Valencia, Bukidnon

Valencia
Component City
City of Valencia

From top left clockwise: Hotel Valencia, Tamay Lang Arcade, NVM Mall, Plaza Rizal, Lake Apo and Valencia City Hall
Official Seal of the City of Valencia
Seal
Nickname(s): The City of Golden Harvest

Map of Bukidnon with Valencia highlighted
Valencia

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 07°54′N 125°05′E / 7.900°N 125.083°E / 7.900; 125.083Coordinates: 07°54′N 125°05′E / 7.900°N 125.083°E / 7.900; 125.083
Country Philippines
Region Northern Mindanao (Region X)
Province Bukidnon
District 4th District of Bukidnon
Founded January 16, 1961
Cityhood January 6, 2000
Barangays 31
Government[1]
 • Type Mayor-council
 • Mayor Azucena P. Huervas (Bukidnon Paglaum)
 • Vice Mayor Rolando P. Laviña (Bukidnon Paglaum)
Area[2]
 • Total 587.29 km2 (226.75 sq mi)
Elevation 373 m (1,224 ft)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 181,556
 • Density 310/km2 (800/sq mi)
 • Languages Cebuano, Filipino, English, Ilonggo
Demonym(s) Valencianos
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 8709
Dialing code 88
Income class 2nd class
Website cityofvalencia.gov.ph

Valencia, officially City of Valencia and often referred to as simply Valencia City, is a 2nd class component city in the province of Bukidnon, Philippines.[4] According to the 2010 census, the city has a population of 181,556 people.[3] Valencia attained its city status after the ratification of Republic Act 8985 in January 12, 2001.[5][6] The city is the most populous among all cities and municipalities, and the 6th largest in terms of area in the province of Bukidnon. It is also the most populous inland/landlocked city in Mindanao.

History

Origins

The territory that now comprises the city of Valencia were former thirteen Barangays of the City of Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

The earliest inhabitants in the area presently comprising part of the Poblacion were Bukidnon natives who founded a settlement along the banks of Pulangi River and the confluence of the Panglibatuhan River. The pioneers were led by Datu Sebastian Manangkila together with the families of the Binalhays, Laugas, Dongogans, Gua-ans, Lanayans, and the Arenzos. The first site of the settlement was a sitio named “Panglibatuhan” because the area was thickly forested by tree species called by the natives as “Malibato trees”. In 1911, on-room barrio school was opened, and its first teacher was the late Leon Galorport. That school site is approximately the present location of the Poblacion Barangay High School. Galorport, who came from his hometown, Valencia, Bohol named the school “Valencia School”. When the sitio became a barrio of Malaybalay, the resident agreed to name it “Valencia”. Finally, when the southern portion of Malaybalay was separated as a new municipality, the petitioners agreed to name the municipality as “Valencia”. The barrio which was Valencia is now Barangay Poblacion and is the seat of the city government of Valencia.

The rich natural resources found in the territory eventually attracted Christian settlers from the highly populated coastal areas of Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon islands. Immigration of Christian settlers to the area started in the middle 1930s. During the Second World War, the continued migration of Christian settlers further increased the population of the area from 13,898 in 1960 to 64,541 in 1975. The population grew to 181,556, according to the 2010 census conducted by the National Statistics Office in 2010.[3]

Political birth

The prime mover in the creation of Valencia as a municipality was Teodoro Pepito, who spearheaded a petition by the residents of barrio Valencia and neighboring barrios to convert the territory into a full-fledged municipality. The petition was forwarded to the Provincial Board of the Bukidnon province for consideration. The Provincial Board passed a resolution approving the creation of the Municipality of Valencia and forwarded the same to the Office of the President of the Philippines. By virtue of the provisions of Executive Order No. 360, the municipality of Valencia was formally born on January 16, 1961. In 1961, President Carlos P. Garcia appointed Teodoro Pepito and Ernesto Garcia as the mayor and vice mayor respectively. Upon the election of President Diosdado Macapagal in November 1961, another set of municipal officials were appointed, with Lucilo Alkuino as municipal mayor and Solomon Gao-ay as vice mayor. Thus, between 1962 and 1963, two sets of municipal officials have served the municipality of Valencia.[7]

