La Castellana, Negros Occidental

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La Castellana
Municipality of La Castellana
Drone Shot of Mt. Kanlaon.jpg
Kanlaon from Brgy. Cabacungan
Flag of La Castellana, Negros Occidental.png
La Castellana Negros Occ Seal PH.jpg
Ph locator negros occidental la castellana.png
Map of Negros Occidental with La Castellana highlighted
OpenStreetMap
La Castellana, Negros Occidental
Philippines location map (square).svg
Red pog.svg
La Castellana
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°21′N123°04′E / 10.35°N 123.07°E / 10.35; 123.07
Country Philippines
Region Negros Island Region
Province Negros Occidental
District 5th district
Founded January 1, 1918
Named after Paseo de la Castellana
Barangays 13 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
  Type Sangguniang Bayan
   Mayor Añejo G. Nicor (Lakas)
   Vice Mayor Alme Rhummyla G. Nicor-Mangilimutan (UNegA)
   Representative Emilio Bernardino L. Yulo III (Lakas)
   Municipal Council
Members
  • Pritz V. Timbad
  • Christine Thel A. Geollegue
  • Nel John N. Labesores
  • Felix U. Feria V
  • Lara Angelika G. Vera-Guanzon
  • Kaye P. Cabalatungan-Enriquez
  • Alberto A. Nicor, Jr.
  • Marven Paolo J. Magno, Jr.
   Electorate 51,604 voters (2025)
Area
[2]
  Total
185.22 km2 (71.51 sq mi)
Elevation
77 m (253 ft)
Highest elevation
244 m (801 ft)
Lowest elevation
25 m (82 ft)
Population
 (2024 census) [3]
  Total
82,500
  Density450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
   Households
5,398
Economy
   Income class 1st municipal income class
   Poverty incidence
26.45
% (2021) [4]
   Revenue 328.9 million (2022)
   Assets 359.6 million (2022)
   Expenditure 275.7 million (2022)
   Liabilities 216.9 million (2022)
Service provider
  ElectricityNegros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6131
PSGC
IDD : area code +63(0)34
Native languages Hiligaynon
Tagalog
Cebuano

La Castellana, officially the Municipality of La Castellana, is a municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 79,492 people. [5]

Contents

Etymology

The town is named after the Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid, Spain.

History

According to popular belief, the early settlers of the town came from Marayo (now Pontevedra), calling their place of settlement as the village of "Lapak". [6]

During the Spanish conquest of the Philippines, the Spaniards named the place "La Castellana" due to its similarity in vegetation with Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid, Spain. Under Spanish colonization, the Spaniards established haciendas and sugar plantations. These improved heavily on the local economy and soon many nationalities and natives flocked to the place to find work and opportunities. La Castellana became one of the major center of trade and commerce in the region. [6]

Under the American colonial government, the municipality was formally established on January 1, 1918. [6] It became a municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 101, as proclaimed by American Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison. [7]

Geography

La Castellana lies at the base of Kanlaon Volcano, known for its natural springs and water falls. It is 65 kilometres (40 mi) from Bacolod and 22 kilometres (14 mi) from Pontevedra.

Barangays

La Castellana is politically subdivided into 13 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Climate data for La Castellana, Negros Occidental
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)28
(82)
29
(84)
30
(86)
32
(90)
31
(88)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
28
(82)
29
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)20
(68)
22
(72)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)100
(3.9)
75
(3.0)
90
(3.5)
101
(4.0)
183
(7.2)
242
(9.5)
215
(8.5)
198
(7.8)
205
(8.1)
238
(9.4)
194
(7.6)
138
(5.4)
1,979
(77.9)
Average rainy days14.911.314.517.426.428.428.527.526.928.424.217.2265.6
Source: Meteoblue [8]

Demographics

Population census of La Castellana
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 5,329    
1918 8,087+2.82%
1939 16,861+3.56%
1948 24,654+4.31%
1960 35,630+3.12%
1970 34,881−0.21%
1975 41,821+3.71%
1980 44,684+1.33%
1990 54,368+1.98%
1995 59,620+1.74%
2000 59,102−0.19%
2007 70,838+2.53%
2010 71,013+0.09%
2015 74,855+1.01%
2020 79,492+1.27%
2024 82,500+0.90%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

Economy

La Castellana is an agricultural town engaged in sugarcane, rice, and banana farming.

Poverty incidence of La Castellana

10
20
30
40
50
60
2000
57.79
2003
36.14
2006
32.40
2009
29.70
2012
29.58
2015
26.11
2018
26.98
2021
26.45

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

Culture and tourism

La Castellana holds many festivals namely Bailes de Luces, Banana Festival and Senior San Vicente Ferrer Feast Day where devotees far and near attend to for healing. Caduhada Spring Resort is a popular tourist spot located in Sitio Mambangon, Barangay Cabacungan.

References

  1. Municipality of La Castellana | (DILG)
  2. "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN   0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  4. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  5. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "La Castellana Municipality, Negros Occidental - Centennial". philippinestamps.net. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  7. "La Castellana, Negros Occidental – Executive Summary" (PDF). Commission on Audit of the Philippines . 2013.
  8. "La Castellana: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  9. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  10. Census of Population (2015). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  11. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VI (Western Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  12. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  13. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  14. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  15. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  16. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
  17. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
  18. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
  19. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
  20. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  21. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.