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Kabankalan

Coordinates: 9°59′N 122°49′E / 9.98°N 122.82°E / 9.98; 122.82
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Cabancalan.

Kabankalan
Component city
City of Kabankalan
Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral Parish
Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral Parish
Flag of Kabankalan
Flag
Official seal of Kabankalan
Seal
Nickname: 
The Rising City of the South
Anthem: "Kabankalan, Halandumon nga Siyudad"
Map of Negros Occidental with Kabankalan highlighted
Map of Negros Occidental with Kabankalan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Kabankalan is located in Philippines
Kabankalan
Kabankalan
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°59′N 122°49′E / 9.98°N 122.82°E / 9.98; 122.82
CountryPhilippines
RegionNegros Island Region
ProvinceNegros Occidental
District 6th district
FoundedMarch 14, 1907
CityhoodAugust 2, 1997
Named forNauclea orientalis (locally called Bangkal)
Barangays32 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Panlungsod
 • MayorBenjie M. Miranda
 • Vice MayorMiguel M. Zayco
 • RepresentativeMercedes K. Alvarez
 • City Council
Members
 • Electorate104,994 voters (2022)
Area
[2]
 • Total697.35 km2 (269.25 sq mi)
Elevation
228 m (748 ft)
Highest elevation
1,455 m (4,774 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)
 • Total200,198
 • Density290/km2 (740/sq mi)
 • Households
45,285
Economy
 • Income class1st city income class
 • Poverty incidence
27.44
% (2021)[3]
 • Revenue₱ 1,398 million (2020), 709.7 million (2012), 698.5 million (2013), 789.6 million (2014), 850.1 million (2015), 943.1 million (2016), 1,048 million (2017), 1,131 million (2018), 1,262 million (2019), 1,537 million (2021), 2,189 million (2022)
 • Assets₱ 5,211 million (2020), 2,418 million (2012), 2,548 million (2013), 2,679 million (2014), 2,778 million (2015), 3,194 million (2016), 3,702 million (2017), 4,084 million (2018), 4,556 million (2019), 5,943 million (2021), 6,631 million (2022)
 • Expenditure₱ 1,042 million (2020), 507.5 million (2012), 520.4 million (2013), 507.9 million (2014), 560.1 million (2015), 561.1 million (2016), 648.8 million (2017), 714.2 million (2018), 818.9 million (2019), 1,017 million (2021), 1,319 million (2022)
 • Liabilities₱ 979.8 million (2020), 608 million (2012), 683 million (2013), 694.8 million (2014), 762 million (2015), 825.5 million (2016), 936.1 million (2017), 954.7 million (2018), 1,017 million (2019), 1,210 million (2021), 1,121 million (2022)
Service provider
 • ElectricityNegros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6111
PSGC
064515000
IDD : area code +63 (0)34
Native languagesHiligaynon
Karolanos
Tagalog
Cebuano
Websitewww.kabankalancity.gov.ph

Kabankalan, officially the City of Kabankalan (Hiligaynon: Dakbanwa sang Kabankalan; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Kabankalan; Filipino: Lungsod ng Kabankalan), is a 1st class component city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 323,108 people[4] making it the second most populous city in Negros Occidental next to Bacolod. The city is applying for a Highly Urbanized City (HUC).

Kabankalan is also the second city with the highest gross and net income in Negros Occidental next to Bacolod. In terms of land area, Kabankalan City is the largest city in the province of Negros Occidental and is the second largest city in the entire Negros Island next to Bayawan of Negros Oriental with a total area of 697.35 square kilometers.

The city hosts three major festivals: the Kabankalan Sinulog every third Sunday of January (celebrated together with Cebu City), Udyakan sa Kabankalan and the Charter Anniversary. Kabankalan is also known for its Mag-aso Falls and the Balicaocao Resort. Also located in the city is the main campus of the Central Philippines State University (CPSU).

Kabankalan City won the major award as the "Best Performing City" in Region VI in the 2011 Regional Search for Excellence in Local Governance (EXCEL). The award was given during the Pagdayaw 2011 program held at the Iloilo Grand Hotel in December 2011.[5]

History

[edit]
Aerial view of Kabankalan, 1938

According to historians, the first inhabitants of Kabankalan were people who came from neighboring towns. They derived the name Kabankalan from the word "bangkal" (Nauclea orientalis), a tree that is abundant in the place. The settlers established the Barangay form of government, with which every group has its own leader, called the Capitan.

