Hinigaran

Hinigaran, officially the Municipality of Hinigaran (Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Hinigaran; Tagalog: Bayan ng Hinigaran; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Hinigaran, is a municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 90,403 people.^[5]

It is the fast-growing economy and progressive development in the province of Negros Occidental. Hinigaran envision itself to be leading of top economic hub place for agri-tourism, commerce, industry and, education in the southern district. It is also aim to become a "Center of Economic Development" by 2030 in the south-central part of Negros Occidental.

Hinigaran is currently applying for Independent Component City (ICC).

The town's name is derived from the word higad and was originally recorded as "Ginigaran" by the Spaniards. The early settlers from Panay, known as Tagahigad, displaced the aboriginals called "Mundos" and "Ambaks" to the mountains. Over time, the name evolved in spelling and pronunciation to "Hinigaran."

An alternative legend suggests that the name originated from the Bisayan word Linigaran, which means "bypassed" or "skirted." Based on this account, during an eruption of Mount Kanlaon, a massive snake fled to the sea, bypassing the present-day Hinigaran, and became stranded at the mouth of the present-day Binalbagan River.^[6]

The early inhabitants of this town were the aboriginal people called "Mundos" and "Ambaks". When traders and settlers from Panay started moving in, the natives were driven to the mountains.

The town was founded in 1765, and Captain Basilio Mongcal was appointed as the first president in 1806. Among its first settlers were the families of Mongcal, Lagtapon, Curio, Sario, David, Orin, Pido, Pabalinas, Luntayao, Javier, Vargas, Lucasan, Grijaldo, and Dano-og— some of whom were from Panay.

The Spaniards established the seat of the "pueblo" in Jacinto and Zamora Streets, and the town was governed by "Capitanes Municipales", Tenientes Absolato" and Cabeza de Barangays". When revolt against the Spanish Government broke out, Capitan Bibiano Gelvosa and his followers fought bravely against the Spaniards. He was the last "Capitan Municipal" when the Americans arrived.^[6]

Hinigaran is 52 kilometres (32 mi) south from Bacolod and 163 kilometres (101 mi) from Dumaguete.

Hinigaran is politically subdivided into 24 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

The people in the town speak Hiligaynon. Tagalog and English are generally understood.

Poverty incidence of Hinigaran

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]}

Hinigaran is one of the major sources of income to boost the economic development,tourism and production in agriculture, fishing and manufacturing industry to produce the key products of firecrackers, oysters, capiz shells, bananas, rice, milkfish and, coconuts. Hinigaran has several commercial and retail hubs such development include Mang Inasal, Dunkin Mcdonald's, Puregold, Prince Hypermart, KJ Fairmart, Melvas Grocery, D'Garrison Market, Lopues Valuestore and, Hinigaran Market Mall is a new shopping center in Hinigaran, it's part of The Metro Retail Stores Group chain, offering various products and services, including Metro Market, Metro Home Improvement, Metro Home Lifestyle, Metro Food Avenue and Metro Convention Center.

Hinugyaw Inn a three (3) storey building hotel with 24 rooms fully airconditioned and function hall, owned and operated by the local government of Hinigaran could boost the local economy and town's tourism industry in the southern negros.

• Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard also known simply as Magsaysay Boulevard is currently underconstruction and formerly as Hinigaran Seaside Boulevard, It is a two lane divided roadway that travels northwest and southwest from Brgy. 1 Old Reclamation, Brgy. 2 Tugbungan, Brgy. Tagda to Brgy. Pilar.

is renowned for its fresh, mildly sweet buko pie with a soft, non-starchy filling.

This week-long festivity showcases the town’s dynamic cultural identity through street dancing, beauty pageants, culinary fairs, and community-led activities that reflect the unity and creativity of its people. This festival was held every year of the last week of the month of April.

Hinigaran has only one government hospital that provide quality healthcare services which is Hinigaran Medical Hospital. The Hinigaran Municipal Health Office is responsible for the implementation and planning of the health care programs provided by the municipal government, which also operates and supervises Health Centers in the barangays of the municipality. Private hospitals in Hinigaran are fully operational in 2025 namely the Hinigaran Doctors' Hospital Incorporated and Holy Mother of Mercy Hospital Hinigaran.

• 105.7 Radyo Natin Hinigaran
• 104.9 K5 News FM Hinigaran

Hinigaran has only one university that offered a several programs. Currently, as sanctioned by the Department of Education, all primary and secondary institutions in the municipality use the K-12 and the MATATAG educational system.

• 27 elementary schools and 7 secondary schools, both public & private schools
• Negros Occidental National Agro-Industrial School Of Home Industries (1969)
• Esteban Jalandoni Farm School Baga-as and Calapi Extension (1991)
• Hinigaran Fundamental Baptist Christian School (1983)
• Hinigaran National High School (1946)
• Hinigaran Institute (1922)
• Madeleine Academy (1919)
• Herman Harrell Horne School
• Hinigaran Adventist School
• Maranatha Christian Academy
• Central Philippines State University Hinigaran Campus (2011), the municipality's lone tertiary school.
• Hinigaran Central Colleges- the first local community college, operated by the local government of Hinigaran. It is also offered programs in agriculture, fisheries, science and technology, industrial, business and education fields.

• Espiridion Guanco – first President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines and Secretary to Senate President Manuel L. Quezon^[21][22]
• Gil Montilla - 9th Governor of Negros Occidental,Senator of the Philippines, 4th Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
• Remy Presas - Martial artist, Founder of modern Arnis
• Mariano Yulo – 6th Governor of Negros Occidental,Senator of the Philippines from 1925 to 1929^[21]
• Vicente Lim - a Filipino Brigadier General and World War II hero from 1888 to 1944^[21]
• Lieutenant Eduardo Siguenza Baumann a Hinigaranon PMA Cadet and a Commander of group of guilliras that ambushed a japanese patrol in Barangay Narauis.

• Hinigaran Profile at the Official Website of Negros Occidental Archived 2018-11-13 at the Wayback Machine
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine