

expansion of built-up and commercial zones within the city.


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Metro Third

A newer concept being floated among planners is the METRO THIRD Alliance. The idea is to

bring in all LGUs within the 3rd

district to form an alliance for natural resource management,

economic development and waste management. Bacolod City is invited to join the alliance. This

model is becoming more of a reality because of the new airport located in the 3rd district of the

province. Secondly, the practicality of coming up with a common solid waste disposal facility

and system. Finally, the remaining LGUs that do not have an alliance for coastal resource are

Talisay City, Silay City, E.B. Magalona and Bacolod City.

Other Urban Centers

Kabankalan City

As the growth center in the south and gateway to Negros Oriental, Kabankalan City has growth

by leaps and bounds. The presence of urban supermarkets (Gaisano Malls, Lopues Value Store,

Libra Mart) and national fast food chain such as Jollibee shows the fast development of the city.

The construction of its community airport and the development of the southern Negros Occidental

as tourism hub of the province makes Kabankalan as the urban center in the south.

Victorias City, Sagay City, San Carlos City

These three cities are the three fastest urbanizing city in northern Negros Occidental. Aside from

the existing sugar mills in these localities each one has its own distinct land mark.

Victorias City is famous for its Victorias Milling Company. However lately, with the

construction of its Victorias Gymnasium, it is now home of the Philippine Basketball Association

in Negros Occidental.

Sagay City with two sugar mills and the infamous Insular Lumber Company now boast itself with

its Sagay Marine Reserve, New City Hall, Museo Pambata and Export Processing Zone.

San Carlos City with its Sipaway Island and Clean Sea Port is now home of the first Ethanol Plant

in the province. They are also making grounds for a call center in the city.


III - 144


III - 145

Protection Framework

Negros Occidental has around 7 percent remaining forest. These forests are found in the NIPAS

areas such as Mt. Kanla-on Natural Park, North Negros Natural Park and the two watershed areas

of the province. Other than in the upland, another NIPAS area is Sagay Marine Reserve and other

non-NIPAS but equally critical protected areas such as Danjugan Island and the various marine

sanctuaries in the coastal areas of the province.

Presently, rehabilitation and protection programs and activities are in place in these protected

areas. The Environment Code of the province provides for the policies particularly encroachment

in protected areas. Bantay Bukid Brigade and the Task Force Ilahas should be strengthened as

environment police and guardian of our forest.

Public awareness should be enhanced in the protection and rehabilitation of protected areas both

upland and coastal.

As a matter of policy, zoning ordinances should be strictly followed and land use standards fully

implemented i.e. buffer zones and embankments.

The various alliances for coastal resources should be strengthened and expanded to address other

concerns of the LGUs to include waste management, environmental issues, social and economic

concerns.


III - 146


III - 147

Production Framework

Agriculture

Negros Island is envisioned as the organic food capital of Asia. The provincial government is

looking forward that by the end of the planning period, 10 percent of agricultural farms of the

province has converted into organic agriculture. To ensure and assess the extent of meeting

the 10 percent target, the provincial government with the cooperation of the LGUs established

organic villages all over the province.

Thus, the twin provinces in Negros created the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and

Rural Development Program in 2005. The program aims to counter the ill-effects of

chemical-based agriculture, ensure food security, support conservation of biodiversity, and

assist government in its poverty alleviation efforts.

Agriculture of Negros Occidental will become diversified with sugarcane as the main crop

and livestock as complimentary industry. Livestock is also a main component of organic

agriculture. Rice and corn (feed corn) sufficiency is a target of the province. Negrenses will

be taught to eat more fruits and vegetables for healthy foods thus, production of these

commodities are encouraged. This will be done through information, education and

communication. This will also be integrated in school curricula. Religious groups will also

be tapped in promoting this novel program. Roots crops as alternative to rice and flour are

being researched by the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Root crops are agricultural

commodities that uses very little chemicals or none at all.

