Fisheries Profile of Negros Oriental Province Negros Oriental occupies the south-eastern half of the island of Negros, with Negros Occidental comprising the north-western half. It has a total land area of 5,385.53 square kilometres (2,079.36 sq mi). [11] A chain of rugged mountains separates Negros Oriental from Negros Occidental. Negros Oriental faces Cebu to the east across the Tañon Strait and Siquijor to the southeast. The Sulu Sea borders it to the south to southwest. The population of Negros Oriental in the 2015 census was 1,354,995 people,[2] with a density of 250 inhabitants per square kilometre or 650 inhabitants per square mile. Its registered voting population are 606,634.[19] 34.5% of the population are concentrated in the six most populous component LGUs of Dumaguete City, Bayawan City, Guihulngan City, Tanjay City, Bais City and Canlaon City. Population growth per year is about 0.99% over the period 2010-2015, lower than the national average of 1.72%.[2] Residents of Negros are called "Negrenses" (and less often "Negrosanons") and many are of either pure/mixedAustronesian heritage, with foreign ancestry as minorities. Negros Oriental is predominantly a Cebuano-speaking province by 77%, due to its close proximity to Cebu. Hiligaynon/Ilonggo is spoken by the remaining 23% and is common in areas close to the border with Negros Occidental. Filipino and English, though seldom used, are generally understood and used for official, literary and educational purposes. Population census of Negros Oriental Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 925,272 — 1995 1,025,247 +1.94% 2000 1,130,088 +2.11% 2007 1,231,904 +1.20% 2010 1,286,666 +1.60% 2015 1,354,995 +0.99% Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [2][16][16] Negros Oriental comprises 19 municipalities and 6 cities, further subdivided into 557 barangays. Dumaguete City is the provincial capital and seat of government. It is also the province's most populous city, despite having the smallest land area among all component cities and municipalities of Negros Oriental. For purposes of legislative representation, the cities and municipalities are grouped into three congressional districts, with each district electing a congressman to the House of Representatives of the Philippines. † Provincial capital and component city ∗ Component city Municipality [A] [11] [11] [B] City or municipality District Population ±% p.a. Area Density Brgy. Coordinates [2] [16] 2 2 (2015) (2010) km sq mi /km /sq mi Amlan (Ayuquitan) 2nd 1.7% 23,624 22,206 1.19% 111.85 43.19 210 540 8 9°27′49″N 123°13′36″E Ayungon 1st 3.4% 46,303 46,146 0.06% 265.10 102.36 170 440 24 9°51′31″N 123°08′37″E Bacong 3rd 2.7% 36,527 32,286 2.38% 40.30 15.56 910 2,400 22 9°14′43″N 123°17′42″E ∗ Bais 2nd 5.6% 76,291 74,722 0.40% 319.64 123.41 240 620 35 9°35′29″N 123°07′17″E Basay 3rd 2.0% 26,566 24,913 1.23% 162.00 62.55 160 410 10 9°24′36″N 122°38′27″E Bayawan (Tulong) ∗ 3rd 8.7% 117,900 114,074 0.63% 699.08 269.92 170 440 28 9°22′00″N 122°48′20″E Bindoy (Payabon) 1st 2.9% 39,819 39,416 0.19% 173.70 67.07 230 600 22 9°45′21″N 123°08′27″E Canlaon ∗ 1st 4.0% 54,509 50,627 1.42% 170.93 66.00 320 830 12 10°23′11″N 123°13′28″E Dauin 3rd 2.1% 27,786 25,239 1.85% 114.10 44.05 240 620 23 9°11′28″N 123°15′56″E Dumaguete † 2nd 9.7% 131,377 120,883 1.60% 33.62 12.98 3,900 10,000 30 9°18′19″N 123°18′29″E ∗ Guihulngan 1st 7.1% 95,969 93,675 0.46% 388.56 150.02 250 650 33 10°07′12″N 123°16′22″E Jimalalud 1st 2.3% 30,945 29,044 1.21% 139.50 53.86 220 570 28 9°58′45″N 123°12′01″E La Libertad 1st 2.8% 38,602 38,904 −0.15% 139.60 53.90 280 730 29 10°01′35″N 123°14′02″E Mabinay 2nd 5.8% 78,864 74,187 1.17% 319.44 123.34 250 650 32 9°43′35″N 122°55′46″E Manjuyod 1st 3.1% 42,332 41,107 0.56% 264.60 102.16 160 410 27 9°40′46″N 123°08′57″E