World · Philippines Bureau
Bacolod marks 86 years since city charter in 1938
The City of Bacolod in Negros Occidental is commemorating 86 years since its formal inauguration as a city under Commonwealth Act No. 326. The sugar-rich municipality has since evolved into a thriving first-class city with significant growth.
LSN Philippines ·
Bacolod was formally chartered as a city on October 19, 1938, following the approval of Commonwealth Act No. 326 by the Philippine Commonwealth government on June 18 that year. The milestone marked a pivotal moment in the municipality's transition from a provincial town to an organized urban center.
Built on the foundation of extensive sugar plantations that defined the region's economy for generations, Bacolod has undergone substantial development over the past eight decades. The city's fortunes were closely tied to the sugar industry, which provided the wealth and infrastructure necessary for urbanization and modernization.
Today, Bacolod stands as a major economic and cultural hub in Negros Occidental. According to the 2024 Census, the city's population has grown to 624,787 residents, reflecting its status as a first-class city and one of the region's most important urban centers. The municipality continues to play a significant role in the Philippines' agricultural and commercial landscape.
Photo: Bacolod City Hall on Araneta Avenue, Bacolod City, October 2022. Patrickroque01 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).