About Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is one of the six provinces comprising the Western Visayas Region (Region VI) in the Philippines. It is located in the northwestern half of Negros Island while Negros Oriental is at the southwestern half and forms part of Central Visayas or Region VII because of its proximity to Cebu.
Negros Occidental has 13 cities and 19 municipalities and its capital is Bacolod City. It is bounded on the north by the Visayan Sea, and on the south by the Sulu Sea. It is southeast of Panay Island from which is separated by the Guimaras Strait. On the east are the Tañon Strait and Negros Oriental.
Satellite Map of Negros Occidental
Earliest inhabitants of Negros Island were dark-skinned natives belonging to the Negrito ethnic group. When the Spaniards came to the island in April 1565, they named the island “Negros” after the natives. The latter half of the 19th century saw a rapid economic growth due to the boom in the sugar industry and the opening of commercial ports. This period saw the influx of immigrants form neighboring island of Panay and Cebu. The language spoken in Negros Occidental is predominantly Hiligaynon. However, a few cities and towns in the Northern part of the province facing Cebu, Cebuano is widely spoken.
The province is blessed with a rich culture, natural landscape, fertile soil, and rich biodiversity that visitors have so much to explore and experience. The lifestyle, the people, and business climate in Negros Occidental also make the province an ideal place to settle down.
Visit Negros Occidental: Land of Sweet Surprises
The tagline of the Province of Negros Occidental is “Land of Sweet Surprises” . Indeed, there are so much to explore and discover in Negros Occidental that will surely surprise and delight tourists. The affluence brought by the sugar industry has greatly influenced the lifestyle of the Negrense’s who are known to be generous, fun loving, and enjoy the finer things in life. This is evident in the products they produce, which speak of an elegant taste, and the delectable cuisine developed through the many celebrations and festivities.
Below are tourist spots in Bacolod and Negros Occidental, Negrense cuisine, festivals and other tourist attractions.
Colorful Festivals
MassKara Festival – MassKara is a combination of two-words: “Mass” its means many and the Spanish “Kara” for face and thus means a multitude or mass of smiling happy faces. MassKara was conceptualized during a challenging time in Negros Occidental, the sinking of the MV Don Juan where many Negrenses perished and the collapsed of the sugar industry. It has since then became a symbol of the Negrenses resilience to triumph against life’s difficulties. Street dancers wear smiling masks and colorful costumes and dance to the beat of latin music.
BacoLaodiat Festival – BacoLaodiat Festival is Bacolod City’s celebration of the Chinese New Year. The word comes from “Bacolod” and “Laodiat” – a Fookien word for ‘celebration’. The festival is a showcase of the harmonious merging of both Chinese and Filipino cultures and its co-existence. BacoLaodiat Festival features cultural performances, lantern dance parade, dragon and lion dances, Chinese food fest, fireworks display, larger than life zodiac animals, and live bands. One of the highlights is the lantern dance contest where dancers don traditional Chinese costumes and illuminated Chinese lanterns.
Pana-ad sa Negros Festival – Dubbed as the “Festival of all Festivals” in Negros Occidental, Pana-ad Festival brings together the towns and cities in the province in one venue where the best products, food, tourist attractions and local festivals are showcased. Pana-ad means “vow” in Hiligaynon and every April when Pana-ad Festival is celebrated is also a time for Negrenses to retrace their roots.
Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival – started in 2006, the festival is considered as the first and the longest running festival of its kind in the country, will feature cooking demonstrations of organic food by famous Negrense chefs; exhibits of organic, healthy, local and vegetarian food, and eco- friendly products and technology; talks by nationally and internationally known experts on organic food production and business and related topics; agri-tourism health and wellness fair, and open air concerts of live bands.
Al Cinco de Noviembre – Al Cinco de Noviembre or Negros Day is celebrated every November 5 and is a non-working holiday in Negros Occidental. The celebration commemorates the successful revolt of the locals against the Spanish government creating the short-lived Negros Republic. Simultaneous celebrations are also held in Silay and Bago Cities on November 5.
Delectable Cuisine
Negrense cuisine is one of the best that the Philippines has to offer. From upscale restaurants to wayside carinderias, one can surely find a sumptuous meal to satisfy a discriminating taste.
Piaya – a flaky, unleavened bread, filled with muscovado and sprinkled on top with sesame seeds. Piaya is the quintessential Bacolod delicacy.
Batchoy – this famous Ilonggo delicacy is a noodle soup made with pork innards, crushed pork cracklings, rich soup stock, with egg and with bone marrow depending on your preference.