Support facilities such as rice and corn grain centers will be established to support the organic

agriculture program. Triple A abattoirs will also be constructed for the livestock industry and

the Export Processing Zone so it can pass international quality standards.

Fisheries

Negros Occidental aims to regain back its status as a net exporter of fishery products by 2013.

With the organic stand of the province, its fisheries will also be cultured and grown under the

organic standards.


III - 148

Coastal Fisheries Resource Management (CFRM) Program will also be given importance and

priority. Marine sanctuaries and fishery reserves will be established to preserve breeding

areas and improve fish population. Sanctuaries will also become tourism attraction in the

province.

Energy

The need for an alternative source of energy for the increasing demand in the province has

pushed the provincial government to decide on renewable energy as its primary source as it is

environment friendly and does not need to import its energy source. These include water,

biomass, wind, solar, ethanol, jatropha, bio-gas among others. Coal and other power source

may also be considered as long as it meets the environment and health policy of the province.

Tourism

The province of Negros Occidental is famous for its nature tourism or its ecological tourism.

Recently, it has also developed its agricultural tourism as a result of its organic farming

policy.

Mambukal Resort is the tourism flagship of the province. The resort lies 1,200 feet or about

366 meters above sea level and serves as a gateway to the Mount Kanlaon Volcano. Its Land

Area is over 23.6 hectares, Mambukal is blessed with numerous beautiful natural resources.

A huge mountain stream, fed by several water channels, flows down in a series of seven falls

and flows through the center of the resort, feeding the swimming pools and boating lagoon.

The resort has an ideal location for viewing decks or, for more great encounters with nature,

the Canopy Walk with its hanging bridges. You can also challenge yourself on the Rock

Climbing Wall or the Slide for Life.

There also other LGU initiated tourism sites and activities. Tourism development should

conform to proper zoning and sound and sustainable development that must be sensitive to

local traditions, culture and customs. The PLUC ensures that proper compliance to land

regulatory measures and zoning ordinances are followed.


III - 149

Mining

Large scale mining companies used to operate in the province but these were closed due to

financial and labor problems. Should the mining industry be revitalized, environmentally-

sound and socially-acceptable mining practices will be promoted. Environmental protection

and ecological integrity of mining firms in all stages of mining operations should be given

utmost consideration. Mining laws shall be strictly enforced.

Industry

Most industries in the province are agri-based or resourced-based industries. Heavy and

highly-pollutive industries are welcome but not encourage.

The province encourages the LGUs to zone their respective areas in accordance with actual

and potential land uses. Built-up/settlements should be guided by the local comprehensive

development and land use plan based on the suitability, existing and potential industry needs,

support infrastructures and environmental impacts. Industrial developments should also be

inconsonance with the policy of the province in terms of environmental protection and

conservation, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and healthy practices.

Situating of industries should be guided by the objective of a market-oriented dispersal

strategy and a common objective as exemplified by the alliances of LGUs. Industries should

be able to developed new growth centers and economic zones.


III - 150


III - 151

Transport/Infrastructure Development Framework

It is inevitable that with the present trend, the provincial economy will continue to grow and

inflate. Pressure from the increasing populace for transport facilities, buildings, roads, bridges,

power, water, food, shelter, etc. will be overwhelming.

Basic infrastructures are basis of investors to come into the province. So it‘s a ―chicken or egg‖

scenario. Government shall always support business and its populace.

The provincial will always support the LGUs in providing their infrastructure needs as long as it

is with the standard of zoning and land use plan.

The provincial government has laid out its plan for an irrigation highway to support the domestic,

industrial and agricultural water needs of the LGUs. It also has a dual purpose of being a source

of power for hydro-electricity.

Construction of sanitary landfills is being laid in the table by LGUs as the cost is way below the

financial capacity of most LGUs. The existing alliances are already in the drawing tables as to

come up with common land-fills, jointly financed by LGUs. This is being encouraged by the

province in fact it is being initiated by the provincial government through its Solid Waste

Management Board.


