Municipality of Hinigaran Official Website | The Town that never sleeps and the Oyster and Pyrotechnics Capital of Negros Occidental

INTRODUCTION

The Municipality of Hinigaran which often referred to as the town of “HIJO DE PONGGOL” is located on the southwestern coast of Negros Occidental and just 54 kilometers south of Bacolod City, the capital city of the province.  

Hinigaran is noted as pyrotechnics maker in Negros Occidental. It also boasts of its beautiful and clean beach  resorts such as Paradiso Beach Resort, Canonoy Beach Resort, Gargato Beach Resort, Bulobito-on Beach Resort, Gicana Beach Resort, Ambakan Beach Resort, Makikiling Beach Resort, Presas Beach Resort and  Rodrigazo Beach Resort all fringed with graceful coconut trees,  hence it is considered by the provincial government as one of the tourist spots of the province.

The municipality of Hinigaran is also identified as one of the food baskets of the province. The proof is that most often travelers from the north and the south  have to stop at Hinigaran to have a taste of its delicious talaba “oyster” and other seafoods which Hinigaran is famous for.

The Hinigaranons is also very proud of its Century Old Catholic Church build in 1858 under the direction of the Augustinian –Recollects. It reflected as an example of  the exuberant local translation of semi-baroque design into a simplified style. The church was build through a joint support of the Parish Priest Fr. Jose Ma. Martinez and Fr. Francisco Ayarsa Avarra and the residents of Hinigaran. This is one of the Spanish colonial churches of Negros and considered as a cultural treasure  and the prestigious heritage of the  18th century during the Spanish Era. The five (5) big bells dated 1867, 1878, 1871 and 1876 which was taken from the belfry is now on display at the front of the church convent.

GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY

Hinigaran is a coastal town of Negros Occidental, located 54 kilometers south of Bacolod City. It has a land area of 15,492 hectares .surrounded by sugarcane plantations, fish ponds and rich fields.  It has a coordinate of 122 degrees 50’12” east longitude and 10 degrees 16’20” north latitude.  It is bounded on the north by the town of Pontevedra, La Castellana-Pontevedra on the north-east, Isabela on the east, Binalbagan on the north and Guimaras Strait on the west.

Administratively, Hinigaran is composed of 24  barangays, four of which are coastal barangays, namely: Miranda, Gargato, Brgy. II and Tagda.

Of the total land area 15,492 hectares, 34.24% is classified as rolling hills, 9.93% is low mass of hydrosol area and 55.83% plain.  The highest elevation is approximately 174 meters above sea level which can be located in the inland portion of the town’s Barangay Camalobalo, while the lowest elevation ranges from 2 to 10 meters above sea level. There are areas which are characterized as rolling to gently rolling areas.  Most of these are located in Brgy. Tuguis, Camalobalo, Himaya, Bato Aranda, Candumarao and Calapi. It is on these areas where contour framing and strip cropping are commonly observed.

GETTING THERE

Hinigaran can be reach by bus, jeepney or hired taxi from the Bacolod South Terminal.  

PEOPLE

Based on available records, the town of Hinigaran was first settled by the Mondos and the Ambaks- semi primitive people.  When the Malay traders from Panay came, they drove the Mondos to the interior and these Malay settlers occupied the area beside the sea. The Mondos and the Ambaks then called these new settlers taga “Higad”, meaning those living beside the sea. When the Spaniards arrived, the town was called “Ginigaran” derived from the word “higad”.

Among the first families that settled in Hinigaran were families of Mongcal, Dano-og, Curio, Sarrosa, David, Pido, Pabalinas, Luntayao and Grijaldo.  They came from Miag-ao and Guimbal.  The migration from Panay increased the population, and in 1768 the Spanish officials made Hinigaran a Pueblo. It was only in 1806 in the presence of the Augustinian priest that Basilio Mongcal was elected by the Principalis as the first Gobernadorcillo.

The demand for sugar by foreign firms stirred the interest of the people of Panay to acquire more lands for cultivation of sugar.  The elite of Molo chose Hinigaran as the place for their haciendas.  Two prominent families, the Siguenza and the Guanco constructed the Magdalena Sugar Factory in  1912, one of the first sugar centrals in Negros Occidental.

(continued next page... please click the left or right arrow below...)

ARTS AND CULTURE
          
OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH - located at Rizal Street, the church is of Romanesque type of architecture.  It is 30.70 meters wide and 38.5 meters long with massive walls made of limestone blocks.  It has a church tower measuring 30 meters high and a belfry.  Before its renovation, the church has five (5) altars- one main altar and four (4) side altars.  Beneath the choir stand is the main door.

The original church was made of materials available at the time of its construction.  The walls two meters thick are made of limestone blocks believed to have been transported from Guimaras.  G.I. sheets with plywood ceiling replaced the roof.  The brick flooring was replaced with tiles.

The five (5) big bells dated 1867, 1878, 1871 and 1876 which was recently taken from the belfry is now on display at the front of the church convent though the effort of Monsignor Ramon Tirania.

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

Hinigaran is basically a coastal town with   land area of 15,492 hectares and a budding population of 74,997 as of May 2000 census of population.
    
It is rich of natural resources. Noted for its delicious Talaba (oyster) , seafoods, shell crafts and pyrotechnics manufacturing. Hinigaran has beautiful beach resorts that provide a place for recreation and fitting respite for tourist and those whose lifestyle and work schedules were fast and hectic.
 