During the regular local election in November 1963, Pepito won and became the first elected mayor, with Ernesto Garcia as the vice mayor. Mayor Pepito was re-elected in 1967 and again in 1971. However, before his term expired in 1975, martial law was declared by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972 and elections for local officials were suspended. Mayor Pepito continued to hold office as mayor until 1978, when he retired from government service. The vice mayor, Absalon Catarata, succeeded as municipal mayor until 1979, when President Ferdinand Marcos appointed Santiago Dablio as acting mayor of Valencia.

In 1980 local elections, Absalon Catarata was elected municipal mayor, with Romulo Makalood as vice mayor together with all the councilors in the opposition ticket. In February 1986, the People Power Revolution in Manila took place and Corazon Aquino became the President of the Republic. During the campaign for the approval of the new constitution, the municipal government under the leadership of Absalon Catarata wholeheartedly supported it. In January 1988, Catarata was re-elected as mayor and his running mate, Berthobal Ancheta was elected as vice mayor together with seven councilors under his party. Months later, he was elected president of the Bukidnon Mayors League and similarly as president of the Mayor’s League of Region X. In the evening of April 21, 1988, Absalon Catarata was fatally shot by an unknown assassin in front of his residence while waiting for his service vehicle which would have fetched him to an evening program at the town plaza. After his death, Vice Mayor Berthobal Ancheta became the municipal mayor, and Afrodisia Catarata, the wife of the late mayor, was appointed member of the Sangguniang Bayan. In the synchronized elections of 1990, Mayor Berthobal Ancheta was re-elected while Afrodisia Catarata was elected as vice mayor up to June 2001.

Cityhood

By virtue of Republic Act 8985, an act converting the municipality of Valencia in the province of Bukidnon into a component City known as the City of Valencia on January 12, 2001.[5][6] In 2001 elections, Jose Galario, Jr., former Chief of Police of the City was elected as City Mayor while the son of the late mayor, Absalon Catarata and former Vice Mayor Afrodisia Catarata was also elected as the city’s vice mayor in the person of Leandro Jose Catarata. During the 2004 local elections, both the incumbent mayor and vice mayor run for the position of city mayor. Jose Galario, Jr. emerged as the winning candidate together with Benjamin Verano as vice mayor. In the 2007 elections, incumbent Mayor Jose Galario, Jr. lost to his rival, Leandro Jose Catarata for city mayor. Benjamin Verano was re-elected as vice mayor of the city. In the 2010 general elections, incumbent Leandro Jose Catarata was reelected for a second term; while Benjamin Verano, Sr., Catarata's running mate, won the vice mayoralty position of the City of Valencia. However early in 2010, Verano died at office and was replaced by Azucena Huervas, the president of Valencia's Association of Barangay Captains.

Contemporary era

In the 2013 Valencia City local elections, Jose M. Galario, Jr. of Aksyon Demokratiko won the mayoralty post against re-electionist Catarata (Bukidnon Paglaum), Arlyn P. Ayon (PDP-Laban), and Cleofe A. Mabao (Nacionalista). Huervas was reelected as vice-mayor.

In June 2014, Galario was issued a warrant of arrest after the Supreme Court of the Philippines upheld the 2012 ruling of the Sandiganbayan for being found guilty in violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act after unceremoniously removing Ruth Piano on July 2, 2001 as the city government's budget officer. The warrant of arrest was served by Bukidnon Senior Supt. Glenn dela Torre and Valencia city police director Supt. Camilo Fuentes along with a team of law enforcers at Galario's house in Brgy. Bagontaas; but he was not found. The team proceeded to the mayor's office; but still he was not around. By then, he was declared a fugitive. Galario will serve seven years imprisonment, and will be removed of his privilege to run for any government office.[8]

Vice Mayor Azucena Huervas replaced Galario on June 9, 2014;[9] while City Councilor Rolando Laviña took over Huervas' post.