Cansi – this is the Negrense’s version of bulalo or boiled bone-in beef shank which come with the customary cardiac delight bone marrow.
Napoleones – Napoleones is a layered puff pastry filled with custard cream and glazed with white sugar on top. It comes with small square size and a larger rectangle size and usually sold in boxes.
Bacolod Chicken Inasal – this famous chicken barbecue dish from Bacolod has been copied many times over but nothing beat eating the authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal at Manokan Country.
Museums
The Negros Museum – to understand the people and culture of Negros Island, one must visit The Negros Museum. The museum does not focus on artifacts but on stories about Negros as the “Sugar Bowl of the Philippines”. It is a child-friendly museum with a livelihood component since local artists and artisans sell copies of their commissioned works at the Museum Shop.
Museum Negrense de la Salle, Bacolod City – the only school based museum in Bacolod City that was born out of a dream to preserve vital documents, photographs, cultural artifacts and history of Negros.
Museo sang Bata sa Negros, Sagay City – The Museo sang Bata sa Negros is located at the port area of Brgy. Old Sagay, facing Carbin Reef in the 32,000-hectare Sagay Marine Reserve. The museum is the first interactive children’s museum outside Metro Manila and the first marine museum in the country.
Vintage Glass Museum – the museum displays the collection of Tomas Casiano of over 2,000 glass pieces, including dinnerware, Victorian lamps, decorative objects, decanters and commemorative plates of different hues and intricate designs. These include depression glasses, which are colored glassware made primarily during the depression years in the United States from 1904 to 1940—green, pink, red, yellow, amber, ruby and fire, cobalt blue, aquamarine and delphite (opaque blue glass).
Art Galleries
Gallery Orange – run by painter Charlie Co, the gallery is a venue for local contemporary artists
Italia Restaurant – an Italian that occasionally houses the works of local artists. The restaurant is located Paseo Verde Building.
Jojo Vito Designs Gallery – the gallery is the repository of the furniture, furnishing, and masks by Jojo Vito. They also conduct occasional art exhibits featuring other artists.
Capitana Gallery – the gallery occupies a section of Balay Ni Tana Dicang, a restored family home-turned museum in Talisay.
Cafe Albarako – located in Sagay City, this coffee shop is also the art gallery of famous Negrense artist Nunelucio Alvarado.
Public Parks
Provincial Capitol and Lagoon – It was built in 1927 using the Neo‐Roman architectural design of American Daniel Burnham executed by Filipino Architect Juan Arellano. Fronting the Provincial capitol Building is a manmade Lagoon featuring a Woman and Female Carabao sculpture by Francisco Monti at the North end and a Man and Male Carabao sculpture by Negrense artist ____ at the South end.
Bacolod Plaza – Constructed in 1927, it was built to complement the cultural activities of the early Bacoleños on weekends. Name of world‐famous composers like Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and Wagner are emblazoned at the top, a proof of the early Negrenses familiarity with European culture.
NFEFI Biodiversity Conservation Center – Located at the South Capitol Road near the Provincial Capitol, it serves as breeding center for endangered species and as a means of educating visitors on the importance of taking care of the habitat of these animals. Some of the endangered species rescued by the center are the Visayan Spotted Deer, Visayan Warty Pig, Visayan Tarictic Hornbill and Visayan Leopard Cat.
Pana-ad Park and Stadium – It is a 25-hectare sports complex and park with a rubberized oval track and Olympic-size swimming pool, among other sports facilities. The unique feature of Pana-ad is the replicas of the landmarks found in the 13 cities and 19 towns of Negros Occidental. The LGU pavilions are the venue of the annual Pana-ad sa Negros Festival.
Heritage Houses
Mariano Ramos Ancestral House, Bacolod City – The Mariano Ramos Ancestral House is the ancestral home of the late Don Mariano Ramos, first appointed Presidente Municipal of Bacolod City, Philippines. It was built in the 1930s and its architecture is a combination of Castilian and Tuscan traces. It comprises three storeys including the tower room, known as the mirador.
Ruins of Don Mariano Lacson Ancestal House, Talisay City – The Ruins of Don Mariano Lacson Ancestral House in Talisay City was built in the early 1900’s using Neo‐Roman architectural design. Situated amid sugarcane plantation. Oversized steel bars and solid concrete mixture of cement, sand and gravel were used during its construction. What remains of the structure never fails to surprise foreign and domestic tourists coming to the area. It is considered as the “Taj Mahal” of Negros since it was built by Don Mariano in memory of his wife Maria Braga.
Aniceto Lacson Ancestral House, Talisay City – The House of Gen. Aniceto Lacson was constructed in the early 1880 using Filipino‐Chinese design with colonial Spanish influence. National heroes like Emilio Aguinaldo, Andres Bonifacio, Jacinto Luna, leaders like Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmena, Claro M. Recto visited this place. Gen. Lacson became the first and only president of the Cantonal Republic of Negros in 1889 and this house became the Malacañan Palace of the short‐lived republic.
Balay ni Tana Dicang, Talisay City – The Balay ni Tana Dicang echoes the lifestyle of a century ago and preserves the charm & gentility that is a Talisaynon heritage. It was built by Efigenio and Enrica Alunan-Lizares in 1880. What makes the house more interesting is the family matriarch Enrica Alunan-Lizares hereself who singlehandedly expanded the family holdings and raised 17 children when her husband died.
Hofileña Ancestral House, Silay City – The first house in Silay City to be opened to It is the repository of the private art collection of Ramon H. Hofileña. The exhibit includes the work of top artists in the country, authentic period furniture, books and paintings. Hofileña conducts Annual Cultural Tour of Negros Occidental (ACTNO whish is the longest‐running cultural tour in the world.
Balay Negrense, Silay City – Built 1897, the Balay Negrense is the restored residence of Victor F. Gaston, son of Yves Leopold Germaine Gaston. The house is an airy version of the bahay na bato. The house has been furnished with furniture donated by various persons. Arranged as a lifestyle museum, Balay Negrense is also available for social functions, like wedding receptions.
Bernardino Jalandoni Ancestral House, Silay City – It was built in 1908 and a perfect example of the affluent Negrense house of the late 19th to early 20th century. Popularly known as the “Pink House”, 90% of the house is still preserved and it still has authentic furniture from the period.
Balay ni Tan Juan, Bago City – It was built towards the end of the 19th century, the “Balay na Bato” is the residence of General Juan A. Araneta in the Poblacion of Bago City. Today the “Balay na Bato” is being utilized as a museum and a home for the antiquated materials, tools, equipment and artifacts that were used, created or crafted during the lifetime of Tan Juan.
Gaston Ancestral House, Silay City – The house stands in the middle of the farm in Hacienda Rosalia, Manapla. It is of early American colonial architecture and it is the ancestral home of the descendants of the first Frenchman to settle in Negros – Yves Leopold Germaine Gaston. It was one of the ancestral houses where the movie Oro, Plata, Mata of Peque Gallaga was shot.
Churches and Other Religious Sites
San Sebastian Cathedral, Bacolod City – It is located in downtown Bacolod. It was originally a small chapel which became a cathedral in 1933. The structure which is made of coral stones from Guimaras Island was completed in 1882 thru the initiative of Fr. Mauricio Ferrero.
Virgen Sang Barangay Chapel, Bacolod City – Features a large mural mosaic of Barangay Sang Birhen, a local version of the Virgin Mary made of 95,000 pieces of polished shells. Stations of the cross, the images of the saints and the altar pieces are a collage of 30,000 pieces of Philippine shells.
John the Baptist, Bago City – It is one of the century‐old churches in Negros Occidental using a Mexican architecture. Built in 1891 it is located in front of Bago City Public Plaza.
San Diego Pro Cathedral, Silay City – The Church of San Diego is one of the most beautiful modern‐day churches in the country. It is the only Pro‐Cathedral outside of Metro Manila. The church has a dome that resembles St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It was built in 1920 and designed by Italian architect Lucio Bernasconi.
San Nicolas de Tolentino, Talisay City – The remains of Father Fernando Cuenca and Gen. Aniceto Lacson are buried inside the church. Father Cuenca was a hydropathist the first Parish Priest of Talisay. One of his prominent patients was Saint Ezekiel Moreno whom he treated for anemia.
Chapel of the Cartwheels, Manapla – The church was designed by Monsignor Gaston made of farm implements such as cartwheels, plows, mortar and pestle, margaha sand and broken pieces of glass of different colors. It was patterned like a “salakot” and it can be found inside the hacienda owned by the Gaston family.
Church of St. Joseph the Worker (Church of the Angry Christ), Victorias City – Located at the heart of Victorias Milling Company compound, it became known as the Church of the Angry Christ because of its mural of a craggy‐faced Christ in psychedelic colors by Philippine-born American artist Alfonso Ossorio, son of Miguel Ossorio. This is the only church in Negros that depicts Filipino liturgical arts.
Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Hinigaran – The church using Romanesque architecture is one of the colonial churches in the country. The walls, about two meters thick are made of limestone blocks transported from Guimaras province. The church is said to have a bell made of silver and gold weighing 480 kilograms.
Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Valladolid – It was founded in 1851 by the Recollect Missionaries and reputed to be the biggest in the province. The size of the church and convent is a living proof that Valladolid stood among the island’s most progressive pueblos during the Spanish era.
Church of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, La Carlota City – Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage is a century‐old church located at the heart of the city. It has the distinction of being one of the very few churches of Romanesque architectural design in the region. Red Silay bricks and coral stones from Guimaras Island were used lavishly during the construction in 1876 after King Carlos of Spain issued a Royal Decree creating La Carlota into a parish.
Church of San Vicente Ferrer (Vito Church), Sagay City – The church was established by the Augustinian recollects. The church houses a century old wood carved image of St. Vincent Ferrer which is said to be miraculous. Pilgrims flock to the church for the palapak.
John Paul II Tower, Bacolod City – The tower was built to commemorate the February 20, 1981 historic visit of Pope John Paul II in Bacolod City. Memorabilia of the said visit are displayed at the tower. The tower also offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of Bacolod City.
Beach and Mountain Resorts
Mambukal Mountain Resort, Murcia – Mambukal Resort is located in Murcia, 31 kilometers East of Bacolod. A perfect place for eco‐tourists, the resort has accommodation facilities, swimming and therapeutic warm dipping pools, picnic huts, bat watching, boating facilities, wall climbing, slide for life zipline, canopy walk, butterfly garden, camping grounds, overnight cottages and a food court.
Campuestohan Highland, Talisay City – Situated right in the boundaries of Bacolod City and Talisay City, Campuestohan is a 5-hectare property that radiates the splendor of the lush green forests of Mt. Makawili. The weather at the resort is cool most of the time due to its elevation and has a breathtaking view of the plains below. Children and adults will enjoy the giant statues of dinosaurs and super heroes. Other amenities include swimming pool, zip line, and accommodations.
Mag-aso Resort, Kabankalan City – Mag‐aso Falls is a 20‐minute drive from the city proper of Kabankalan. With large mountain as backdrop, Mag‐aso Falls releases a smoke‐like shower of mist as it cascade down the natural pool with its turquoise green water. Mag‐Aso Cave is situated within the Balicaocao watershed, it invites spelunkers for real adventure and rewarding challenge in cave exploration.
Punta Bulata White Beach Resort and Spa, Cauayan – Enjoy life through nature and wellness in comfort. Punta Bulata has the modern amenities amid the natural beauty of nature. One can enjoy an early morning walk along the stretch of white sand beach, take a swim in the clear blue waters of Sulu Sea or simply be pampered with a relaxing massage.
Danjugan Island, Cauayan – Danjugan Island is a marine and wildlife sanctuary and a perfect destination for those who want to commune with nature. There you can explore the lagoons, watch different species of migratory birds and bats, go kayaking, snorkeling and diving.
Sipaway Island, San Carlos City – Sipaway Island is geographically known as Refugio Island. It’s a favorite destination of local and foreign guests. It has beautiful century‐old Balete tree, white sand beach resorts and natural reefs for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Campomanes Bay, Sipalay City – Campomanes Bay is a favorite dive site for safari divers with its beautiful coral gardens and sunken warships. It has an enticing pristine waters, karst mountains and white sand beach.
Sugar Beach, Sipalay City – Sugar Beach formerly called Langub Beach is a long stretch of sugary light brown sand with pristine blue waters. There are high quality standard resorts along this fine stretch of sand. Sugar Beach is a 20‐minute boat ride from the town proper.
Punta Ballo Beach, Sipalay City – Punta Ballo Beach has a long stretch of white sand beach and boasts of first class diving resorts. It’s usually the jump-off point for island hopping or diving at Campomanes Bay.
Carbin Reef, Sagay City – Carbin Reef is part of the 32,000-hectare Sagay Marine Reserve. It has a long stretch of white sandbar amid the pristine blue waters of the Visayan Sea. It’s teeming with marine life so it’s perfect for snorkeling.