In 1566 the Christianization of the Island of Negros began with the foundation of the mission of Binalbagan (1575), Tanjay (1580) and Ilog (1584) by the Augustinian missionaries. In 1622, at the request of Bishop Pedro de Arce of Cebu, the Recollects came to evangelize Negros. The spiritual administration of Binalbagan including that of Kabankalan was ceded to them. When the mission of Ilog was turned over to the Jesuits, it had four towns, Ilog being the chief town. The next was Kabankalan which already appears in a document dated 1630 as the center of encomienda of Admiral Cristobal de Lugo y Montalvo. The third was either Jima or Sima. The fourth was probably Su-ay.[6] The Jesuits who served Kabankalan were Fr. Esteban Jayme. After the expulsion of the Jesuits from the Philippines in 1767, the Dominican missionaries came to continue the spiritual administration of Negros with Father Manuel Diez assigned in Kabankalan in 1769. During the Spanish regime, Spaniards taught the people the Spanish language and introduced to them the Roman Catholic religion.

In 1830, the three Capitanes- Polito Moreno, Vicente Rojas and Mariano Vingal-petitioned the government to transfer their barangay located at the Hilabangan River towards the area of Orong and established a town. They elected a migrant from Tigbauan, Iloilo-Leocadio Tayum y Gregorio- their new head, who served for one year. In 1856, 500 commissaries and policeman of Governor Emilio Saravia stationed in the poblacion attacked the stronghold “made of trunk” of the local chief Manyabog at Carol-an who endured the Spanish artillery for a long time. They disbanded only when a stray bullet killed Manyabog. Seeing their leader killed, they set themselves on fire with their houses. The tribal suicide resulted in the deaths 300 of Manyabog's men, while seven died on the opposite side. Prior to the actual revolt in 1898, clandestine activities had already been in the offing, the leaders of the revolution such as Aniceto Lacson joining the Katipunan and others arming themselves. By mid-1896, arms were unloaded in Binicuil, Kabankalan for the hacienderos of Kabankalan, Ilog, Himamaylan, Su-ay and Cauayan but they refrained to join the revolt knowing that they were not prepared and had no confidence in victory. It was not until November 7, 1898, that Kabankalan took up arms after Bacolod was taken over from the Spanish authorities. The Cantonal Republic of Negros was declared on November 5, 1898.

Kabankalan City Government Center (City Hall)

When the Americans came, they introduced a democratic form of government. During this time, a lot of improvements came to the town and new modern techniques of farming were introduced by the Americans to the local farmers that improved their products. On April 2, 1903, the Philippine Commission passed Act No. 716 reducing the 34 municipalities of the Province of Negros Occidental to 21 whereby the municipality of Cavancalan was merged to Ilog. On March 14, 1907, Philippine Commission passed Act. No. 1612 increasing the number of municipalities in Negros Occidental from 21 to 22 by separating from Ilog the former municipality of Cavancalan and reconstituting the same under the name Kabankalan. In mid-1907, a group of rebels called "Pulahanes" led by Papa Isio, raided the town and burned down all the houses. However, the people of Kabankalan quickly recovered and rebuilt the town from the destruction caused by the dissidents. Lorenzo Zayco was elected Municipal President in a special election and took his oath of office, along with other elected officials on January 2, 1908. Pre War-Kabankalan saw the emerging development of the sugar industry. Sugar mills were put up in Hacienda Bearin and Hacienda San Isidro.

Kabankalan Lion's Arch

During the Second World War, Kabankalan was made a garrison town by Japanese Imperial Forces. Sugar mills were destroyed, school buildings were demolished and houses razed to ground. During this time, a recognized guerrilla unit and the local troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army were formed to oppose the foreign aggression and many people fled to the mountains to avoid Japanese military abuse. When the Americans returned to the island to aid Filipino soldiers under the Commonwealth Army and Constabulary, and the recognized guerrillas, they helped the people be freed from Japanese occupation. Post war era concentrated on rehabilitation efforts that saw the establishment of two Sugar Mills-Dacongcogon and SONEDCO-placing Kabankalan at the crossroad of agro industrial development and setting the ground as a hub of business and trade in southern Negros. With the growth of the sugar industry, banks and other financial institutions and commercial establishments put up branches and offices in Kabankalan. The establishment of two sugar mills in the 1960s and early 1970s gave the town a boost into the list of the top improving towns of Negros.