Geography

Valencia City is located in the central part of the Province of Bukidnon. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Lantapan and Malaybalay City; on the east by the municipality of San Fernando; on the west and southwest by the municipalities of Pangantucan and Talakag; and on the south by the municipalities of Maramag and Quezon.

From its core, which is the Poblacion, the city is 27 kilometers from the provincial capital of Malaybalay City and 118 kilometers from the regional center of Cagayan de Oro City. The means of transportation is by bus and private vehicles and covers approximately two to three hours ride.

The relative distance of the barangay from the city proper varies: four barangays are more or less 5 kilometers away, 20 barangays are 6 - 15 kilometers away, while the remaining 7 barangays considered as the most interior, are situated 16 kilometers or more from the city proper.

There are no seaports or airports in the city, but the nearest are in Cagayan de Oro City.

Topography

The city’s topography is characterized as flat to undulating hills with extensive plateaus and mountainous areas and cliffs on both eastern and western portions bounding the municipality of San Fernando on the east and the municipality of Talakag on the west. Its highest point is Mount Kalatungan in the Kalatungan Mountain Range rising above 1,000 meters and above 50 percent slopes. These cover 25.72 percent of the total city area and major portions of Barangay of Lourdes, Guinoyuran and Lilingayon.[10]

Elevation

The City’s average elevation is 300 meters above sea level. Elevation above 1,000 meters has a bigger area coverage with 28.93 percent of the total city area or 18,262.79 hectares. While elevation below 300 meters covers only 7.0 percent of total city area or 4,419.78 hectares. Elevation ranges from 300–500 meters covers an area of 27,591.10 hectares or 43.70 percent of the total city area. 500-1,000 meter elevation covers an area of 18,262.79 hectares or 28.93 percent of total city area.[10]

Slope

The area distribution of slope of the city are categorized into: level to gently sloping having a slope range of 0-3 percent covering an area of 6,962.53 hectares or 11.02 percent of the total city area; gently sloping to undulating having a slope range of 3-8 percent covering an area of 18,914.79 hectares or 29.96 percent of total city area; undulating to rolling having a slope range of 8-18 percent covering an area of 3,646.33 hectares or 5.78 percent of the total city area; rolling to hilly having a slope range of 18-30 percent with an area coverage of 11,306.28 hectares or 17.92 percent of the total city area; steep hills to mountainous having a slope of 30-50 percent with area coverage of 6,062.53 hectares or 9.60 percent of the total City area and; cliff-like streamline having a slope range of 50 percent above covering an area of 16,233.54 hectares or 25.72 percent of the total area.[10]

Geology and soil type

Pulangi River traversing Valencia City, Bukidnon.

Valencia City is underlain by three distinct geologic formations. Volcanic rocks believed to be of pliocene-quaternary age underlie the areas west of Pulangi River. The areas east of the broad plains in Valencia City are underlain by stratified sequence of clastic sedimentary rocks and limestone. Alluvial deposits are unconsolidated detrital materials transformed from higher landforms.[10]

The city generally has clay soil with Adtuyon clay covering 27.89 percent of the total city area suitable for annual cultivated crops and pastures. These are found in all parts of Colonia, Mailag, Bagontaas, Barobo and San Carlos. Maapag clay ranked second with 26.86 percent and covers the whole of San Isidro, Sinayawan, Mabuhay, and Catumbalon and large portions of Vintar, Tongantongan, Maapag and Batangan. Irrigated rice is suitable in these areas. Macolod clay ranked third with 17.51 percent and are generally suited for forest plantation of exotic species. Kidapawan clay loam and undifferentiated mountains soil followed and occupy a combined area of 17.70 percent located within Lilingayon. These areas are also suitable for production forest of native species. Other soil types are San Manuel clay loam (5.31%), La Castellana clay (3.41%), Adtuyon clay stony phase (0.83%), and Mailag clay loam. These types of soil are suitable for annual cultivated crops except for the cliffs along Pulangi River within Poblacion and Lumbo which are not suitable for any land use.[10]