Lakawon Island Resort, Cadiz City – Lakawon Island Resort is a white sand island paradise amid clear blue waters. The resort has a magnificent view of the sunset. The resort famous for its Tawhai Floating Bar, touted as the biggest floating bar in Asia.
Organic Food and Agriculture
Peñalosa Farms, Victorias City – Penalosa Farms is an integrated natural farm owned by Magsasaka Siyentista, Mr. Ramon Peñalosa. Probiotics-based swine production is the anchor project of the family-owned Peñalosa Farms located at a 3,000sq.m. property in Victorias City. The farm supplies pork as well as chicken meat and eggs, and certified organic vegetables, herbs, fruits and other crops to Monchito’s. Mr. Peñalosa is advocating the Integrated Micro Business Farm as a viable agribusiness model which farmers can learn through training at Peñalosa Farms
Henares Farm (Hacienda Buro-Buro), Brgy. Alangilan, Bacolod City –Henares Farm is considered as the country’s premier training center on vermiculture and vermicomposting. Batchoy and Pamela Henares are one of the pioneers in organic agriculture in Negros Occidental. Henares Farm is an integrated farm which produces organic fertilizers, organic vegetables, organic fruits and organic herbal supplements as well as providing training and consultancy services for farms and organizations.
May’s Organic Garden and RU Ecopark, Brgy. Sum-ag, Bacolod City – May’s Organic Garden showcases different organic agriculture technologies, has an organic restaurant, as well as function halls and accommodations for trainings and seminars. Different organic products are also processed at the Produce Ur Own (PURO) Organic and RU Botanicals also located at the ecopark. The ecopark is also an ideal venue for weddings, pictorials and family outings.
Fresh Start Organics, Hacienda Maquina, Silay City – Fresh Start Organics in Silay City Fresh Start Organics Farm in Silay City was intended to be a demo-farm for organic fertilizer until couple Chin-Chin and Francine Uy discovered that organic vegetables are more profitable than sugarcane. The farm now produces and supplies organic vegetables to Bacolod and Manila restaurants.
AIDFI Techno Park, Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City – AIDFI Techno Park is a showcase of the developed appropriate technologies by the foundation such as the award-winning hydraulic ram pump, rotary weeder, rope pump, bush pump, biogas, treadle pump, rice hull stove, gasifier, micro hydro power and essential oil distiller.
Negros Farmers Weekend Market – Located right in the City of Bacolod, the Negros Farmers Weekend Market is a 1.2- hectare planned market community that offers farmers a regular trading venue for their produce. It brings producers face-to-face with the consumers, thus giving farmers a larger profit potential, directly helping the local economy.
Rapha Valley – Located in Salvador Benedicto, Rapha Valley is more than an organic vegetable farm; it is a wellness place with a rustic feel of nature. The farm is owned by the Jo family under the direction of Dr. Albert Jo. The family advocates and educates people on wellness at Rapha Vallley where they serve vegetarian, all natural, organic food either raw or cooked slowly in traditional clay pots. Delicious and healthy food served amidst the charming scenery and cool environment is definitely a memorable experience
Sports and Adventure
Mt. Kanlaon Mountain Climbing – For those less inclined to do a serious mountain climb to the top of a volcano, a hike through the luxuriant vegetation surrounding the Mt. Guintubdan Visitor Center in Ara‐al, La Carlota City will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the Negrense plains and the Guimaras Strait, as well as several waterfalls and rare mountain plants and blooms.
Biking – Experience the boundless verdant sugarcane fields, the serpentine rivers, the undulating hills and mountain trails of Negros. With its federation of 24 biking clubs, purportedly the biggest in the country, Negros offers numerous exhilarating possibilities for biking. Trail guides and bike rentals can be arranged for those wishing an off‐the‐beaten‐track experience of the province.
Patag Valley Trekking, Silay City – Patag Valley is 45 km. from Bacolod City; located 400 meters above sea level between the highlands of Mt. Silay and Mt. Marapara; home of the Philippines spotted deer; highlight of the visit is a skyline ride.
Golf – Negros Occidental has three golf courses, these are the Victorias Golf and Country Club, Bacolod Golf and Country Club, the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.
Triathlon – Since 2012, Sipalay hosts the Sipalay National Age Group Triathlon Series which has four categories: Standard, Sprint, Relay, and Super Tri Kids.
Diving – Dive into the pristine waters off the southern towns of Hinobaan and Cauayan and Sipalay City where there is a shipwreck and 40 dive sites on top of breathtakingly beautiful white‐sand beaches, coves and azure blue waters. Resorts for all budgets dot the shoreline and dive shops can arrange for open water dives or beginner’s courses in scuba diving.
