City Info
Mission and Vision
Mission
“To ensure the delivery of quality basic services and promote eco-friendly investment through good governance in order to uplift the well-being of the people.”
Vision
“A City of Golden Harvest driven by empowered, enterprising and eco-friendly people.”
Historical Background
Cultural History
The territory that now comprises the City of Valencia formerly belonged to the Municipality (Row City) of Malaybalay comprising of thirteen (13) barangays.
The earliest inhabitants, who now reside in parts of the Poblacion, were Bukidnon natives led by Datu Sebastian Manangkila together with the families of the Binalhays, Laugas, Dongogans, Gua-ans, Lanayans, and the Arenzos. They founded a settlement along the banks of the Pulangui River. The site of this first settlement was a sitio named “Panlibatuhan” because the area was thickly forested by native tree species called “Malibato tree”.
During the early part of the 20th century, the first one-room barrio was opened (circa 911), with the late Mr. Leon Galorport as its first teacher. Mr.Galorport, whose hometown is Valencia, Bohol, named the school “Valencia School”. The historical site of this school is approximately the same site of the Poblacion Barangay High School.
When the southern portion of Malaybalay was separated as a new municipality, the new petitioners agreed to name it as “Valencia”. The barrio which was once Valencia is now the Poblacion which is the seat of the Municipal Government.
The rich natural resources found in the territory eventually attracted Christian settlers from the thickly populated coastal areas of Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon islands.
Immigration of Christian settlers to Valencia started during the mid 1930’s which registering a population growth rate of 10:78. Although, municipal population continued to increase, population growth started to reduce from 1975 to 1980 with a 4.86 geometric rate and further reduced to 2.07 from 1990 to 1995. The declining population rate was attributed to the lessening number of migration influx and the successful campaign of family planning program.
Political Birth
The prime mover in the creation of Valencia as a Municipality was Mr. Teodoro Pepito, who, together with the residents of barrio Valencia and the neighboring barrios, initiated a petition for the conversion of the territory into a full-pledge Municipality. The petition was forwarded to the Provincial Board of Bukidnon for consideration and the Board passed a resolution approving the creation of the Municipality of Valencia and forwarded the same to the Office of the President of the Philippines.
By virtue of the provisions of Executive Order No. 360, the City of Valencia was formally born on January 16, 1961. President Carlos P. Garcia appointed Msgrs.Teodoro N. Pepito and Ernesto Garcia as the Mayor and Vice Mayor respectively. Upon the election of President Diosdado Macapagal in November 1961, another set of Municipal Officials were appointed with Hon. Lucilo Alkuino as Municipal Mayor and Hon. Solomon Gao-ay as Vice Mayor. Thus, between 1962 and 1963, two sets of Municipal Officials served the City of Valencia.
Listed below are the political leaders of the City and their corresponding terms of office:
List of Municipal/City Mayors and Term of Office
Name | Period of Incumbency | Remarks |
Teodoro N. Pepito | 1961-1962 | Appointed by Pres. Garcia |
Lucilo Alkuino | 1962-1963 | Appointed by Pres. Macapagal |
Teodoro N. Pepito | 1964-Sept. 1977 | Elected for 3 terms plus hold-over during Martial Law Period |
Absalon P. Catarata | Sept. 28, 1977-Feb. 7, 1979 | Succeeded as acting Mayor upon retirement of Mayor |
Santiago V. Dablio | Feb. 8, 1979-Feb. 28, 1980 | Appointed as Acting Mayor by Pres. Marcos |
Absalon P. Catarata | March 1, 1980-1988 | Elected in 1980 and re-elected in 1988 but was assassinated |
Berthobal R. Ancheta | April 22, 1988- June, 2001 | By succession and elected on May 11, 1992 |
Jose M. Galario, Jr. | July 2001-June 30, 2007 | Elected City Mayor in 2001 and re-elected in 2004 |
Leandro Jose H. Catarata | July 2007 to June, 2013 | Elected City Mayor in 2007 |
Jose M. Galario, Jr. | July 2013 to June 8, 2014 | Elected City Mayor in 2013 |
Azucena P. Huervas | June 9, 2014 to present | By succession last June 9, 2014 |
Geographical Location
The City of Valencia is located in the central part of the Province of Bukidnon. It lies between the grid coordinates 7° 47΄ and 8° 3΄ north latitude and 125° 48΄ east longitude. It is bounded on the north by the Municipality of Lantapan and Malaybalay City; on the east by the Municipality of San Fernando; on the west and southwest by the Municipalities of Pangantucan and Talakag; and on the south by the Municipalities of Maramag and Quezon. From its core, which is the Poblacion, the City is 27 kilometers from the provincial capital of Malaybalay City and 118 kilometers from the regional center of Cagayan de Oro City. The means of transportation is by bus and private vehicles and covers approximately two (2) to three (3) hours ride. The relative distance of the barangay from the City proper varies: four (4) barangays are more or less 5 kilometers away, 20 barangays are 6-15 kilometers away, while the remaining 7 barangays considered as the most interior, are situated 16 kilometers or more from the City proper. |
Seal Meaning
1st Ring represents the City of Valencia.
2nd Ring with 31 stars represents the 31 barangays.
Left Quadrant represents the sugarcane, bananas, coffee and ranch.
Right Quadrant represents the planted trees and corn fields.
Top Quadrant represents the mountains and rice fields.
Bottom Quadrant represents the commercial and industrial buildings.