Demographics

Population census of Valencia
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 13,898—    
1975 64,541+10.78%
1990 116,110+3.99%
1995 128,623+1.94%
2000 147,924+3.04%
2007 162,745+1.33%
2010 181,556+4.06%
Source: National Statistics Office[3][11]

Economy

A view of Sayre Highway along Valencia City proper.

Valencia City is the center of trade and commerce in Bukidnon because of its central location in the heart of Mindanao, and of its fast economic growth. The city is noted for its Valencia Rice, a variety of rice.

Tourist attractions

Valencia has several tourist destinations, and tourist drawing events:

Lake Apo
Lake Apo is a crater lake in Barangay Guinoyoran. It is located in a hilly area about 640 metres (2,100 ft) in elevation, about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) west southwest of the Barangay Poblacion, the city proper. Lake Apo was awarded the cleanest inland body of water in Northern Mindanao Region in the late 1990s. The green body of water has an estimated area of 24 hectares (59 acres) with maximum depths reaching up to 26 m (85 ft).[12][13]
Kasanayan Cave
Kasanayan Cave is located six kilometers from Sitio Tungan-tungan, Barangay San Vicente. The cave has several huge stalactites and are found 400 meters deep from the cave's mouth. The cave also has a river inside it.[12]

Events

Local government

The Mayors of Valencia City, Bukidnon
Municipal Mayors
From 1961 until 2001
Name Tenure of office
Teodoro N. Pepitoa 1961–1962
1964–1977
Lucilo Alkuinob 1962–1963
Absalon P. Cataratac 1977–1979
1980–1988
Santiago V. Dabliod 1979–1980
Berthobal R. Ancheta 1988–2001
City Mayors
From 2001 to present
Name Tenure of office
Jose M. Galario, Jr. 2001–2007
2013–2014
Leandro Jose H. Catarata 2007–2013
Azucena P. Huervase 2014–present
Notes
  1. ^ Teodoro N. Pepito was appointed by President Carlos P. Garcia in 1961. He was elected in 1964 and served for another two consecutive terms plus a hold over term due to Martial law.
  2. ^ Lucilo Alkuino was appointed by President Diosdado P. Macapagal in 1962.
  3. ^ Absalon P. Catarata succeeded the office upon Teodoro N. Pepito's retirement in 1977. He was elected for two consecutive terms in 1980 and 1988. Catarata died in office upon his assassination in April 21, 1988.
  4. ^ Santiago V. Dablio was appointed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1979.
  5. ^ Azucena P. Huervas succeeded Galario's office after the latter was found guilty of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in June 2014.
References
  1. Valencia City Library.

City administration

The city is executively administered by the mayor together with vice mayor. The legislative body comprises the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod which serves as the city council. The mayor is the local chief executive officer of the city and exercises control and supervision over all local administrative offices; while the Sangguniang Panlungsod acts as the legislative body of the city as mandated by the Local Government Code of the Philippines.[14]

Barangays

Valencia City is politically subdivided into 31 barangays:[4]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Valencia City's Integrated Transport Terminal Complex.

Valencia City is accessible by land transportation. The existing land transportation in the city consists of jeepneys from nearby towns, single motorcycles, buses from Cagayan de Oro City, General Santos City and Davao City, tricycles, and private vehicles facilitate the movement of people and goods to and from all places in the city. Traveling from Poblacion is mainly by land through all kinds of vehicles.

