Mayor of Bacolod

Last updated
Mayor of the City of Bacolod
Alkalde sang Dakbanwa sang Bacolod
Alkalde sa Dakbayan sa Bacolod
Alcalde de la Ciudad de Bacolod
Incumbent
Albee Benitez
since June 30, 2022
Style The Honorable
Seat Bacolod City Hall (legal)
Government Center (official)
AppointerElected via popular vote
Term length 3 years
Inaugural holderBernardino de los Santoss
(as Gobernadorcillo)
Gregorio Gonzaga
(as Presidente Municipal)
Fernando M. Cuadra
(as interim City Mayor)
Alfredo Montelibano Sr.
(as first City Mayor)
Formation1775 (historic)
1890 (gobernadorcillo)
1894 (presidente municipal)
1934 (de jure, city mayorship)

The City Mayor of Bacolod ((Filipino : Punong Lungsod ng Bakulod); Hiligaynon : Alkalde sang Dakbanwa sang Bacolod) is the local chief executive and head of the City Government of Bacolod. Along with the Governor of Negros Occidental and the Governor of Negros Oriental, as mayor of a highly urbanized city, he sits as one of the chief executives of Negros Island.

Contents

History

While Bacolod was first established as a town on January 20, 1755, the capital of Negros Island in 1846 and the capital of Negros Occidental in 1890, the archives of the City Government of Bacolod lists Bernardino de los Santos as Gobernadorcillo [1] upon the establishment of Bacolod as the capital of Negros Occidental after the division of the island, while Gregorio Gonzaga as the recorded Presidente Municipal [2] in 1894. Bacolod, being a pueblo and municipality then, was composed of a municipal council headed by a president. The Presidente Municipal may opt to be assisted by deputies normally called Tiniente Mayor.

As the Province of Negros Occidental grew in importance due to the sugar industry, Bacolod became a hub for business and politics, drawing more immigrant families into the city. Along with nearby Silay, population swelled due to economic and work opportunities, including education and the Sugar Exchange Center located near the town plaza.

Cityhood

Through Commonwealth Act No. 326, sponsored by Representative Pedro C. Hernaez of the Second District of Negros Occidental, Bacolod was chartered as a city on June 18, 1938. Alfredo Montelíbano, Sr. became the first city mayor upon his inauguration on October 18, 1938, along with the formal inauguration of the City Government of Bacolod. On the City Plaza still stands the tindalo tree planted by President Manuel Quezon as a reminder of the inauguration ceremonies.

As a highly urbanized city

Batas Pambansa Blg. 51 elevated the status of the city further as a highly urbanized city on December 22, 1979. Due to this, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental ceased to have control over Bacolod. It received funding directly from the national allocation, but meant that the citizens of Bacolod cannot vote for the officials of the Provincial Government nor run for elective provincial posts.

The last city official to have become won a post in the province was former Governor Alfredo Montelibano, Jr. After the promulgation of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Bacolod City was given its own representation in Congress as the Lone District of Bacolod.