Pamplona 2nd 2.8% 37,596 34,906 1.42% 202.20 78.07 190 490 16 9°28′20″N 123°07′06″E San Jose 2nd 1.5% 20,413 19,098 1.28% 54.46 21.03 370 960 14 9°24′50″N 123°14′30″E Santa Catalina 3rd 5.6% 75,756 73,306 0.63% 523.10 201.97 140 360 22 9°19′59″N 122°51′47″E Siaton 3rd 5.7% 77,696 73,285 1.12% 335.90 129.69 230 600 26 9°03′51″N 123°01′56″E Sibulan 2nd 4.4% 59,455 51,519 2.77% 163.00 62.93 360 930 15 9°21′32″N 123°17′05″E Tanjay ∗ 2nd 5.9% 80,532 79,098 0.34% 276.05 106.58 290 750 24 9°30′58″N 123°09′26″E Tayasan 1st 2.6% 35,470 34,609 0.47% 154.20 59.54 230 600 28 9°55′23″N 123°10′20″E [C] Valencia (Luzurriaga) 3rd 2.6% 34,852 31,477 1.96% 147.49 56.95 240 620 24 9°16′54″N 123°14′41″E Vallehermoso 1st 2.8% 38,259 36,943 0.67% 101.25 39.09 380 980 15 10°20′05″N 123°19′34″E Zamboanguita 3rd 2.0% 27,552 24,996 1.87% 85.86 33.15 320 830 10 9°06′07″N 123°11′55″E Total 1,354,995 1,286,666 0.99% 5,385.53 2,079.36 250 650 557 (see GeoGroup box) A. ^ Former names are italicized. B. ^ Coordinates mark the city/town center, and are sortable by latitude. C. ^ Municipality applying for cityhood[17][18] Negros Oriental Fishery Office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region VII has the jurisdiction over the management, conservation, development, protection, utilization and disposition of all fisheries and aquatic resources in the province with the cooperation of the Local Government Unit (LGU’s) through its City/Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (CFARMC/MFARMC). It has also the function in the development of inland fisheries. Its specific programs: 1. FishR 2. BoatR 1. Fish R – a year-long program of the BFAR designed to enhance, fast track and complete the Municipal Fisherfolk Registry of coastal Local Government Units (LGU’s) nationwide in accordance to RA 8550. Its objective is to develop and promote a simplified and standardized national registration system for municipal fisherfolk. Below is the updated number of fisherfolk registered in the Province of Negros Oriental. 2. Boat Registry System (BoatR) – a program of the BFAR which aims to establish a simplified and standardized national registration of fisherfolks, their fishing vessels and fishing gears. It serves as the basis in implementing National Programs on aquaculture. Below is the updated number of boat and gears registered in the Province of Negros Oriental. MUNICIPALITY BOAT R GEAR R Amlan 147 56 Ayungon 133 138 Bacong 11 0 Bais City 766 623 Basay 61 1 Bayawan City 122 6 Bindoy 46 3 Dauin 3 31 Dumaguete City 40 3 Guihulngan City 337 1 Jimalalud 174 0 La Libertad 187 315 Manjuyod 15 0 San Jose 19 7 Sta. Catalina 90 76 Siaton 25 1 Sibulan 25 23 Tayasan 318 103 Zamboanguita 90 2 Specific Projects: TARGET (2015) 1. Pond Culture Technology 11. Distribution of Farm Implements 2. Marine Fish Cage 12. Fish Corral (Shallow Water) 3. Encircling Gill Net 13. Seaweed Grow-out Culture 4. Bottom Set Gill Net 14. Crab Pot 5. Drift Gill Net 15. Post-Harvest Technology 6. Motorized Boat 16. Hook and Line 7. Non-motorized Boat 17. Fresh Water Fish Cage 8. Marine Engine 18. Lighting Materials 9. Fish Pot 19. Aquasilviculture 10. Distribution of Seaweed Propagules 20. Mangrove Planting Specific Projects: BUB (2015) Municipality Name of Project Bindoy FAD’s with Pump boat Construction of Fish Landing Port Guihulngan City Marine Reserve/Fish Sanctuary Jimalalud Marine Reserve/Fish Sanctuary Ports and Wharves (Phase 2) Vallehermoso Marine Reserve/Fish Sanctuary Bais City Marine Reserve/Fish Sanctuary Dumaguete City Upland Fisheries Project Mabinay Construction of Tilapia tank using semi-circulating aquaculture system. Sibulan Motorized Boat Tanjay City Livelihood projects for fish farmers Basay Marine Sanctuary Expansion Siaton Acquisition of Motorized fishing boats with fishnets .