Cauayan, Negros Occidental
Encyclopedia
Cauayan is a first class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines
. Located on the southern portion of the province, it is bounded on the east by the Municipality of Ilog
; on the south by the Municipality of Candoni; on the west by the progressive mining City of Sipalay and on the north by the Panay Gulf with its bountiful fishing grounds.
Punta Bulata White Beach Resort, the most developed resort in the area, with an AA accreditation from the Department of Tourism, has seen tourists from all parts of the world who come to relax, bask in the tropical atmosphere and enjoy the marine life that is one of the best in the country.
Danjugan Island Marine Reserve, a wildlife sanctuary in Brgy. Bulata is also one of the most recognized dive spots in the region. Once featured on the cover of Mabuhay Magazine, this island has one of the most diverse and highly dense coral life in the world, comparable to the Great Barrier Reef. Visitors may go for day-trips to the island with pre-arranged visits by contacting Danjugan Island or through Punta Bulata Resort.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Located on the southern portion of the province, it is bounded on the east by the Municipality of Ilog
Ilog, Negros Occidental
Ilog is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines.Founded by the Augustinian fathers in May 1584. It was the first capital of Negros Occidental and Siquijor Provinces in the late 19th century...
; on the south by the Municipality of Candoni; on the west by the progressive mining City of Sipalay and on the north by the Panay Gulf with its bountiful fishing grounds.
History
Long before the Spaniards came to Negros, this town was a wilderness and primitive people depend on hunting and fishing for a living. The town was covered with bamboo thickets called Kawayan in the local dialect hence, the name Cauayan.
In 1822, Cauayan was formally founded by Don Vicente Paulo Decena, believed to have come from CebuCebuCebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
. He was enticed into Cauayan by the legendary beauty of a native girl who subsequently became his wife.
During the Spanish era, a seat for the municipal government was sought. Guiljungan, Cauayan and Isio were candidates but Isio prevailed as it was more populated. It got the honor of being the center of government although gobernadorcilloGobernadorcilloThe Gobernadorcillo was a municipal judge or governor in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, who carried out in a town the combined charge or responsibility of leadership, economic, and judicial administration. The Gobernadorcillo was the leader of a town or pueblo . In a coastal...
s were accorded Cauayan and Guiljungan.
Not much progress happened to the town at that time since the Spanish rulers were reluctant to educate their subjects. Even if they built schools, only a few privileged were admitted to them. There were no roads and most people were required to render forced labor.
All these changed when the Americans came in 1904. The tribunalTribunalA tribunal in the general sense is any person or institution with the authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title....
in Isio was shifted to Cauayan and this fostered development. The natives were taught modern ways to raise crops while schoolhouses, roads and bridges were constructed. Not even the Japanese occupation could disrupt the development of the town since then.
Today, Cauayan is known for its fine beaches, limestone and dried fish products.
Tourism
Tourism has recently picked up in the Cauayan Municipality, with its fine white sand beaches and diverse marine and wildlife.Punta Bulata White Beach Resort, the most developed resort in the area, with an AA accreditation from the Department of Tourism, has seen tourists from all parts of the world who come to relax, bask in the tropical atmosphere and enjoy the marine life that is one of the best in the country.
Danjugan Island Marine Reserve, a wildlife sanctuary in Brgy. Bulata is also one of the most recognized dive spots in the region. Once featured on the cover of Mabuhay Magazine, this island has one of the most diverse and highly dense coral life in the world, comparable to the Great Barrier Reef. Visitors may go for day-trips to the island with pre-arranged visits by contacting Danjugan Island or through Punta Bulata Resort.
Topography
The Municipality of Cauayan has a rugged topography. Mt. Malipantao, considered the highest peak in the province separates the municipality from the town of Candoni and the City of Sipalay. Portion of the ranges are the remaining thick forest that needs protection where the watershed is located. The remaining portions of the municipality are slightly rolling to moderate large areas of flat lands center on the different barrios, which is much suited to agriculture.