Live in Negros Occidental: Life is Sweeter Here
Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental is an urban city with that distinct Southern charm. It keeps abreast with development yet still maintain the laid-back lifestyle. Bacolod City has the amenities that other highly urbanized cities in the Philippines can offer but without the traffic problems, pollution and high crime rate. Bacolod City was chosen as the Best Place to Live in the Philippines by MoneySense Magazine in 2008 and considered as one until now.
Bacolod City has relatively lower cost of living compared to neighboring highly urbanized cities. This is a major factor you have to consider when looking for a place to live. If you want to live in Bacolod City, owning a house and lot or condominium unit is a good option. Bacolod City has a diverse real estate property offering ranging from socialized to high-end properties, from residential villages to mid-rise condominiums.
According to property portal MyProperty.ph, Bacolod City is one of the 6 cities in the Philippines where you can buy a relatively spacious house below Php 1Million. In Bacolod, a start-up family could buy a two-bedroom house for as low as P550,000.
Lamudi, a real estate property marketplace reported that Bacolod City is now experiencing its best market condition in the last 20 years and due to demand in housing units, property prices have gone up by almost 50 percent particularly in the downtown area. If you are planning to invest in Bacolod City real estate, now is the best time.
Property giant Megaworld Corporation and the leading BPO office developer in the Philippines is developing two townships in Negros Occidental, the 53-hectare Northill Gateway and the 34-hectare The Upper East. The company has allotted P35 billion for the development of these two townships. There will be residential properties, office spaces, lifestyle malls, recreational facilities as well as churches and educational facilities in the township.
Megaworld’s One Regis condominium at its The Upper East township is one of the hottest selling properties in Bacolod thus the company also launched its second condominium project, the Two Regis. Megaworld properties are known to reach as much as triple its value if you buy while it’s on pre-selling.
The over-all quality of life in Bacolod is ideal when raising a family. Bacolod offers urban amenities without the problems brought by over-development. There are a lot of public and private schools that offer quality education in all levels. Bacolod City also has very good road network that allows high mobility so traffic is not a problem. There are also a lot of recreational amenities such as golf courses, bars and restaurants, coffee shops, sports facilities and resorts. Bacolod is also rich in history and provides avenues for the appreciation and development of culture and the arts. Bacolod also has a relatively low crime rate. Bacolod City was ranked 10th among cities with the lowest crime rates in 2018 according to the Philippine National Police.
If you are considering to live in Negros Occidental, check out the properties such as house and lot for sale in Bacolod.
Work in Negros Occidental: Jobs of the Future are Here
In its 2017 Career Confidential Report, Jobstreet.ph names Bacolod City as one of the best places to work in the Philippines. Major reasons cited are that jobs of the future are here as well as top industries such as BPO, retail, manufacturing, banking, and real estate. Every year, around 14,000 graduates join the workforce in Bacolod City.
Bacolod City is also a leading investment hotspot in the Visayas and Mindanao as commercial establishments continue to rise in its 13 PEZA registered IT Parks and Centers. As commercial centers grow, investment and job opportunities also increases. More opportunities mean more competitive salaries even for fresh graduates.
According to Jobstreet, starting salaries for fresh graduates in Bacolod City in Customer Service related jobs are as high as P15,800. Junior Executives in Banking and Finance receive P35,700. Meanwhile, Supervisors in IT-related jobs receive a competitive salary of P43,000 and Managers in Engineering field receive up to P66,000 monthly.
In 2019, Bacolod City has an estimated 35,000 workers in the IT-BMP industry employed by 20 major companies which is helping fuel the local economy especially the real estate sector. With a conservative estimate of income of IT-BPM workers of an average P20,000 monthly, that’s a total of P700 billion of money going around the local economy.
The Bacolod-Negros Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNEFIT) is targeting to increase the total number of workers in the IT-BMP to 60,000 workers by 2022 by tapping freelancers and other home-based digital careers. Other sectors that BNEFIT is actively promoting is the Healthcare Information Management (HIM), Game Development, and Blockchain.
Invest in Negros Occidental: Investment Hotspot in the Visayas
Negrenses are Enterprising and Resilient
The sugar crisis of the 1980’s has brought out the enterprising spirit among Negrenses. It was during this challenging period that 15 entrepreneurial Negrense women organized the House of Negros Foundation which is what we know today as the Association of Negros Producers (ANP). Through the women entrepreneurs’ initiative, thousands of displaced sugarcane workers found jobs in handicraft and food processing small businesses. What started as backyard businesses had become major producers of world class products, a true testament of the determination and creativity of the Negrenses.
