Negros Occidental | |||
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Province | |||
Province of Negros Occidental | |||
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Nickname(s): Sugarbowl of the Philippines | |||
Anthem: Matuod nga Negrosanon (literally: True Negrense) |
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Location in the Philippines |
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Coordinates: 10°25′N 123°00′E / 10.42°N 123°ECoordinates: 10°25′N 123°00′E / 10.42°N 123°E | |||
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 |
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• Component cities | |||
• Municipalities | |||
• Barangays |
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• Districts | |||
Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | ||
ZIP code | 6100–6132 | ||
ISO 3166 code | PH | ||
Spoken languages | |||
Income classification | 1st class | ||
Website | www |
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).