Municipality of Salvador Benedicto

Salvador Benedicto (also known as Don Salvador Benedicto) is a 5th class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 17,259 people in 3,456 households.

Salvador Benedicto was founded on February 9, 1983 upon the approval of Batas Pambansa Bilang 336 by the President of the Philippines, the legislation authored by Batasang Pambansa members Alfonso Garcia and Jose Valera, Jr. It acquired its name in honor of the late Vice Governor Salvadro Benedicto who was part in settling the Revolutionary Government of Negros Island at the area (Barangay Igmaya-an) during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines last World War II.

The municipality is also dubbed as "The Summer Capital of Negros Occidental".The municipality of Salvador Benedicto is situated at the mid-center of the hinterland of the entire North of the Province of Negros Occidental. It is 47 kilometers from the Provincial Capitol.

Sixty percent (60%) of the residents speaks Cebuano and the rest Ilonggo and other dialects. They had adapted the art of “KALI” as their cultural heritage, otherwise known as “ARNIS” or “ESCRIMA”, the traditional martial arts of the Filipino people since the 7th Century as it is designed for the Physical training, mental development and spiritual upliftment of the individual practitioner which relatively strengthen his moral value foundation. It is being highlighted yearly through the celebration of the ‘KALIKALIHAN’ harvest festival every February 7-9.

Ninety five percent (95%) of the populace lives below poverty line as the area had remained dependent on agricultural products such as corn, rice, coffee, pineapple, sugarcane, vegetables and root crops. While a very minimal portion of the lands are irrigated the rest are only dependent on natural rain for the crops. Farm products could not avail favorable markets due to scarcity of transport vehicles plying the are and the most that gets the advantage are middlemen who can afford to hire cargo trucks and purchase the goods at the locality.
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The political structure, headed by the first appointed mayor in 1983 who likewise was the first elected in 1988, Hon. Nehemias G. de la Cruz, had a hard time in gaining momentum for the progress of this very infant Town, considering its very low income, hence, it had prevailed as a sixth class rated Municipality. Yet, despite the odds, the Administration was still able to achieve, through solicitations from other governmental agencies, and private sectors, a very considerable infrastructure projects which or enhanced its development.

Festivals

Kali-kalihan Harvest Festival every second week of February has adopted the art of “kali” also known as “arnis” or “escrima” as their cultural heritage. The festivities illustrate the various cultural and traditional activities of the people from the “Kali” dance parade, “Kali cultural presentations and Search for the “Diwata sang Kali” presented by creatively designed costumes made out of indigenous materials abundant in the area.

Famous Landmarks

Viewing Deck or Lantawan is overlooking the Malatan-og waterfalls, a cigarette falls that charmed visitors to keep coming back.

Villa Ica. This exquisitely landscaped area is a place where one can escape the busy and tiring city life and here find serenity as one communes and enjoys the beauty of nature in a pollution-free environment. It is an ideal venue for themed garden wedding.

Pine Trees. Beautifully-grown pine trees lined the main thoroughfares of about 1.7 kilometer stretch of road from Barangay Igmayaan to Poblacion proper which gained recognition as well-maintained and “pot-hole-free” road for the third quarter of 2002 in the whole Region 6.