Mayor of Bacolod

Mayor of the City of Bacolod
Alkalde sang Dakbanwa sang Bacolod
Alkalde sa Dakbayan sa Bacolod
Alcalde de la Ciudad de Bacolod
Incumbent
Albee Benitez
since June 30, 2022
StyleThe Honorable
SeatBacolod City Hall (legal)
Government Center (official)
AppointerElected via popular vote
Term length3 years
Inaugural holderBernardino de los Santoss
(as Gobernadorcillo)
Gregorio Gonzaga
(as Presidente Municipal)
Fernando M. Cuadra
(as interim City Mayor)
Alfredo Montelibano Sr.
(as first City Mayor)
Formation1775 (historic)
1890 (gobernadorcillo)
1894 (presidente municipal)
1934 (de jure, city mayorship)

The City Mayor of Bacolod ((Filipino: Punong Lungsod ng Bakulod); Hiligaynon: Alkalde sang Dakbanwa sang Bacolod) is the local chief executive and head of the City Government of Bacolod. Along with the Governor of Negros Occidental and the Governor of Negros Oriental, as mayor of a highly urbanized city, he sits as one of the chief executives of Negros Island.

History

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While Bacolod was first established as a town on January 20, 1755, the capital of Negros Island in 1846 and the capital of Negros Occidental in 1890, the archives of the City Government of Bacolod lists Bernardino de los Santos as Gobernadorcillo[1] upon the establishment of Bacolod as the capital of Negros Occidental after the division of the island, while Gregorio Gonzaga as the recorded Presidente Municipal[2] in 1894. Bacolod, being a pueblo and municipality then, was composed of a municipal council headed by a president. The Presidente Municipal may opt to be assisted by deputies normally called Tiniente Mayor.

As the Province of Negros Occidental grew in importance due to the sugar industry, Bacolod became a hub for business and politics, drawing more immigrant families into the city. Along with nearby Silay, population swelled due to economic and work opportunities, including education and the Sugar Exchange Center located near the town plaza.

Cityhood

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Through Commonwealth Act No. 326, sponsored by Representative Pedro C. Hernaez of the Second District of Negros Occidental, Bacolod was chartered as a city on June 18, 1938. Alfredo Montelíbano, Sr. became the first city mayor upon his inauguration on October 18, 1938, along with the formal inauguration of the City Government of Bacolod. On the City Plaza still stands the tindalo tree planted by President Manuel Quezon as a reminder of the inauguration ceremonies.

As a highly urbanized city

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Batas Pambansa Blg. 51 elevated the status of the city further as a highly urbanized city on December 22, 1979. Due to this, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental ceased to have control over Bacolod. It received funding directly from the national allocation, but meant that the citizens of Bacolod cannot vote for the officials of the Provincial Government nor run for elective provincial posts.

The last city official to have become won a post in the province was former Governor Alfredo Montelibano, Jr. After the promulgation of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Bacolod City was given its own representation in Congress as the Lone District of Bacolod.