Being centrally located at the southern portion of the province almost all roads lead to Hinigaran. It is traversed by hard surface road from Canla-on City. Buses from Dumaguete via Mabinay vice versa regularly ply the route. La Carlota City is only about half an hour ride. People from Isabela and Magallon take a shortcut via Hinigaran and regular buses from Hinoba-an down to Kabankalan and Ilog to Bacolod pass the town.

This strategic location is the prime factor that spurred a vigorous trade and commerce in the locality.  Many ambulant vendors and consumers from other municipalities can be observed during market days.

Two landlines (RC Yulo (PLDT) and Globelines) and four (4) cell sites of the mobile telephones for phone services, while the Equitable PCIB and the newly opened RCBC will cater to the banking needs of the people.  

The municipal government to ensure that the power and water would be readily available, a very basic ingredient for possible investment has installed a new pumping station at Pahilanga to augment that of Narauis. And that 100%  of  the barangays and 98% of sitios are energized.

Having a strong, stable, responsive and hardworking officials and employees, prospective investors are assured of ready assistance, support and protection on their investment portfolio in the Municipality of Hinigaran.
 
MUNICIPAL ENTERPRISE

Public Market
The public market is situated at the northeast section of the poblacion. It has a
total land area of about Seven Thousand Two Hundred Seventy Two (7,272) Square Meters more or less. It is bounded by Lopez-Jaena Street in the north where meat and fish sections are located; by Lagtapon Street in the south, C.S. Aguilar St..in the east where the groceries and dry goods sections are located and Luna Street in the west where other specialty shops like farm and household items could be found. In the middle of this complex is the cereal and vegetable section and some other dry goods shop. Transient    and ambulant vendors occupy the sidewalk along Aguilar Street which also serves as the “bagsakan area”
                 
The market is open throughout the week but Thursdays and Sundays are special market days where additional semi-regular transient and ambulant vendors converge from all over Negros to sell their wares. They occupy the whole Aguilar Street and Lagtapon Street boundaries of the market, which is closed on traffic on those days. The volume of activity in the market is such that the complex could not accommodate so that these streets are used instead.          
                                                                  
The municipality has now a New Public Market Building Phase I  along R.C. Lagtapon and Luna Sts. which was inaugurated last February 12, 2005. While most of the buildings are circa 1950 except for the outer building along Aguilar Street which was improved about 35 years ago.  The LGU is  preparing a plan for the construction of  the New Public Market Building phase II on this site.

(continued next page... please click the left or right arrow below...)

Slaughterhouse:

The municipal abattoir is located at the reclamation area at the northwestern section of the poblacion near the mouth of the Hinigaran River. It is a detached single storey building of mixed construction using concrete, wood, G.I. and steel components. It has an area of about 103 square meters more or less, which is divided into the pig pen section and the slaughtering section. The pig pen is a latest improvement added. At the center of the building is a concrete and bricks furnace.

SANITATION AND SEWERAGE :

Water Supply

The existing water supply system built in 1955 is  being reinforced by two (2)  pumping stations, one  from Barangay Narauis to supply the four (4) Urban barangays and the neighboring eight (8) rural barangays . And the newly constructed pumping station at So. Kasoy Brgy. Camba-og that serve Brgys. Miranda, Gargato, Anahaw & Camba-og.

Solid Waste Management

Garbage and waste from around the poblacion and some adjacent barangays are picked up daily by two (2) municipal garbage trucks. This is being transported to a privately owned dumping area at the northern part of the poblacion which is part of Barangay Anahaw  Burning is the only method used to control the scattering of garbage already deposited there. Occasional application of lime is done to control sanitation and air pollution.

Drainage and Flood Control

There are two (2) natural creeks traversing the poblacion that drain out surface or floodwater towards the Hinigaran River during rainy season. These natural creeks are yearly maintained for their cleanliness and easy water flow with budget from the 20% municipal government development funds (IRA) implemented through the poblacion barangays traversed by these creeks. These two creeks were  improved through a loan packages from PREMIUMED that greatly solved the drainage problem of the municipality.

BUS/JEEPNEY TERMINAL:

A small privately owned Fil-Cab terminal is located at the poblacion which ply from Hinigaran to Bacolod vice-versa daily and another private terminal located at the poblacion which cater to a larger type of public utility bus from Hinigaran to Bacolod and vice-versa and Hinigaran to the northern part of Negros Occidental.

(continued next page... please click the left or right arrow below...)

Statistical Data

Hinigaran is a first class town in the southern area of Negros Occidental, Philippines. Located about 54 kilometers away from Bacolod City, the town takes pride in being the Oyster Capital of Negros Occidental. Hinigaran is a burgeoning town with more or less 82,000 inhabitants based on the 2010 census.

Headed by the Honorable Mayor Hermilo L. Aguilar, Hinigaran is subdivided politically into several barangays, namely:

Since it was established in the early Spanish era, migrants continue to troop to Hinigaran to settle and raise a family. In fact, the town has consistently enjoyed a growing population, some of which can be attributed to migrants who settle here. Statistics data show that during the past 20 years, Hinigaran's population growth, on the average, did not go down below 60% levels. 

How to get here

Hinigaran is about an-hour-and-15 minute drive south of Bacolod City using public transport and one hour on private vehicles.  Public utility vehicles plying the southern Negros route pass through the municipality, dubbed as “Gateway to Southern Negros”.

Share Close