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ABOUT VALENCIA CITY

Valencia has the full potential to become a tourist destination considering the rich natural resources which abound in its 31 barangays. The town’s folklore, the virginal beauty of waterfalls, the cool running waters of creeks, streams, and springs scattered throughout the city and especially the presence of the 24-hectare Lake Apo in Barangay Guinoyoran will make Valencia at par with other developed tourist spots in other places.

Awarded as the cleanest inland body of water in Region 10 (1996,1997, 1998) in the Lake Category and entry to the National Level (1996, 1997, 1998). The lake is a perfect escape from the pressure of work and worries in life owing to its picturesque surrounding hills and mountains and its blue green waters that abound with fish not yet touched by the ill effects of pollution. It is 11 kms. away from Barangay Poblacion. The inherent beauty of Lake Apo with an area of 24 has. and 85 ft. deep, strongly suggest a tourist destination from all walks of life.

The Pulangui river will regain its glorious past as a recreational area being ideal for fishing and boating when the save the Pulangui River Program will be launched for implementation. This grand program has its birth in the City Development Plan through the Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution which seeks to give back the breath of life to the river. This inland water will be tapped as one of the tourist spots of Valencia where on both sides of the river, infrastructure support facilities shall be introduced to provide trade, livelihood and investment opportunities in the City.

We visualize valencia as an ecologically balanced, clean and urbanized city, acenter of trade and idustry in Central Mindanao, whose people are God-fearing, law-abiding, peace-loving, self-reliant and happy.

Like most of Central Mindanao, the City of Valencia belongs to Type III climate characterized by absence of a pronounced rain period. A short dry spell lasting likely from one to three months occurs within the months of December to April.

History of Valencia

The territory that now comprises the city of Valencia was formerly the thirteen(13) barrios of the Municipality of Malaybalay, Bukidnon. The earliest inhabitants in the area, now comprising part of Poblacion, were Bukidnon natives who founded a settlement along the banks of Pulangui River, confluence of Panlibatuhan River. The pioneers were led by Datu Sebastian Manangkila.

Barrio Panlibatuhan, is derived from Binukid word, :Pangyohan ho kayu ha malibato” which means the supply of Malibato, the hardest wood in the Province of Bukidnon, was found in Valencia- a landmark of the Panlibatuhan Bridge. The first site of settlement was in a Sitio named “Panglibatuhan” because the area thickly forested with Malibato trees.

When the first one-room barrio school was opened in 1911, its teachers were Mr. Jaime Galoprt. That school site wa approximately the present location of Valencia National High School. Mr. Jaime Galoport came from Valencia, Bohol. So when the southern portion of Malaybalay was separated as a new municipality, the settlers agreed to name it “Valencia” and is now known as the Poblacion.

The rich natural resources found in the territory eventually attracted Christian settlers from Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon. The immigration settlers in the area started in the middle of 1930’s. During World War II, migration started to increase such that between 1960 and 1975, the population increased by 4.46 times from 13,898 to 64,541. Today, Valencia is composed of 31 barangays and has a population of 147,924 (2000 Censal Year).

The prime mover in the creation of Valencia into a town was the late Mr. Teodoro N. Pepito, the first appointed Mayor who led the petitions to convert Valencia into municipality. By virtue of Executive Order No. 360 issued by then President Carlos P. Garcia, Valencia was officially born on January 16,1961. Since the creation of municipality in 1961, the municipal government had been headed by five (5) appointed and elected Municipal Mayors.

With the concerned efforts of the municipal officials, employees and constituents spearheaded by Mayor Berthobal R. Ancheta and Congressman Reginaldo N. Tilanduca, Valencia was converted into a City thru Republic Act(R.A.) No. 8985 to be known as the City of Valencia in the Province of Bukidnon approved by then President Joseph E. Estrada. The City of Valencia is dubbed as the City of Golden Harvest.

The phenomenal rise of Valencia as an urban center in the Province of Bukidnon gave way to the fulfillment of its vision. Consequently, the conversion of Valencia into a City resulted to the improvement of its peace and order condition, traffic management, infrastructure, sports and cultural facilities.

The incumbent Mayor, Honorable Jose M. Galario, Jr. became the Fourth elected Mayor and the first City Mayor of Valencia when he won the Year 2001 Mayoral race.

LAND AREA = 62,163 hectares (621.63 sq km)
ALIENABLE & DISPOSABLE = 37,437.0 hectares
NO. OF BARANGAYS = 31
POPULATIONS = 147,924 (2000 Censal Year)
NO. OF HOUSEHOLDS = 28,425
POPULATION DENSITY = 234/sq km

Geography

Located at the Heart of Mindanao, the City of Valencia is bounded on the North by the Municipality of Lantapan and the City of Malaybalay. In the south lies the Municipality of Maramag and Quezon and in the east are the Municipalities of Pangantucan and Talakag. The City is composed of 31 barangays. Barangay Poblacion, which is the seat of the City Government, is 27 kilometers south of the City of Malaybalay. It is 118 kilometers southeast of Cagayan 169 kilometers from Davao of four-hour drive and 234 kilometers from Cotabato City or six-hour ride.

Elevation

Located approximately 373 meters above sea level, the City is characterized as generally wet throughout the year with a short and slight dry spell lasting likely within the months of December to April, except January, which is sometimes a rainy month. Valencianos enjoy good climate throughout the year since the City is outside typhoon belt.


Topography

The general topography of the whole city ranges from relatively flat and undulating terrain around the built-up area, to steep rugged terrain. The city lies in a huge valley declining as one with broad plains that extend to about 10-20 kilometers along the Pulangui River system and bounded in the east and west by hills and mountains of different lithologic characteristics.

Join our Group today and meet some of the nicest people in the world. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ValenciaCity

John Adkins

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