List

No.NameTermTitle (Mayor)DeputyTitle (Deputy)
1Bernardino delos Santos1890–1894Gobernadorcillo(None)Next lower post: Cabeza de Barangay
2Gregorio Gonzaga1894–1895Presidente MunicipalManual FernandezTeniente Mayor
3Isabelo Labarro1895–1896Presidente MunicipalLeoncio GarruchoTeniente Mayor
4Fausto Gonzaga1896–1897Presidente MunicipalPio ArceaTeniente Mayor
5Manuel Fernandez1897–1898Presidente MunicipalFaustino VelezTeniente Mayor
6Basiliso Villanueva1898–1899Presidente MunicipalFrancisco AgravanteSecretario Municipal
7Jose Gonzaga1899–1903Presidente MunicipalTimoteo ManaloSecretario Municipal
8Jo. V.L. Gonzaga1903–1906Presidente MunicipalFrancisco AgravanteSecretario Municipal
9Mario Ramos1906–1909Presidente MunicipalManuel FernandezVice Presidente Municipal
10Esteban Guanzon1909–1912Presidente MunicipalDomiciano GonzagaVice Presidente Municipal
11Olimpio San Jose1912–1913Presidente InterimV. D. AragonSecretario Municipal
12Esteban Henares1913–1916Presidente MunicipalOlimpio San JoseVice Presidente Municipal
13Crispino Ramos1917–1919Presidente MunicipalTimoteo ManaloVice Presidente Municipal
14Olimpio de la Rama1919–1922Presidente MunicipalGeneroso VillanuevaVice Presidente Municipal
15Jose Ramos1922–1925Presidente MunicipalDionisio GonzagaVice Presidente Municipal
16Domingo Vallesteros1925–1931Presidente MunicipalAugusto R. Villarosa (first)
Hilarion Gonzaga (second)
Vice Presidente Municipal
17Felipe Arroyo1931–1934Presidente MunicipalDominador VallesterosVice Presidente Municipal
18Pablo D. Makilan1934–1937Presidente MunicipalCirilo CioconVice Presidente Municipal
19Fernando M. Cuadra1938Alcalde Municipal
(Interim City Mayor)
Jose M. MillarezVice Alcalde
20 Alfredo Montelibano Sr. 1938 – 1940City MayorJose M. MillarezVice Mayor
21Alfredo Yulo1940 – ?City MayorAurelio L. LocsinVice Mayor
Augusto R. Villarosa1942 – 1945Acting Mayor
22Felix Querubin1945City MayorVice Mayor
23Aurelio L. Locsin1945City MayorJuan D. Ta-alaVice Mayor
24Nicolasa de la Peña1946City MayorVice Mayor
25Vicente T. Remitio1946 – 1948City MayorMario S. VillanuevaVice Mayor
26Mario S. Villanueva1948 – 1951City MayorSixto CastilloVice Mayor
27Felix Amante1951 – 1955City MayorManuel VillanuevaVice Mayor
Manuel Villanueva1954 – 1955City Mayor (Acting)Vice Mayor
Jose V. Coruña1954City Mayor (Acting)Vice Mayor
28Teofisto Cordova1956 – 1963City MayorGloria Esteban (first)Romeo Guanzon (Second)Vice Mayor
29Romeo Guanzon1964 – 1971City MayorInoncencio Lucasan (first)
Jovito Sayson (Second)
Vice Mayor
30Carlos Benares1972 – 1976City MayorRaymundo Dizon Jr.Vice Mayor
31Raymundo Dizon Jr.1976 – 1980City MayorInocencio LucasanVice Mayor
32Jose Montalvo Jr.1980 – 1986City MayorJose Las PiñasVice Mayor
33Amado Parreño Jr.1986 – 1987OIC-City MayorJuan Ramon GuanzonOIC-Vice Mayor
34Napoleon Gonzaga1987–1988City MayorReynalda SaysonVice Mayor
35Alfredo Montelibano Jr.February 2, 1988 – March 1995City MayorKenneth Barredo (1988–1992)
Evelio Leonardia (1992–1995)
Vice Mayor
Alfredo Jalbuena Jr.March 1995 – May 1995City Mayor (Acting)Rolando V. VillamorVice Mayor (Acting)
Rolando V. VillamorMay 1995 – June 30, 1995City Mayor (Acting)
36 Evelio Leonardia June 30, 1995 – June 30, 1998City MayorWilmar DrilonVice Mayor
37Oscar VerdeflorJuly 1, 1998 – March 13, 2001City MayorLuzviminda ValdezVice Mayor
38Luzviminda ValdezMarch 13, 2001 – June 30, 2004City MayorRamiro Garcia Jr.Vice Mayor
39 Evelio Leonardia June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2013City MayorRenecito Novero (2004–2007)
Jude Thaddeus Sayson (2007–2013)
Vice Mayor
40 Monico Puentevella June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2016City MayorGreg GasatayaVice Mayor
Greg GasatayaNovember 2015 – February 2016City Mayor (Acting)El Cid FamiliaranVice Mayor (Acting)
41 Evelio Leonardia June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022City MayorEl Cid FamiliaranVice Mayor
42 Alfredo Benitez June 30, 2022 – PresentCity MayorEl Cid FamiliaranVice Mayor

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negros Occidental</span> Province in the Philippines

Negros Occidental, officially the Province of Negros Occidental, is a province in the Philippines located in the Negros Island Region. Its capital is the city of Bacolod, of which it is geographically situated and grouped under by the Philippine Statistics Authority, but remains politically independent from the provincial government and also one of the two regional centers in Negros Island Region. It occupies the northwestern half of the large island of Negros, and borders Negros Oriental, which comprises the southeastern half. Known as the "Sugarbowl of the Philippines", Negros Occidental produces more than half the nation's sugar output.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bacolod</span> Highly-urbanized city and capital of Negros Occidental, Philippines

Bacolod, officially the City of Bacolod, is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Negros Island Region in the Philippines. With a total of 600,783 inhabitants as of the 2020 census, it is the most populous city in the Negros Island Region and the second most populous city in the entire Visayas after Cebu City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Escalante, Negros Occidental</span> Component city in Negros Occidental, Philippines

Escalante, officially the City of Escalante, is a 4th class component city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 96,159 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kabankalan</span> Component city in Negros Occidental, Philippines

Kabankalan, officially the City of Kabankalan, is a 1st class component city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 200,198 people making it the second most populous city in Negros Occidental next to Bacolod. The city is applying for a Highly Urbanized City (HUC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sagay, Negros Occidental</span> Component city in Negros Occidental, Philippines

