Buenavista, Guimaras

History

Buenavista is the oldest municipality on Guimaras. It was established in 1775, during the Spanish colonial period. A Spanish governor general was reputedly impressed by the scenery of the location, and called the place Buenavista, Spanish for "beautiful view".

Santo Rosario was formerly known as Baybay, while Salvacion's old name was Ambulong, and furthermore Old Poblacion's name was Daan Banwa.

Geography

Buenavista is located at the northern tip of Guimaras Island. The northern and north-west part of the town overlooks Panay and the north-east portion faces Negros. Iloilo Strait lies between the town and Panay, and Guimaras Strait lies between the town and Negros. Buenavista is 17 km from Jordan. Buenavista is a part of the Metro Iloilo–Guimaras area, centered on Iloilo City.

MacArthur's Wharf serves as the municipal wharf for Buenavista and part of San Lorenzo is used by passengers from Panay to Negros and vice versa. This transportation route serves as a cheaper link, rather than taking a ship.

Buenavista's terrain ranges from plains (nearly level in the central and north-west coastal areas) to mountains (north-western part).

Climate

The climate is mild and cool, due to its being bounded by the sea on the three directions.

Barangays

Buenavista is politically subdivided into 36 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Agsanayan
• Avila
• Banban
• Bacjao (Calumingan)
• Cansilayan
• Dagsaan
• Daragan
• East Valencia (Mantangingi)
• Getulio (Ili)
• Mabini
• Magsaysay
• McLain
• Montpiller
• Navalas
• Nazaret
• New Poblacion (Calingao)
• Old Poblacion (Daan Banwa)
• Piña
• Rizal
• Salvacion (Ambulong)
• San Fernando
• San Isidro
• San Miguel
• San Nicolas (Tabao)
• San Pedro (Bating)
• San Roque
• Santo Rosario
• Sawang
• Supang
• Tacay
• Taminla (Sambag)
• Tanag
• Tastasan
• Tinadtaran
• Umilig
• Zaldivar

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Buenavista was 54,352 people, with a density of {{sigfig|54,352/128.26|2}} PD/km2.

Economy

Transportation

There are passenger ferries, utilizing pump boats to Iloilo City. The ferry terminal in Iloilo is on the Iloilo River.

Education

Buenavista is the center of higher education. The municipality has 19 public elementary schools, 5 public high schools, and 1 vocational technical school. It has a literacy rate of 98.4%, the highest in the whole of Guimaras.

There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. These are the:

• Buenavista I Schools District
• Buenavista II Schools District

;Primary and elementary schools

• Agsanayan Elementary School
• Avila Elementary School
• Buenavista SDA Elementary School
• Buenavista Central School
• Buenavista Lighthouse Christian Academy
• Cansilayan Elementary School
• Dagsaan Elementary School
• Daragan Elementary School
• East Valencia Elementary School
• Getulio Elementary School
• Grace Baptist Academy
• Good Shepherd's Fold
• Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy
• Mabini Primary School
• Navalas Elementary School
• Nazaret Elementary School
• Old Poblacion Elementary School
• Paaralan ng Buhay ng Calumingan
• Paaralan ng Buhay ng Montpiller
• Paaralan ng Buhay ng Sawang
• Paaralan ng Buhay ng Tacay
• Paaralan ng Buhay ng Tanag
• Piña Elementary School
• Rizal Primary School
• Salvacion Elementary School
• San Isidro Elementary School
• San Nicolas Primary School
• San Roque-Tastasan Elementary School
• Sto. Niño Catholic School
• Supang Central School
• Taminla Elementary School
• Tinadtaran Elementary School
• Triumph Baptist Christian Academy
• Umilig Primary School
• Zaldivar Elementary School ;Secondary schools
• Agsanayan National High School
• Buenavista National High School
• East Valencia National High School
• Getulio National High School
• Philippine College of Business and Accountancy
• Supang National High School

;Higher educational institution

• Guimaras State University (Main)

References

References

1. {{DILG detail
2. Talavera, Catherine. (June 3, 2023). "‘Sweetest’ Guimaras mango becomes first geographical indication in Philippines". philstar.com.
3. "Buenavista: Brief History and Profile". Province of Guimaras.
4. (January 15, 2021). "Masterlist of Schools".