Sipalay

Sipalay, officially the City of Sipalay (Hiligaynon: Dakbanwa/Syudad sang Sipalay; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Sipalay; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Sipalay), is a 4th class component city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 70,070 people. [3]

Sipalay
Component city
City of Sipalay
Sipalay Beach
Seal
Nickname(s): 
"The Jewel of the Sugar Island"
Motto(s): 
"Ugyon Sipalaynon"
Map of Negros Occidental with Sipalay highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Sipalay
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°45′N 122°24′E
Country Philippines
RegionWestern Visayas (Region VI)
ProvinceNegros Occidental
District6th District
FoundedDecember 20, 1948
CityhoodMarch 31, 2001
Barangays17
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Panlungsod
 • MayorMa. Gina M. Lizares
 • Vice MayorOscar C. Montilla Jr.
 • RepresentativeGenaro M. Alvarez Jr.
 • Electorate49,287 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total379.78 km2 (146.63 sq mi)
Elevation
74 m (243 ft)
Population
 (2015 census) [3]
 • Total70,070
 • Density180/km2 (480/sq mi)
 • Households
28,348
Economy
 • Income class4th city income class
 • Poverty incidence24.13% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue₱508,301,733.77 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6113
PSGC
064527000
IDD : area code +63 (0)034
Climate typetropical climate
Native languagesHiligaynon
Tagalog
Cebuano
Websitewww.sipalaycity.gov.ph

History

Sipalay history can be traced back to the undated time of early settlements of the native Tumandok who discovered the lowland plains very fertile, arable and fully vegetated by trees. The areas was well dissected by river tributaries, which accounted for the fertility of the lowland.

During the Spanish era, the area was further discovered and developed by sailing adventurers from the neighboring island of Panay, being the group who resented the Kintos System enacted by the ruling Spaniards by then.

Growth and development flourished as Chinese merchants came to barter their wares with staple food, particularly rice, which was commonly called by the settlers as paray and by the Chinese, due to the difficulty of pronouncing r, as palay which was the word to have been popularly associated with the place. Thus the area came to be known as Sipalay.

At the advent of the American regime, Sipalay was a full pledge barrio of the Municipality of Cauayan. In the early 1920s the political structure was already in place.

During the World War II, Sipalay was made an emergency town and after the war. On November 20, 1948, then President Elpidio Quirino signed Executive Order No. 185 proclaiming Sipalay as a town. The official inauguration of the town was on December 20, 1948. The conversion of Sipalay into a component city of the Province of Negros Occidental followed in 2001 after the ratification of Republic Act No. 9027.[5]

Geography

Sipalay's distance from Bacolod is 175 kilometers, almost a four-hour drive by public utility vehicle and over three hours by private car. Public utility vehicles plying the southern Negros route pass by this city. Those coming from Negros Oriental can either exit through Kabankalan City via Mabinay or through Dumaguete City via Hinoba-an.

Barangays

Sipalay City is politically subdivided into 17 barangays.

Climate
Climate data for Sipalay City, Negros Occidental
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 28
(82)		 28
(82)		 28
(82)		 28
(82)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(85)
Average low °C (°F) 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 45
(1.8)		 37
(1.5)		 62
(2.4)		 93
(3.7)		 190
(7.5)		 259
(10.2)		 284
(11.2)		 236
(9.3)		 244
(9.6)		 247
(9.7)		 162
(6.4)		 86
(3.4)		 1,945
(76.7)
Average rainy days 10.8 8.4 12.7 16.3 26.7 28.5 29.1 28.0 27.4 28.5 23.4 15.5 255.3
Source: Meteoblue[6]

Demographics
Population census of Sipalay
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 20,325—    
1970 34,771+5.51%
1975 45,773+5.67%
1980 51,264+2.29%
1990 61,892+1.90%
1995 63,960+0.62%
2000 62,063−0.64%
2007 67,211+1.11%
2010 67,403+0.10%
2015 70,070+0.74%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [3] [7] [8][9]

Language

Major languages are Hiligaynon, followed by Cebuano with English and Tagalog being used as second languages.

Accessibility
Pump boat in Sipalay as viewed from Perth Paradise Resort

Airline company Air Juan offers services from Cebu, Iloilo and Puerto Princesa via the Sipalay Airport.

Tourism
Top view image of Sipalay resorts

The city is known for its tourist destinations. An example of it is the now-defunct Maricalum Mining Corporation which happens to be one of the largest mining companies in the country. It now has a park dedicated for viewing the whole mine from atop.

It also boasts beautiful pristine beaches being a seaside city. Dubbed as the New Boracay, foreign and local tourists flock its beaches the whole year round for not only for swimming but for diving as well.

Places of interest[10]
  • Tinagong Dagat
  • Campoquino Bay
  • Campomanes Bay
  • Punta Ballo Beach
  • Punta Ballo Parrot Farm
  • Sugar Beach
  • Poblacion Beach
  • Sipalay Food Park
  • Perth Paradise Resort
  • Nataasan Beach Resort and Dive Center
  • Big BamBoo Beach Resort

References
  1.  City of Sipalay | (DILG)
  2. "Province:". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  5. Sipalay City Tourism Pamphlet
  6. "Sipalay: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  7. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  8. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  9. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  10. "Sipalay Travel Guide: Exploring the Jewels of Negros | Freedom Wall". Freedom Wall. 2016-09-17. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
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