Sagay, officially the City of Sagay, is a 2nd class component city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 148,894 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talisay, Negros Occidental</span> Component city in Negros Occidental, Philippines

Talisay, officially the City of Talisay, is a fourth class component city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 108,909 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aniceto Lacson</span> President of the Negros Republic from 1898 to 1901

Aniceto Ledesma Lacson is a Filipino revolutionary general, sugar farmer, and businessman. He is also known as the first and only president of the Negros Republic from 1898 to 1901, and for leading the Negros Revolution alongside Juan Araneta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of St. La Salle</span> Roman Catholic university in Bacolod, Philippines

The University of St. La Salle (USLS) is a Catholic private research university run by the De La Salle Brothers, located in La Salle Avenue, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines. Established in 1952 as La Salle College - Bacolod, it is the second oldest campus founded by the congregation in the country. The university is a member of De La Salle Philippines, a network established in 2006 comprising 16 Lasallian educational institutions in the Philippine islands. The university offers preschool, elementary, secondary, undergraduate, and graduate programs. It has seven colleges namely: Business and Accountancy, Engineering and Technology, Arts and Sciences, Education, Nursing, Law, and Medicine.

Alfredo Montelíbano Sr. was a Filipino politician and industrialist. He served as the first mayor of Bacolod in 1938, as military governor of Negros and Siquijor Islands from 1942 to 1945, and as Secretary of National Defense and Interior under President Sergio Osmeña from 1945 to 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bacolod Public Plaza</span>

The Bacolod Public Plaza, officially the Plaza del 6 de Noviembre, named after the day of the Spanish surrender of Negros Island to the Negros revolutionaries, is one of the notable landmarks of Bacolod, the capital of Negros Occidental, Philippines. It is located in the heart of the downtown area, near the old city hall and across from the San Sebastian Cathedral. The plaza is a trapezoidal park with a belt of trees around the periphery and a gazebo at the center. Scattered within the trees are four circular fountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negros</span> Island in the Philippines

Negros is the fourth largest and third most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of 13,309 km2 (5,139 sq mi). The coastal zone of the southern part of Negros is identified as a site of highest marine biodiversity importance in the Coral Triangle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol</span> Neoclassical in Negros Occidental, Philippines

The Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol is the seat of the provincial government of Negros Occidental located at Gatuslao St., Bacolod, Philippines. Within its complex is the Capitol Park and Lagoon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paglaum Sports Complex</span> Sports venue in Bacolod, Philippines

The Paglaum Sports Complex is a sports venue in Bacolod, Philippines adjacent to the Negros Occidental High School. It was established during the administration of Governor Alfredo Montelibano Jr. in the 1970s. It hosted three editions of the Palarong Pambansa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor of Negros Occidental</span> Head of the provincial government

The governor of Negros Occidental is the local chief executive and head of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental. Along with the governor of Negros Oriental and the mayor of the highly urbanized city of Bacolod, he serves as one of the chief executives of Negros Island in the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfredo Marañon</span> Philippine politician (1935–2020)

Alfredo Galicia Marañon Jr. was a Filipino politician from Sagay City who served as Governor of Negros Occidental.

Evelio Ramos Leonardia, also known as Bing Leonardia, is a Filipino politician, lawyer, and realtor who served as mayor of Bacolod thrice: 1995 to 1998, 2004 to 2013, and 2016 to 2022—six terms overall. He also previously served as the representative of Bacolod's lone district from 2013 to 2016, vice mayor of Bacolod from 1992 to 1995 under Mayor Alfredo Montelibano, and a member of the Bacolod City Council from 1988 to 1992. He started his civil service career with the Department of Tourism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capitol Central</span> Place in Bacolod, Philippines

Capitol Central, previously called the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol Complex, is a government complex and mixed-use estate centered around the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol, currently co-managed with Ayala Land. Certain portions are leased or sold to Ayala Land, as part of their industrial estate in Bacolod, Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negros Island Region</span> Administrative region of the Philippines

The Negros Island Region (NIR), sometimes simplified coloquially as Negros Region, is an administrative region in the Philippines. Covering both the islands of Negros and Siquijor, the region is composed of three provinces: Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, as well as the highly urbanized city of Bacolod, which is the most populous in the region. The regional centers are Bacolod and Dumaguete.

Paglaum Party, officially the Partido Paglaum sang Banwa, is a provincial political party in Negros Occidental, Philippines based in Bacolod.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor of Negros Oriental</span> Local chief executive

The Governor of Negros Oriental is the local chief executive and head of the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental. Along with the Governor of Negros Occidental and the Mayor of the highly urbanized city of Bacolod, he sits as one of the chief executives of Negros Island.

References

  1. "The Official Website of Bacolod City". bacolodcity.gov.ph. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2016-06-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. "The Official Website of Bacolod City". bacolodcity.gov.ph. Archived from the original on 2017-06-01. Retrieved 2016-06-01.