Binalbagan

Binalbagan, officially the Municipality of Binalbagan (Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Binalbagan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Binalbagan), is a municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 71,469 people.^[3]

Binalbagan
Municipality
Municipality of Binalbagan
Flag
Nickname(s):  The True Heart of Negros Banwang Panganay
Map of Negros Occidental with Binalbagan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Binalbagan Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°12′N 122°52′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Negros Island Region
Province	Negros Occidental
District	5th district
Founded	May 15, 1572
Barangays	16 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Alejandro Y. Mirasol
• Vice Mayor	Mary Ann T. Mirasol
• Representative	Emilio Bernardino L. Yulo III
• Municipal Council	Members John Henry T. Tajonera Arnie M. Sarad Delilah S. Gavaran Ursecio B. Inodeo Raymon G. Magbanua Danilo G. Sevilla Jerry S. Yulo Jeffrey R. Dizon
• Electorate	45,508 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	189.96 km2 (73.34 sq mi)
Elevation	5.0 m (16.4 ft)
Highest elevation	34 m (112 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	71,407
• Density	380/km2 (970/sq mi)
• Households	17,305
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	23.64 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 365 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 780.7 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 291.2 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 272.2 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	6107
PSGC	064503000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)34
Native languages	Hiligaynon Tagalog
Website	www.binalbagan.gov.ph

Major economic activities include manufacturing, agriculture, services, cottage industries and tourism. Binalbagan is also known for the Binalbagan Isabela Sugar Company (BISCOM).

History

Binalbagan became a town on May 15, 1572^[5] and was one of the first two settlements of Negros Occidental (the second being the municipality of Ilog). On the record, Binalbagan is the oldest town in the whole Negros Island, thereby earning the title, “Banwang Panganay” or oldest town.

The municipality celebrates an annual fiesta called "The Balbagan Festival" every month of May.

Geography

Binalbagan is 64 kilometres (40 mi) from Bacolod.

Barangays

Binalbagan is politically subdivided into 15 barangays: twelve (12) rural barangays and three (3) urban barangays.^[6] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Currently, there are 3 barangays which are considered urban (highlighted in bold).

• Amontay
• Bagroy
• Bi-ao
• Canmoros
• Enclaro
• Marina
• Pagla-um (Poblacion)
• Payao (formerly Soledad)^[7]
• Progreso
• San Jose
• San Juan
• San Pedro (Poblacion)
• San Teodoro
• San Vicente
• Santo Rosario (Poblacion)
• Santol

Climate

Climate data for Binalbagan, Negros Occidental
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)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)
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[8]

Demographics

Population census of Binalbagan

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	10,599	—
1918	8,966	−1.11%
1939	18,112	+3.40%
1948	19,748	+0.97%
1960	31,160	+3.87%
1970	36,765	+1.67%
1975	43,968	+3.65%
1980	49,428	+2.37%
1990	52,073	+0.52%
1995	54,664	+0.91%
2000	58,280	+1.38%
2007	64,747	+1.46%
2010	65,431	+0.38%
2015	67,270	+0.53%
2020	71,407	+1.18%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[9][10][11][12]

Languages

The people in the city speak Hiligaynon. Tagalog and English are generally understood.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Binalbagan

10 20 30 40 50 2000 46.80 2003 31.19 2006 23.40 2009 28.90 2012 16.59 2015 21.65 2018 16.41 2021 23.64 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Education

Tertiary

• Binalbagan Catholic College^[21][22]
• Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (formerly Negros Occidental School of Fisheries)^[23]
• Southern Negros College^[22]

Notable personalities

• Jose Miguel Tuason Arroyo (first gentleman of former Philippine President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo)
• Ignacio "Iggy" Tuason Arroyo, Jr. (member of the Philippine House of Representatives)
• Augurio Abeto (dubbed as the "King of Hiligaynon Poetry")
• Ian Clark Bautista (Southeast Asian Games Boxing Gold Medalist)
• Rico Amancio (Masterchef Asia Contestant)