Valencia, officially the Municipality of Valencia, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 38,733 people. The municipality was voted as "the greenest and cleanest" town of Negros Oriental in 2007. 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.

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 Nueva Valencia by Spanish colonizers, in honor of its parish priest Father Matias Villamayor from Valencia, Spain. He also had a fountain brought over from his aforementioned hometown, which currently sits in front of the Town Hall. In 1920, it was renamed Luzuriaga (often times misspelt as Luzurriaga) in honour of Don Carlos Ruíz de Luzuriaga, a delegate from Negros island to the Philippine Legislature who promised town officials he would work hard to help improve the town. The town reverted to Valencia in 1948, by virtue of Republic Act 252. During World War II, Malabo was the headquarters of the Free Government and resistance movement in Negros Oriental. In 2007, its Municipal Police Station which is under the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) headed by Senior Superintendent Melvin Ramon Buenafé) 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 number 110 dated January 22, 2008).

Geography

Valencia occupies an area of 14749 ha, 35% of which are classified as plains. The town is 65% mountainous, with elevation averaging from 200 to 500 m above sea level, with the top of Mount Talinis at an elevation of 1903 m along the municipal southern boundary. The climate in the municipality is relatively cool, especially at higher elevations. Valencia is 10 km west of provincial capital Dumaguete and 7 km from Bacong. The region is also the most critical watershed area of Negros Oriental, providing abundant drinking water to Valencia and its neighboring municipalities.

Barangays

Valencia is politically subdivided into 24 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

The Cebuano language is the common vernacular in Valencia. Hiligaynon, Tagalog, and English are also widely spoken.

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 Energy Development Corporation. It generates electricity that supplies the needs of Negros, Panay, and parts of Cebu. The municipal government receives royalties from the power station. Valencia, specifically, has a 20-megawatt Palinpinon 2 Geothermal Optimization Project in Sitio Nasuji, Barangay Puhagan, 35 kilometers from Dumaguete. The ₱1.74-billion geothermal optimization (expansion) project, funded the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is part of EDC's 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 royalties, applied for livelihood, education, related projects, and also for the 50% subsidy on Valencia electric bills consumers. Many residents also work in the nearby city of Dumaguete.

Tourism

The Filipino-Japanese Amity Memorial Shrine is located in Valencia. It stands at the foot of Mount Talinis and marks the spot where the combined Filipino and American troops including the Negrosanon guerrilla units fought the Japanese Imperial Army toward the end of World War II. Eco-tourism sites include:

Education

The public schools in the town of Valencia are administered by one school district under the Schools Division of Negros Oriental. Elementary schools: High schools: Private schools:

Government

List of chief executives

• Mariano Imbo (Captain) • Gerardo Imbo (1916 - 1919) • Eustaquio Vincoy (1919 - 1927) • Guillermo Albina (1928 - 1931) • Quiterio Mariño (1931 - 1939) • Jose Villamil (1940 - 1946) • Rodolfo Gonzalez, Senior (1946 - 1967) • Elpidio Unto (1968 - 1971) • Rodolfo Gonzalez, Senior (1972 - 1980) • Saludario Sonjaco (1981 - 1986) • Victor Naces (1986 - 1987) • Jose Villamil (Officer in Charge) (1987 - 1988) • Edgar Teves (1988 - 1998) • Humberto Sy (1998 - 2001) • Rodolfo Gonzalez, Junior (2001 – 2010) • Enrique Gonzalez (2010 - 2013) • Edgar Teves (2013–2022) • Edgar Teves, Jr. (2022–present)