Utilities

The water system of the City is administered by the Valencia City Water District that caters five barangays namely Poblacion, Lumbo, Bagontaas and Mailag. 29 Barangays enjoy electricity supplied by the First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative. 1 Barangay enjoys power supply by Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative.

Communication

Telecommuncation services are primarily offered by telephone companies such as Philcom–PLDT and Sotelco, and mobile services by Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Sun Cellular. Internet services are also offered by Philcom–PLDT, Smart Communications, and Globe Telecom.

Hospitals

Education

Colleges

San Agustin Institute of Technology, Valencia City.
Valencia Colleges (Bukidnon), Inc.

Valencia City has several colleges:

Primary and secondary schools

Private primary and secondary schools:

  • ALEMARZ School of Science and Technology Foundation, Inc.
  • Bukidnon Faith Christian School, Inc.
  • Bagonta-as Adventist Elementary School, Inc. (BAES)
  • CFC-Valencia City School of the Morning Star
  • Casiphia Baptist Christian Academy, Inc.
  • Central Bukidnon Institute
  • EMEU Gequillana Memorial Academy, Inc.
  • First Fruits Christian Academy
  • Infant Jesus School of Bukidnon, Inc.
  • Little Lamb Learning Center
  • Mountain View College Academy
  • Mountain View College Faith Elementary School
  • San Agustin Institute of Technology
  • Valencia Baptist Christian Academy
  • Valencia Central Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School
  • Valencia City Central School

Almost every barangay has a public primary school, the largest of which is Valencia City Central School located in Barangay Poblacion. There are other primary secondary schools in the city. However, public secondary education is primarily offered by Valencia National High School, which is also the largest in the city.

Media

Free-to-air television broadcasts are provided by ABS-CBN and GMA Network through their relay broadcast towers located at Mount Kitanglad in nearby Malaybalay City. This city is a planned channel like TV5, ABS-CBN Sports+Action and Myx will be launched on 2016. Cable television is available through Parasat Cable TV; while satellite cable are primarily provided by Dream Satellite TV and Cignal Digital TV. Radio broadcasts are primarily provided by FM frequency stations such as DXCP FM, DXWB-FM, DXEM-FM, DXRP-FM, DXBP-FM and DXCV-FM; and AM stations such as DXDB AM (the oldest running radio station in Bukidnon), DXCR AM, and DXMV AM. National circulating newspapers like Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin and Kastigador Balita Mindanao, are available in the city. Several local Mindanao newspapers and tabloid sheets are also circulating in the city.

References

  1. ↑ "Official City/Municipal 2013 Election Results". Intramuros, Manila, Philippines: Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Province: BUKIDNON". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Municipality/City: CITY OF VALENCIA". National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Proclamation No. 432, s. 2001". Official Gazette. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Republic Acts - 2000". The Lawphil Project: An Arellano Law Foundation. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  7. ↑ "G.R. No. L-21764". The Lawphil Project: An Arellano Law Foundation. May 31, 1965. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  8. ↑ Bing Tenorio (June 7, 2014). "‘Fugitive Galario’: Police hunt on for Valencia’s mayor". Gold Star Daily News. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  9. ↑ Walter I. Balane (June 6, 2014). "Convicted Valencia City mayor now a fugitive, says Bukidnon police director". Minda News. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator (2000). "Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP)" 1.
  11. ↑ "Province of Bukidnon". Municipality Population Data. LWUA Research Division. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Tourism of the City of Valencia : The City of Golden Harvest". Official Website of the Provincial Government of Bukidnon. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  13. ↑ "List of Lakes - Philippines". Index Mundi. Retrieved October 16, 2008.
  14. ↑ "The Local Government Code of the Philippines: Book III - Local Government Units" (PDF). Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved August 7, 2012.

External links

 Talakag Lantapan / Malaybalay
San Fernando
   Valencia City  
Pangantucan Maramag / Quezon
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