The best products of Negros Island are available at the Negros Showroom at Robinsons Place Bacolod. Because of their trailblazing efforts, the government and private sector in Negros Occidental are very supportive of entrepreneurs and this is evident in the programs and projects as well as fiscal and non-fiscal incentives that can be availed by start-up companies investing in priority industries and commodities.
Organic Agriculture and Renewable Energy
Agribusiness remain the lifeblood of Negros Occidental economy with sugarcane as the major crop making it the Sugar Capital of the Philippines with 8 sugar mills and three of which have refineries. The first bioethanol plant in the Philippines located in San Carlos City started operation in 2009. The province also leads in renewable energy with the operation of the country’s biggest commercial solar farm in San Carlos City in 2014. There are two PEZA accredited Economic Zones in San Carlos City, San Carlos Ecozone which is an Agro-Industrial Economic Zone and the San Carlos Ecozone II which is a Manufacturing Economic Zone.
Furthermore, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, together with the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental, is pushing for Negros Island to be the “Organic Food Bowl of Asia”. This initiative has spurred interest and investment in sustainable agriculture in the two provinces. The Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival established in 2005 is the biggest and longest running organic festival in the Philippines.
Information Technology and Business Process Management
Recent developments in the province are making Negros Occidental as a major investment destination in the Philippines. Since 2013, Bacolod City is one of only four “Center of Excellence for Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM)” in the Philippines recognized by by the Department of Information and Communications (DICT) and the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).
Bacolod City is one of the top destinations for BPOs not only in the Philippines but also worldwide. Bacolod City was Ranked 89th in the Tholons 2018 Top 100 Super Cities worldwide.
It is not only Bacolod City that is being positioned for the BPO industry but the rest of Negros Occidental. The provincial government has constructed the Negros First CyberCentre (NFCC) which was inaugurated by no less than President Aquino in April 2015. The NFCC is a mixed-use PEZA accredited ICT and BPO hub which is hoped to create 6,000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs, and raise P90 million in annual rentals.
To support these targets, the provincial government is operating the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC), one of the biggest ICT-BPO training providers in the province. The province also partnered with DOST and the Bacolod-Negros Federation for ICT (BNEFIT) to establish the Negros Occidental Technology Based Incubator Center which has supported and nurtured at least 10 ICT startup companies who are now independently operating.
With this kind of support from the local government and private sector, the ICT-BPO industry in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental will continue to grow in the coming years. This will continue to spur the real estate demand not only in Bacolod but also in key locations in Negros Occidental.
Negros Occidental has a total of thirteen (13) operating PEZA registered IT Parks and Centers.
PEZA registered Economic Zones in Negros Occidental
Below is a list of PEZA registered Ecozones in Negros Occidental and their status as of 2017 with data sourced from PEZA.
| No. | NAME OF ECONOMIC ZONE | LOCATION | DEVELOPER/ OPERATOR | LAND AREA (in hectares) | BUILDING FLOOR AREA (in sq. m.) | NATURE OF ACTIVITY | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ayala North Point TechnoHub | Brgy. Zone 15, Talisay City, Negros Occidental | Ayala Land, Inc. | 12.95 | - | IT Park | Operating |
| 2 | Lopue’s South Square IT Park | Araneta Street, Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City | Lopue’s Mandalagan Corporation | 5.39 | IT Park | Operating | |
| 3 | Lopue's East I. T. Center | Burgos Street coner Hilado National Highway, Bacolod City | Marketing One Unlimited, Inc. | 1 | 20,000 | IT Center | Operating |
| 4 | Luxur Plaza ITFormation Centre | 46 Lizares Avenue, Bacolod City | Luxur Realty Corporation | 1.7431 | 15,326 | IT Center | Operating |
| 5 | Monfort Information Technology Building | 22nd Street, Lacson, Bacolod City | Monfort Motor Center Corp, | 0.94 | 2,284 | IT Center | Operating |