III - 152


III - 153

Negros Occidental Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan, 2008 -2013 Chapter IV : Development Issues, Goals, Objectives/Targets

IV - 154

CHAPTER IV

Development Issues, Goals, Objectives/Targets

1. Development Issues and Problems

Development issues are basically problems directly related to symptoms or indicators of

development. Some issues are sector-specific while others are multi-sectoral. Sectoral-specific

issues are addressed directly while multi-sectoral issues require more than just providing technical

solutions to technical problems. Solutions may involve combinations of socio-economic, political

and military or police interventions.

Feg. 13. The planning environment, development issues/problems, strategies and PPAs.

PLANNING ENVIRONMENT

DRIVERS Population Economy

Physical Resources

SYMPTOMS Income Services Land Use

1 Development

Issues/Problems

4 Programs

Projects Activities

3 Strategies

2 Goals

Objectives/Targets

VISION


IV - 155

Development issues and problems in Negros Occidental were gathered from two sources namely:

1. Assessment of the planning environment and;

2. The several multi-sectoral/stakeholders consultations conducted by the P/LPEM Core

Team. These consultations were attended by LGUs, National Agencies, Provincial

Departments/Offices, NGOs, and private institutions/corporations including the business

community.


IV - 156

Table 23. Development Issues and Problems

Issues/Problems

DRIVERS

Population High Growth Rate

Early marriages

High birth rates

Large family sizes

Apparent ineffective Family Planning Program

Illiteracy rate

Physical Resources Declining forest cover (upland & Mangrove)

Degradation of watershed

Polluted river system

Limited ecosystem profiling and delineation conflicts

Degraded marine ecosystem

Unsustainable implementation of environmental laws and ordinances

Transport/Access Insufficient power supply

Insufficient water supply

Non-compliance of Water Code

Lack of Farm to Market Roads and Bridges

Lack of irrigation facilities

Limited access to Panay and Cebu

Deteriorating roads and bridges

Economy

High dependence to sugar industry

Deficit in production of most agricultural commodities

Dependence on power supply from other provinces

Limited market accessibility of farm products

Marginal production performance of CARP lands

Declining agricultural productivity due to declining soil fertility and

rampant land conversion

Limited access to credit


IV - 157

Table 23. Development Issues and Problems (continued)

Issues/Problems

SYMPTOMS/INDICATORS

Income Services Low priority to disaster management

Inaccessible and unaffordable health care services

Inadequate government hospital facilities, supplies and manpower

Limited government investment for health program

No integrated disaster and epidemic management plan for LGUs

Increasing number of drop outs in elementary and High School

students / Increasing number of out of school youth

Lack of affordable housing program

Inefficient access and control of the various disadvantage sectors over

social welfare and development services and resources

Low average family income

Lack of livelihood opportunities/skills/education

Lack of capital/resources

Limited employment opportunities

High incidence of poverty

Land Use Urban encroachment on agricultural lands

Conversion of upland areas and prime agricultural land to non-food

production use such as tourism use

Boundary conflicts in some LGUs

Encroachment in protected areas

Mining malpractice

Soil erosion and landslide

Salt water intrusion

Flooding


IV - 158

3. Development Goals, Objectives and Targets

Guided by the vision of the province, goals, objectives and targets are formulated to respond and

meet the gaps as identified by the various issues and problems. Goals respond to be inter-sectoral

in coverage as they respond to a general problem. An objective/target tends to focus on a single

sector. Objectives/targets are specific, can be measured, achievable, realistic, and should be

achieve with a specific time frame. Again, these goals and objectives were results of the several

consultations and group discussions of varied sectors both in the government and the private

organizations.

Goals and objectives/targets formulated here are more directly derived from symptoms since their

significance are direct and are more achievable rather than those derived from the drivers of

development.


IV - 159

Table 24. Development Goals, Objectives, and Targets

Issues/Problems GOALS OBJECTIVES/TARGETS

SYMPTOMS/INDICATORS

Income / Services

Low priority to disaster

management To integrate disaster risk

reduction and climate change adaption in PDPFP

and decision making

process

To mainstream DRR in the

PDPFP and PDIP/AIP

No integrated disaster and

epidemic management plan for LGUs

Inaccessible and

unaffordable health care services

To provide accessible,

affordable, and sustainable quality health care services

for all Negrenses.