Cityhood

[edit]
Main article: Cities of the Philippines

The town of Kabankalan was declared by then President Fidel V. Ramos as a chartered city on August 2, 1997, under Republic Act No. 8297.

Geography

[edit]
Mag-aso Falls, Kabankalan, Negros Occidental

Kabankalan occupies the central portion of the Southern Negros Island and its geographically located at 10° north and 122° east. It is bounded on the north by the Himamaylan, on the northwest by Panay Gulf, on the southwest by the municipality of Ilog and on the southeast by the province of Negros Oriental. It is 88 kilometres (55 mi) away from Bacolod City, 127 kilometres (79 mi) from Dumaguete, and 99 kilometres (62 mi) from the southernmost town of Hinoba-an. With an area of 697.95 square kilometers, it is the largest city in Negros Occidental and the second largest in the whole Negros Island, after Bayawan (which has an area of 699.08 square kilometers).

Climate

[edit]
Climate data for Kabankalan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 30
(86) 		31
(88) 		32
(90) 		33
(91) 		32
(90) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		29
(84) 		29
(84) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		30
(87)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22
(72) 		22
(72) 		22
(72) 		24
(75) 		25
(77) 		25
(77) 		25
(77) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		23
(73) 		23
(73) 		24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 38
(1.5) 		29
(1.1) 		55
(2.2) 		65
(2.6) 		141
(5.6) 		210
(8.3) 		212
(8.3) 		176
(6.9) 		180
(7.1) 		180
(7.1) 		130
(5.1) 		70
(2.8) 		1,486
(58.6)
Average rainy days 9.0 7.2 11.1 13.5 25.6 28.4 28.9 27.3 26.9 27.7 21.8 13.8 241.2
Source: Meteoblue[7]

Under the Coronas climate classification system, Kabankalan falls under Type III. Dry season is from December to May, while the rainy season is from June to November. Average temperature is 26°C (80°F).

Barangays

[edit]

Kabankalan City is politically subdivided into 32 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Demographics

[edit]
Population census of Kabankalan
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 12,671—    
1918 17,113+2.02%
1939 29,315+2.60%
1948 47,817+5.59%
1960 59,341+1.82%
1970 72,567+2.03%
1975 89,695+4.34%
1980 92,109+0.53%
1990 127,000+3.26%
1995 139,282+1.74%
2000 149,769+1.57%
2007 166,970+1.51%
2010 167,666+0.15%
2015 181,977+1.57%
2020 200,198+1.89%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11]
Aerial view of the city, with the Kabankalan Cathedral in the center.

Major languages are Hiligaynon, followed by Cebuano (both of those languages are used interchangeably in to day-to-day activities) with English and Filipino being used as second languages.

The city is the only place where the Karol-an language is used. Due to its geographical area of usage, the Karol-an language is classified as a vulnerable language, making its conservation a top priority, as it is vital to the culture and arts of Kabankalan natives.

Kabankalan City, along with the cities of Sipalay, Escalante, Cadiz, Sagay and San Carlos and the municipalities of Hinoba-an, Don Salvador Benedicto, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Toboso and Calatrava, are the only places in Negros Occidental who are bilingual speakers, as the people in those areas can speak and understand both Cebuano (Bisaya) and Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) at the same time, due to the influx of Cebuano-speaking settlers in those areas.

Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Kabankalan

10
20
30
40
50
2006
35.40
2009
40.86
2012
25.78
2015
25.79
2018
28.57
2021
27.44

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

Infrastracture

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]

Kabankalan is over an hour's drive south of Bacolod City by car. Public utility vehicles reach the place in about two hours. The city, which serves as the hub of economic activities in southern Negros, is also the take-off point for various destinations down south, and links the province to Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental, via the Kabankalan-Mabinay Highway.

Currently under construction, the Kabankalan City Domestic Airport, once opened, will be the second active airport in the province (after the Bacolod-Silay International Airport).[20]

References

[edit]
  1. ^  City of Kabankalan | (DILG)
  2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  4. ^ Census of Population (2020). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  5. ^ Kabankalan City is best performing city in WVisayas - PIA
  6. ^ (Cuesta, 1980)
  7. ^ "Kabankalan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  8. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  9. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VI (Western Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  10. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  11. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  12. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  14. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
  15. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
  16. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
  17. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
  18. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  19. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  20. ^ Bayoran, Gilbert (January 20, 2014). "Zayco: Kabankalan airport work still on". The Daily Star. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kabankalan.
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