| 6 | Negros First Cybercentre | Barangay 38, Bacolod City | Provincial Government of Negros Occidental | 1.52 | 18,979 | IT Center | Operating |
| 7 | One Sanparq | San Antonio Park Square, Lacson Street, Mandalagan, Bacolod City | A. U. and Sons Merchandising, Inc. | 0.8693 | 6,321 | IT Center | Operating |
| 8 | Robinsons Cybergate Center | Araneta Street, Singcang, Bacolod City | Robinsons Land Corporation | 1 | - | IT Center | Operating |
| 9 | St. Francis IT Centre | Araneta Street, Singcang, Bacolod City | Rojas Agro-Industrial Development Corp. | 0.3215 | 5,618 | IT Center | Operating |
| 10 | The Block IT Park | Villamonte Bacolod City | Fernando F. Gonzaga, Inc. | 1.1665 | - | IT Park | Operating |
| 11 | Transcom Center Bacolod | Araneta Street, Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City | Cornersteel Systems Corporation | 5.39 | 5,542 | IT Center | Operating |
| 12 | Two Sanparq | San Antonio Park Square, Lacson Street, Mandalagan, Bacolod City | A. U. and Sons Merchandising, Inc. | 0.8693 | 24,115 | IT Center | Operating |
| 13 | Villa Angela Techno Park | Don Carlos Hilado Avenue corner F. Gonzaga Avenue, Bacolod City | Fernando F. Gonzaga, Inc. | 4.2591 | - | IT Park | Operating |
| 14 | AIU Centre | Lacson Street, Mandalagan, Bacolod City | A. U. and Sons Merchandising, Inc. | 0.268 | 26,431 | IT Center | Proclaimed but still under development |
| 15 | Bacolod IT Park | Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City | Sunimoh Incorporated | 2 | - | IT Park | Proclaimed but still under development |
| 16 | Lopue's San Sebastian I.T. Center | Corner Araneta and San Sebastian Streets, Bacolod City | Lopue's San Sebastian Corporation | 0.5824 | 17,767 | IT Center | Proclaimed but still under development |
| 17 | SM City Bacolod IT Center | Reclamation Area, Bacolod City | SM Prime Holdings, Inc. | 14.4503 | 71,760 | IT Center | Proclaimed but still under development |
| 18 | San Carlos Ecozone | Palampas & Punao, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental | San Julio Realty, Inc | 25.7854 | Agro-Industrial | Operating | |
| 19 | San Carlos Ecozone II | Barangay Palampas, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental | San Julio Realty, Inc | 39.3573 | Manufacturing | Operating | |
| 20 | North Negros Agro-Industrial Export Processing Zone | Barangay Paraiso, Sagay City, Negros Occidental | City Government of Sagay, Negros Occidental | 20 | Agro-Industrial | Proclaimed but still under development | |
| 21 | Bacolod-Silay Economic Zone and Technopark | Barangay Bagtic, Silay City, Negros Occidental | Golden Dragon Agri-Aqua Corporation | 38.2186 | Manufacturing IT Park | Proclaimed but still under development |
Megaworld Corporation plans to build office towers in its The Upper East township with an initial inventory of 30,000 square meters as part of the company’s plan to boost the Visayas BPO Triangle which include key cities of Iloilo Ciy, Bacolod City and Cebu City. This means more jobs and investment opportunities in Negros Occidental. Negrenses will no longer need to leave the province to look for IT-BPM jobs, leaving their families and the lifestyle they’re accustomed to.
How to get to Negros Occidental
Come and Experience Negros Occidental!
Negros Occidental has the amenities and destinations that will enable you to mix business and pleasure as well as live a nurturing quality of life. Explore the nooks and crannies of Negros Occidental. Discover the distinct charm of this southern paradise and you’ll be surprised that whatever interests you, there’s something here for you in Negros Occidental.
By Air
Traveling by air is the easiest and fastest way to reach Negros Occidental. The Bacolod-Silay Airport is the gateway to the province, opening the door to visitors who are ready to be surprised by the wonders of Negros Occidental. Here are the airlines that fly direct to Bacolod-Silay Airport and the cities they depart from:
Philippine Airlies: Manila, Cebu, Clark
Cebu Pacific: Manila, Cebu, Clark
AirAsia: Manila
By Sea
As an archipelago, traveling by sea is still a major option when traveling to other islands in the Philippines.
From Panay Island, you can reach the ports of Bacolod from Iloilo City via fastcraft and RORO and via RORO from Dumagas, Iloilo.
From Cebu Island, you can reach the port of Bacolod via ferry from Cebu City and the port of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental via Toledo, Cebu via RORO.
From Mindanao, there’s a ferry from Dapitan to Dumaguete City and then you can travel by land to any destination in Negros Occidental from Dumaguete by Ceres Bus.