The municipality consists mainly of the following slope distribution:
From gently sloping at 0-3 percent or equivalent to 5,369.42 hectares to moderately sloping at 3-8 percent or a total of 1,059.40 hectares to rolling lands with slopes ranging from 8-18 percent which covers to about 1,716.94 hectares. Bigger portion is moderately steep with a slope distribution ranging from 18 to 30 percent having a total area of 19,419.42 hectares. However, large areas are steep and mountains with a slope 30 - 50 percent which accounts to 21,181.92 hectares and to very steep hills and mountains with a slope of over 50 percent which covers to about 3,246.90 hectares, Moderately large areas of flat land center on the different barrios. However, the southern part of the municipality is hilly. The Poblacion and the 12 barangays along the seashore are approximately 0 - 3 degrees above sea level.
Barangays
The Municipality of Cauayan is made up of 25 barangays and is categorized into two (2), the Coastal and the UplandHighland (geography)The term highland or upland is used to denote any mountainous region or elevated mountainous plateau. Generally speaking, the term upland tends to be used for ranges of hills, typically up to 500-600m, and highland for ranges of low mountains.The Scottish Highlands refers to the mountainous...
Barangays.
Coastal Barangays Classification Population (May, 2000) Mambugsay Rural 4,976 Guiljungan Urban 9,870 Tiling Rural 3,146 Poblacion Urban 8,361 Man-uling Urban 2,332 Isio Urban 5,089 Tuyom Urban 5,407 Masaling Urban 3,615 Caliling Urban 4,570 Linaon Rural 3,464 Inayawan Rural 9,407 Elihan Rural 1,267 Bulata Rural 4,863
Upland Barangays Classification Population (May, 2000) Talacdan Rural 3,392 Camindangan Rural 2,727 Tomina Rural 947 Molobolo Rural 1,242 Sura Rural 409 Basak Rural 3,010 Yaoyao Rural 2,131 Camalanda-an Urban 4,810 Abaca Rural 1,361 Lumbia Rural 1,098 Tambad Rural 904 Buclao Rural 1,012
Health
The main concern of the Local Government Unit of Cauayan is the provision of adequate health facilities and services to its constituents. The Rural Health Unit (RHU) in the Poblacion is supported by 24 Barangay Health Stations and 22 sub-stations located in the different barangays. Complementing the health needs is the newly operated Cauayan District Hospital manage by the Local Government Unit located in Barangay Isio. Services offered are as follows: medical consultation, maternal and child care, immunization, control of diarrheaDiarrheaDiarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
l diseases, control of acute respiratory infection, family planningFamily planningFamily planning is the planning of when to have children, and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans. Other techniques commonly used include sexuality education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections, pre-conception counseling and...
, nutritionNutritionNutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
, tuberculosisTuberculosisTuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
control, leprosyLeprosyLeprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
control, dental health, rabiesRabiesRabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals. It is zoonotic , most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms...
control, malariaMalariaMalaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
control, sexually transmitted diseaseSexually transmitted diseaseSexually transmitted disease , also known as a sexually transmitted infection or venereal disease , is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex...
s control, AIDS prevention, cancerCancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
control, dengue control, cardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular diseaseHeart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
s prevention and control, prevention of blindnessBlindnessBlindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
, environmental sanitationSanitationSanitation is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes. Hazards can be either physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease. Wastes that can cause health problems are human and animal feces, solid wastes, domestic...
and care of the elderly.
Social Welfare
The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) is charged with the function of accelerating delivery of social services in the municipality. The target outreach for welfare services is generally classified as follows: family heads, children, out-of-school youths, disabled, special groups, distressed families and rebel returnees.
Services being implemented are as follows: Family Heads and Other Needy Adults (FHONA), Needy Children, Youth, Disabled/Elderly, Women, Distressed, Self-Employment Assistance Program, Day Care and Supplemental Feeding in the different Day Care Centers, Emergency Assistance (EA), Self-Employment Assistance (SEA), Relief Assistance, Responsible Parenthood/Pre-Marriage Counseling and the Specific Social Services like Child Abuse, Youthful Offender, Peer Group Services, Organization of Elderly Group, Organization of Barangay Council for Protection of Children and Organization of Barangay Disaster Coordinating Council.
