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Negros Occidental Province

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 Western Visayas (Region VI)
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)
Highest elevation (Mount Kanlaon) 2,465 m (8,087 ft)
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
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 located in the region of Western Visayas, in the Philippines. It occupies the northwestern half of the large island of Negros, with Negros Oriental comprising the southeastern half. Known as the "Sugarbowl of the Philippines", Negros Occidental produces more than half the nation's sugar output.

Negros Occidental faces the island-province of Guimaras and the province of Iloilo on Panay Island to the northwest across the Panay Gulf and the Guimaras Strait. The primary spoken language is Hiligaynon and the predominant religious denomination is Roman Catholicism. 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. With a population of 2,497,261 inhabitants, it is the most populated province in Western Visayas, the second most-populous province in the Visayas after Cebu and the 8th 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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