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Negros Occidental

Negros Occidental
Province
Province of Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol in Bacolod
Flag of Negros Occidental
Flag
Official seal of Negros Occidental
Seal
Nickname(s): Sugarbowl of the Philippines
Anthem: Matuod nga Negrosanon
(literally: True Negrense)
Location in the Philippines
Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°25′N 123°00′E / 10.42°N 123°E / 10.42; 123Coordinates: 10°25′N 123°00′E / 10.42°N 123°E / 10.42; 123
Country Philippines
Region Negros Island Region (NIR)
Founded 1 January 1890
Capital Bacolod
Government
 • Type Sangguniang Panlalawigan
 • Governor Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. (PDP-Laban)
 • Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (NPC)
 • Provincial Board Negros Occidental Provincial Board
Area
 • Total 7,802.54 km2 (3,012.58 sq mi)
Area rank 8th out of 81
  (excluding Bacolod City)
Population (2015 census)
 • Total 2,497,261
 • Rank 8th out of 81
 • Density 320/km2 (830/sq mi)
 • Density rank 22nd out of 81
  (excluding Bacolod City)
Divisions
 • Independent cities
 • Component cities
 • Municipalities
 • Barangays
 • Districts
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 6100–6132
ISO 3166 code PH-NEC
Spoken languages
Income classification 1st class
Website www.negros-occ.gov.ph

Negros Occidental (Hiligaynon: Negros Nakatundan; Cebuano: Kasadpang Negros; Filipino: Kanlurang Negros), also known as Occidental Negros or Western Negros, is a province in the Philippines located in the Negros Island Region. It occupies the northwestern half of the island of Negros, with Negros Oriental comprising the southeastern half. Bacolod City is the capital, seat of government and the most populous city of the province, but is governed independently as a highly urbanized city. Across the Panay Gulf and the Guimaras Strait to the northwest is the island-province of Guimaras and the province of Iloilo on Panay Island. Known as the "Sugarbowl of the Philippines", Negros Occidental produces more than half the nation's sugar output.

The primary spoken language is Hiligaynon (also known as Ilonggo) and the predominant religious denomination is Roman Catholicism. With a population of 2,497,261 inhabitants, it is the most populated province in the Negros Island Region, the second most-populous province in the Visayas after Cebu and the eighth most-populous province of the Philippines.

Negros was originally known to the natives as "Buglas", meaning "cut off" in old Hiligaynon. When the Spaniards arrived in April 1565, they named it "Negros" because of the dark-skinned natives they found. Two of the earliest native settlements were Binalbagan and Ilog which later became towns in 1572 and 1584, respectively. Other settlements were Hinigaran, Bago, Marayo (now Pontevedra), Mamalan (now Himamaylan) and Candaguit (now a sitio of San Enrique).


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