To provide Philhealth ng Masa

to indigents in the province

Conduct regular medical and dental missions to far-flung

barangays

Enhance LGU-run infirmaries

and medical facilities

Construction of additional

primary hospital in the 6th

district

Inadequate government

hospital facilities, supplies

and manpower

Upgrading of provincial and

district hospitals

Upgrading and provision of hospital facilities and

equipment

Limited government

investment for health

program

Increase government investment in health care

program by 5% annually

Increasing number of drop

outs in elementary and High

School students / Increasing number of out of school

youth

To reduce Elementary and High School drop outs and

enable children of school

going age to have access to education.

To provide incentives to

indigent parents such as ―food for education‖

Provision of free school supplies to indigent students

Provision of transportation to

far-flung students particularly in high school

Lack of affordable housing

program

To make available affordable, pro-poor,

DRR/CC adapted,

environment-compliant, well-planned housing

program

To formulate a strategic

framework anchored on multi-stakeholder/tripartite, market

based, private sector and LGU

led reforms and approaches to housing and informal settlers.


IV - 160

Table 24. Development Goals, Objectives, and Targets (continued)


SYMPTOMS/INDICATORS

Inefficient access and control

of the various disadvantage

sectors over social welfare

and development services and resources

To improve status of

human development index

and more equitable distribution of resources

To improve life expectancy

from 67 to 75

To increase literacy from 91%

to 95%

To increase per capita income

by 3% annually

To ensure efficient access and control over social

welfare and development

services

Adequate provision of basic social services

To meet the present needs of the various

disadvantaged sectors

(elderly, father, women, youth, women, youth

children, differently-abled

persons, victims of natural

& man-made disasters, individuals & families in

especially difficult

circumstances.

Priority programs for various

disadvantage sectors

Low average family income

To increase

incomes/livelihood opportunities thus,

reducing unemployment

and poverty incidence.

Provide income generating opportunities

Lack of livelihood

opportunities/ skills/

education

Provide job fairs

Lack of capital/resources Support cooperatives and

micro-finance NGOs

Limited employment

opportunities

Provide a conducive climate for investments

High incidence of poverty Reduce poverty incidence by 3% annually

Land Use

Urban encroachment on

agricultural lands

To strictly enforce

regulations on

indiscriminate land

conversion.

Regular monitoring of PLUC

on land use compliance Conversion of upland areas

and prime agricultural land

to non-food production use

such as tourism use

Encroachment in protected

areas

Prosecute violators in protected areas


IV - 161

Table 24. Development Goals, Objectives, and Targets (continued)


SYMPTOMS/INDICATORS

Boundary conflicts in some

LGUs

To establish and strengthen inter-LGU Land and Water

for boundary delineation.

Resolve boundary conflicts by

the end of planning period

Mining malpractice

To bring to a minimum the

degradation of the environment while

protecting communities in

disaster prone areas.

Prosecute violators of mining

laws

Soil erosion and landslide Intensify awareness of sloping agricultural technology

Salt water intrusion Eliminate indiscriminate

shallow wells

Flooding Install proper drainage system

Negros Occidental Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan, 2008 -2013

Chapter V : Strategies, Programs, Projects, and Activities

V - 162

CHAPTER V

Strategies, Programs, Projects, and Activities

The present framework on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation has bolstered the

resolve of the province to enhance disaster management in the province. The initial action plan

for disaster risk reduction are as follows:

1. Risk Assessment Data Gathering and/or Validation/Consultations

2. Strengthening local disaster management councils

3. Mainstreaming DRR & CCA in local governance and budget

4. Massive Information Campaign

The above framework is summarized through the province‘s ―Amlig Kabuhi‖ Program whose

strategies include the following:

1. LGU‘s/ Community Participation

2. Alliance Building and Linkage Development

3. Enhanced Management Information System

4. Conduct of Risk Analysis in Hazard Prone Areas

5. Institutionalization and Sustainability



V - 163

Table 25. Strategies, Program, Projects and Activities

OBJECTIVES/TARGETS STRATEGIES PPAs

To mainstream DRR in the PDPFP and PDIP/AIP

Strengthening of PDCC by mainstreaming disaster risk

reduction and climate change

adaptation

PDCC Strategic Planning

Strengthen monitoring of

vulnerable localities and

communities

PDCC regular monitoring

To provide Philhealth ng Masa

to indigents in the province

Establish an affordable comprehensive health care

program.

Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health

Program

To conduct regular medical and dental missions to far-flung

barangays

Conduct regular Medical and

Dental Missions Medical/Dental Mission

To enhance LGU-run

infirmaries and medical facilities

Enhancement of LGU-run

infirmaries and medical facilities

Evaluation of LGU-run

Infirmaries and Medical Facilities

To construct additional primary hospital in the 6

th district

Construction of additional health

facilities in tourism expansion

areas

Hospital Construction

To upgrade provincial and

district hospitals and hospital

equipment

Capacitate health providers

Capacity Development

Program for Health

providers

To increase government

investment in health care program by 5% annually

Empower communities through

health advocacies and education.

Community

Empowerment on Health Programs

To provide incentives to

indigent parents such as ―food for education‖

Capacitate education providers Capacity Development

Incentivized education Food-for -Education

To provide free school supplies

to indigent students Provision of free school supplies

Educational Assistance

Program

To provide transportation to far-

flung students particularly in high school

Provision of transport vehicle Sakay-Aral Program

To formulate a strategic

framework anchored on multi-

stakeholder/tripartite, market based, private sector and LGU

led reforms and approaches to

housing and informal settlers.

Strategic frame-working Strategic Planning



V - 164

Table 25. Strategies, Program, Projects and Activities (continued)

OBJECTIVES/TARGETS STRATEGIES PPAs

To improve life expectancy

from 67 to 75 Life expectancy improvement

HDI improvement

Program

To increase literacy from 91%

to 95% Increase literacy

HDI improvement

Program

To increase per capita income

by 3% annually Increase per capita income

HDI improvement

Program

To provide adequate basic

social services

Provision of basic social

services Social Services Program

To prioritize programs for

various disadvantage sectors

Programs for disadvantage

sectors Social Services Program

To provide income generating

opportunities Income generating opportunities

Income Generating

Opportunities

Home-based Industries

To conduct job fairs Conduct Job Fairs Job Fairs

To support cooperatives and micro-finance NGOs

Support to cooperatives and MFIs

Micro-Finance Program

To provide a conducive climate for investments

Creation of a Business Development Board

Business Development Board

To reduce poverty incidence by 3% annually

Reduction of poverty incidence Local Poverty Reduction Program

To conduct regular monitoring on land use compliance by

PLUC

Regular PLUC monitoring PLUC Monitoring and

Evaluation

To prosecute violators inside

protected areas Prosecution of violators Bantay Bukid Brigade

To resolve boundary conflicts

by the end of planning period Resolve boundary conflicts

Alliance Building

Program

To prosecute violators of

mining laws Prosecution of violators Balas-Bato task Force

To intensify awareness of

sloping agricultural technology Intensify awareness of SALT SALT Program

To eliminate indiscriminate

shallow wells Limit shallow wells Shallow Well Program

To install proper drainage

system Installation of proper drainage Drainage Program



V - 165

MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

1. Rice Processing Center

2. Irrigation Highway

3. Provincial Cattle Farms

4. Hospital Construction and Upgrading

5. Food Terminal Project

6. Health Insurance Program

7. Kabankalan Community Airport

8. Hinoba-an Community Airport

9. San Carlos Community Airport

10. Translink Bridges

11. Triple A Abbatoir

12. Tourism Highway



V - 166

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