About Bago City
Bago City is known as the “Home of historical and natural treasures”, owing to its contribution in the colourful history of the province of Negros Occidental and country, and its beautiful scenery and abundance in flora and fauna making it a good eco-tourism destination.
Its geography, resources and political stability make its efforts in ensuring the benefits and welfare of Bagonhons a common objective of its officials, bureaucracy and constituency, moving Bago towards excellence in local governance.
Geographically, Bago is one of the two cities in the Fourth District of the province. Based on 2000 Census, Bago has a population of 141, 721 and projected to be at 170, 953 for the year 2011. Bagonhons comprise the 6.63% of the population of the entire Province of Negros Occidental. Bago City sets a land area of 389 square kilometres, which is 5% of the entire Negros Occidental and 10% of the total land area of component cities.
It is 21.5 kilometers or a 30 minute drive away from the Center of Bacolod; an hour drive from Bacolod- Silay Airport and a 15 minute drive from the International Port of Pulupandan.
The 2011 City Expected Income is at 515, 224, 756.49, Internal Revenue Allotment of 420, 000,000.00 and 20% Development Fund of 84, 000,000.00.
With its natural endowments, Bago City is considered as the District Agri- industrial Center and serves as food growth and diversification center, and with the best ecology and tourism development zone.
Bago is an Agri – Industrial City, endowed with vast and long stretch of rolling plains-carpeted with rice, sugarcane, corn, coconut, fruit trees and other high value crops. Its enchanting mountains provide a view of splendid scenery, a home of mystic caves lakes and cascading waterfalls, a top these nature’s beauty is the fact that it is the home of hospitable people, whose race has a colorful history and culture. Of recent time, it is the seat of a stable leadership, of good governance, of acclaimed socio-economic and political programs and activities that make the City a highly regarded local government, as reflected by the many citations, awards and recognitions earned from local, national and international institutions and groups.
As a tourist destination, Bago City boasts of the many attractions it can offer-from the communion with nature at the cool breeze of Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center; to the spectacle of panoramic sceneries viewed at Buenos Aires Mountain Resort; to the gasping sights of the cascading waterfalls and flora at the height of the viewing deck of the Kipot Twin Falls; to the warmth of sea breeze, a calmly sight of sunset and the rustling of waves in the beach resorts; to an immersion down memory lane in various historical sites and structures that brings back the nostalgia of a glorious history of the Bagonhons. Truly a tour in Bago City is a life- enriching experience.
As an investment center, Bago City is a model of agri- industrial development. It offers good entrepreneurial site for the utilization of its agricultural products, dedicated and industrious human resources, an access to sea faring crafts and a well developed road networks. It is also a host to geothermal resources which is presently explored and developed by the Philippine National Oil Company – Energy Development Corporation Northern Negros Geothermal Project. It operates last February 2007. With the congestion of the City of Bacolod as a primary commercial center of the province, Bago City provides a vast area for expansion and an inviting investment potential. The economic success of existing manufacturing industries such as the Mt. Kanla-on Spring Water Plant, the Distileria Bago, Incorporated, and the Alter Trade Manufacturing Corporation among others, prove that indeed Bago City is a potential haven for investments.
Likewise, worthy of consideration is the world-class quality barongs made from silk thread produced by the OlSCA-Bago Training Center-Sericulture Project and the Tumandok Crafts, Industries Incorporated that produces export quality handicrafts made from indigenous materials. It proves the international caliber of Bagonhon human resources and products.
As an institution, Bago City has proven itself as an achieving government. Through the years, amidst the challenge of a limited term of office by its local leaders, the City Government has maintained and sustained a common goal, devoid of the envy of politics, but driven by the commitment to bring about public good and general welfare. With the sense of sustainability of all its laudable programs and projects, Bago City has been reaping the fruits of years of hard work, commitment and unity as one community and people in the various achievements and awards it earned.
As a city and people, Bago City has been a recipient of various awards in the implementation of programs and in the delivery of basic social and health services to the constituency. The Bago City Police Office had been adjudged as the Outstanding Citizen-Friendly Police Office in the country. The City is also a recipient of a national award as an Accredited Agency by the Civil Service Commission. It was also cited as a Green Banner Awardee in the field of nutrition implementation. The City also holds the title for the Gawad Kalasag 2006 for Best Disaster Coordinating Council.
In the field of tourism, the city was awarded as the Best Tourism Oriented Local Government Unit in Western Visayas, component city category. And best of all Mayor Janet E. Torres has been awarded Most Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines several times.
Of notables, it has produced many legends and great names in sports, particularly in athletics and boxing that had brought honor to the City and Country in various national and international competitions. At one point, Bago City was known as the “Boxing Capital of the Philippines”, owing to the great names it produced in boxing, like Leopoldo Cantancio, Reynaldo Galido, Roel Velasco, Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco, Jr. and many others. To date, there are still boxers from the City who are undergoing training with the National pool in Manila.
All these taken as a whole, had given Bago, a “Child-Friendly City Award” in the component City Category.