Peace and Order
The municipality police force has a total strength of 28 members that maintain the peace and order and in times of emergency cases. It is being complemented by the 4th Mobile Coy PNP or Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) in maintaining peace and order especially in the campaign against subversives and lawless elements in the town and nearby municipalities. This is further augmented by the 61st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Barangay Tiling.
Infrastructure
The municipality could be reached through public utility buses and jeeps plying the route Bacolod-Cauayan-Sipalay-Hinoba-an with terminals in Bacolod City and sub-terminals in Kabankalan City on a scheduled basis. Transportation facilities plying the route from the City of Kabankalan to the different barangays and vice versa are public utility jeeps with terminals in other growth centers aside from Poblacion. There are about 525 unit of public tricycles being utilized for short distance travel.
The municipality has a total road length 298 kilometers. Of this, barangay roads constitute 70.57 percent or an aggregate of 210.29 kilometers. Most of the barangay roads are still unpaved with a total of 192.98 kilometers categorized under the gravel road surface. Only 2.31 kilometers and three (3) kilometers are of concrete and asphalt, respectively. Ranked next is the national road with a total of 64 kilometers or about 21.5 percent. Of the total, 62 kilometers are concrete asphalt and the remaining two (2) kilometers as concrete road surface. The provincial roads, on the other hand, comprise 20.5 kilometers or equivalent to only 6.9 percent of the total road length where 17 kilometers are still classified under the gravel road surface. The municipal roads represent about 1.1 percent or a total of 3.21 kilometers are all of concrete surface and basically servicing the urban center with a total projected population of 7,096.
As to telephone services, the municipality has no land line connections. The only available facilities are the two (2) telephone franchise holders or public calling offices namely: Philippine Long Distance Telephone Office - (PLDT-PCO) and Bayan Telephone Services.
Mailing services is mainly handled by the Bureau of Posts which is headed by a Postmaster and two (2) postmen. Other telecommunication services are the Municipal Radio Station and the PC/PNP Radio Station with their citizens band radio operated by the Office of the Mayor and the PC/PNP, respectively. The former is engaged in communication services to and from the provincial offices and other municipal offices while the latter specializes in communication services directly related to peace and order radio messages.
One of the major source of power is the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO), which started providing electric power in September 1982. It only covers six (6) barangays however, with the increasing number of population, the demand for electric power is also increasing. As a result, out of 25 barangays, 23 are already energized. The remaining two (2) barangays settled down to kerosene, which is still widely used by the remaining 73 percent of the total number of potential consumers who are not served by the electric cooperative.
There are two (2) levels of water supply in the municipality namely: a) Level I - refers to point sources of water such as wells, springs and rain collector and b) Level II - refers to communal faucet systems. The municipality is deficient in the point of piped potable water available for residential and commercial purposes.
There are 18 existing waterworks system under Level II water system found in 18 barangays where one (1) faucet in every clustered of houses or a total of 386 faucets. Except for Barangay Inayawan that is being operated by the cooperative, the rest are being managed by the Barangay Council. Since the municipality is still generally rural, the local waterworks system uses communal faucets where houses are densely clustered enough to justify a piped distribution system providing a number of households with faucets. In other barangays, household consumers paid a flat rate bill at a minimum of P10.00 per month while others operated their water system for free.
Education
The municipality is divided into two (2) school districts, Cauayan I and Cauayan II which offer complete elementary and secondary education. Coupled with this, it also offers non-formal education to out-of-school youths. There are in the municipality 62 elementary schools, 31 schools have complete elementary education and the remaining 30 schools only catered to primary education. From these 62 elementary schools, 21 are located along the highway and some are near the seacoast while the rest are widely scattered in the mountainous area of the municipality.
For secondary education, there are Seven (7) main national high schools and three (3) private secondary schools. Among the excelling schools are Guiljungan National High School, Tuyom National High School, Eva J Montilla National High School and Camalandaan National High School that caters quality education. Students have competitively participates to Divisional And Regional Conferences from these schools and honorarily brags awards.
To further provide the educational and/or tertiary needs of the Cauayanons, the municipal government through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the Negros Occidental Agriculture College (NOAC) now Negros Occidental State College of Agriculture (NESCA) - Cauayan Campus was officially opened last June 8, 1999.