Valencia, Negros Oriental

Infobox Philippine municipality
infoboxtitle = Municipality of Valencia


sealfile = Ph_seal_negros oriental_valencia.png locatormapfile = Ph_locator_negros oriental_valencia.png caption = Map of Negros Oriental showing the location of Valencia.
region = Central Visayas
province = Negros Oriental
districts = 3rd district of Negros Oriental
barangays = 24
class = 3rd class; partially urban
mayor = Rodolfo V. Gonzalez, Jr.
website = [http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/valencia-negor/ elgu.ncc.gov.ph]
areakm2 = 147.49
pop2000 = 24,365
popden2000 = 165.20
coordinates = 9° 16' 55" N, 123° 14' 42" E

Valencia is a first class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. It is located 9.4 km west of Dumaguete, the largest city and capital of the province. According to the national 2000 census, Valencia has a population of 24,365 people in 4,860 households. Valencia has a land area of about 15,000 hectares, 35% of which are classified as plains. The municipality was voted as "the greenest and cleanest" town of Negros Oriental in 2007. [ [http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/valencia-negor/ elgu.ncc.gov.ph, The Greenest and Cleanest Town of Negros Oriental] ]

The mayor of Valencia is Rodolfo Gonzalez, Jr., who was elected in 2001 and re-elected in 2004.

People and culture

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

Economy

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

The municipality is also the site of a geothermal power station operated by the National Power Corporation. It generates electricity that is supplies the needs of Negros, Panay, and part of Cebu. The municipal government receives royalties from the power station which are used to subsidize electricity costs of local residents. Each household receives a monthly rebate of P600 on their electricity bill.

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

Because Palinpinon is such a big source of geothermal energy, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said it received P 250 million in royalty, applied for livelihood, education, related projects, and also for the 50% subsidy on Valencia electric bills consumers. [ [http://pia.gov.ph/Default.asp?m=12&fi=p050825.htm&no=53 pia.gov.ph, PGMA invites industries to invest in Negros Oriental and enjoy 50% power subsidy] ]

Many residents also work in the nearby city of Dumaguete.

Climate, culture and eco-tourism

Valencia is generally hilly and has a very cool climate.

Bisaya is the common vernacular in Valencia, while Tagalog and Hiligaynon are prevalent. English is widely spoken.

Delicacies are BUDBUD KABUG (glutinous dawa also called birdseed), BUDBUD PILIT (glutinous malagkit), TORTA (dough mixed with tuba and baked in a native oven), SIAKOY (dough fried in deep fat also called native doughnut), TSOKOLATE-A (from homegrown cacao), and crackling pork CHICHARON.

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

Eco-tourism sites include:
*Casaroro Waterfalls - as the province’s most photographed body of water, it is relatively enclosed by lush greenery and natural rock formations. The falls' cool water gushes down to a swimming hole.
*Forest Camp - was first opened in 1990, as a 6,000 square meter property, today its 2.2 hectares of land is a vast camping ground, with 2 large nipa hut houses, 4 cottages, a tree house, a 250-people capacity conference/reception hall, a backpacker’s den and a dormitory that can hold up to 20 students.

*The Spanish Fountain - a relic of the town’s colorful historical past at the heart of the municipal plaza, has a unique sunken design, and was once the town’s major source of water supply (invented by an Augustinian friar to channel water from an upland spring).
*Cata-al War Memorabilia - a private collection by an 84 year old World War II survivor Porforio Cata-al, at his residence cum museum. It includes bombs, grenades, Japanese and American bills, coins, medals, charred pieces of an authentic military uniform, and a Japanese soldier mummy
*Filipino-American-Japanese Amity Shrine - on a hilltop, this is a 3-sided pillar representing the 3 countries (Philippines, America and Japan), unveiled in 1977.
*Banica Swimming Lagoon - known as Tejeros resort, it has 2 man made pools fed by Banica River.
*Pulangbato Falls - is swimming and diving hole with many reddish rocks. [ [http://www.dumagueteinfo.com/sightseeing-around-dumaguete.php dumagueteinfo.com, Sightseeing Around Dumaguete] ]
* Mt. Talinis a 1903 meter peak in the Cuernos de Negros. It has many volcanic lakes, breathtaking views and remarkable biodiversity.

Geography

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

The town is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.

History

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

In 1920 it was renamed Luzuriaga in behalf of Don Carlos Luzuriaga, a delegate from Negros island to the Philippine Legislature who promised town officials he would work hard to help improve the town. The promise was unfulfilled, prompting local leaders in 1941 to agree to revert to the old name Nueva Valencia.

In 1948, right after World War II, then Mayor Rodolfo "Odol" V. Gonzalez Sr. and his Municipal Council officially adopted the name Valencia for the town, dropping out "Nueva".

In 2007, its Municipal Police Station (under the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) headed by Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafewas) was adjudged the “Municipal Police Station of 2007” in the best unit awards category, and the best town police station in the Central Visayas (General order no. 110 dated January 22, 2008). [ [http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/community/view_article.php?article_id=116373 globalnation.inquirer.net, Valencia police station in NegOr adjudged best] ]

In 2008, Valencia's Mayor Rodolfo Gonzales, Jr. denied several Dumaguete-based media outlets and a local paper's published report from the regional office of the Commission on Audit (COA), regarding alleged "discrepancies and anomalies" under the present administration. He stressed that "non-completion of the inventory by a committee whose properties cannot be ascertained and needs to be attended to by his administration." [ [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dum/2008/07/06/news/mayor.no.anomalies.committed.in.my.administration.html sunstar.com.ph, Mayor: No anomalies committed in my administration] ]

External links

* [http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/valencia-negor/ Official website of Valencia, Negros Oriental]
* [http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/default.asp Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
* [http://www.t-macs.com/kiso/local/ 2000 Philippine Census Information]
* [http://www.negor.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=37 Province Profile]
* [http://r7.ntc.gov.ph/negor_province.htm Negros Oriental Province, Telecommunications Profile, RADIO AND TV BROADCAST STATIONS]
* [http://travelswithgoyo.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/valencia-negros-oriental/ Valencia, Negros Oriental]

References