List

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No. Name Term Title (Mayor) Deputy Title (Deputy)
1 Bernardino delos Santos 1890–1894 Gobernadorcillo (None) Next lower post: Cabeza de Barangay
2 Gregorio Gonzaga 1894–1895 Presidente Municipal Manual Fernandez Teniente Mayor
3 Isabelo Labarro 1895–1896 Presidente Municipal Leoncio Garrucho Teniente Mayor
4 Fausto Gonzaga 1896–1897 Presidente Municipal Pio Arcea Teniente Mayor
5 Manuel Fernandez 1897–1898 Presidente Municipal Faustino Velez Teniente Mayor
6 Basiliso Villanueva 1898–1899 Presidente Municipal Francisco Agravante Secretario Municipal
7 Jose Gonzaga 1899–1903 Presidente Municipal Timoteo Manalo Secretario Municipal
8 Jo. V.L. Gonzaga 1903–1906 Presidente Municipal Francisco Agravante Secretario Municipal
9 Mario Ramos 1906–1909 Presidente Municipal Manuel Fernandez Vice Presidente Municipal
10 Esteban Guanzon 1909–1912 Presidente Municipal Domiciano Gonzaga Vice Presidente Municipal
11 Olimpio San Jose 1912–1913 Presidente Interim V. D. Aragon Secretario Municipal
12 Esteban Henares 1913–1916 Presidente Municipal Olimpio San Jose Vice Presidente Municipal
13 Crispino Ramos 1917–1919 Presidente Municipal Timoteo Manalo Vice Presidente Municipal
14 Olimpio de la Rama 1919–1922 Presidente Municipal Generoso Villanueva Vice Presidente Municipal
15 Jose Ramos 1922–1925 Presidente Municipal Dionisio Gonzaga Vice Presidente Municipal
16 Domingo Vallesteros 1925–1931 Presidente Municipal Augusto R. Villarosa (first)
Hilarion Gonzaga (second)
Vice Presidente Municipal
17 Felipe Arroyo 1931–1934 Presidente Municipal Dominador Vallesteros Vice Presidente Municipal
18 Pablo D. Makilan 1934–1937 Presidente Municipal Cirilo Ciocon Vice Presidente Municipal
19 Fernando M. Cuadra 1938 Alcalde Municipal
(Interim City Mayor)
Jose M. Millarez Vice Alcalde
20 Alfredo Montelibano Sr. 1938 – 1940 City Mayor Jose M. Millarez Vice Mayor
21 Alfredo Yulo 1940 – ? City Mayor Aurelio L. Locsin Vice Mayor
Augusto R. Villarosa 1942 – 1945 Acting Mayor
22 Felix Querubin 1945 City Mayor Vice Mayor
23 Aurelio L. Locsin 1945 City Mayor Juan D. Ta-ala Vice Mayor
24 Nicolasa de la Peña 1946 City Mayor Vice Mayor
25 Vicente T. Remitio 1946 – 1948 City Mayor Mario S. Villanueva Vice Mayor
26 Mario S. Villanueva 1948 – 1951 City Mayor Sixto Castillo Vice Mayor
27 Felix Amante 1951 – 1955 City Mayor Manuel Villanueva Vice Mayor
Manuel Villanueva 1954 – 1955 City Mayor (Acting) Vice Mayor
Jose V. Coruña 1954 City Mayor (Acting) Vice Mayor
28 Teofisto Cordova 1956 – 1963 City Mayor Gloria Esteban (first)Romeo Guanzon (Second) Vice Mayor
29 Romeo Guanzon 1964 – 1971 City Mayor Inoncencio Lucasan (first)
Jovito Sayson (Second)
Vice Mayor
30 Carlos Benares 1972 – 1976 City Mayor Raymundo Dizon Jr. Vice Mayor
31 Raymundo Dizon Jr. 1976 – 1980 City Mayor Inocencio Lucasan Vice Mayor
32 Jose Montalvo Jr. 1980 – 1986 City Mayor Jose Las Piñas Vice Mayor
33 Amado Parreño Jr. 1986 – 1987 OIC-City Mayor Juan Ramon Guanzon OIC-Vice Mayor
34 Napoleon Gonzaga 1987–1988 City Mayor Reynalda Sayson Vice Mayor
35 Alfredo Montelibano Jr. February 2, 1988 – March 1995 City Mayor Kenneth Barredo (1988–1992)
Evelio Leonardia (1992–1995)
Vice Mayor
Alfredo Jalbuena Jr. March 1995 – May 1995 City Mayor (Acting) Rolando V. Villamor Vice Mayor (Acting)
Rolando V. Villamor May 1995 – June 30, 1995 City Mayor (Acting)
36 Evelio Leonardia June 30, 1995 – June 30, 1998 City Mayor Wilmar Drilon Vice Mayor
37 Oscar Verdeflor July 1, 1998 – March 13, 2001 City Mayor Luzviminda Valdez Vice Mayor
38 Luzviminda Valdez March 13, 2001 – June 30, 2004 City Mayor Ramiro Garcia Jr. Vice Mayor
39 Evelio Leonardia June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2013 City Mayor Renecito Novero (2004–2007)
Jude Thaddeus Sayson (2007–2013)
Vice Mayor
40 Monico Puentevella June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2016 City Mayor Greg Gasataya Vice Mayor
Greg Gasataya November 2015 – February 2016 City Mayor (Acting) El Cid Familiaran Vice Mayor (Acting)
41 Evelio Leonardia June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022 City Mayor El Cid Familiaran Vice Mayor
42 Alfredo Benitez June 30, 2022 – Present City Mayor El Cid Familiaran Vice Mayor

References

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  1. ^ "The Official Website of Bacolod City". bacolodcity.gov.ph. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2016-06-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ "The Official Website of Bacolod City". bacolodcity.gov.ph. Archived from the original on 2017-06-01. Retrieved 2016-06-01.