Mabinay, officially the Municipality of Mabinay, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 82,953 people , making it the most-populous municipality in Negros Oriental.
History
Folklore has it that a woman named Binay fell in love with the son of her father's rival chieftain. Her father ended the affair by having her lover killed. Binay grieved. Mother Nature took the weeping maiden into her bosom. Where Binay was laid to rest, a spring broke forth. According to the legend, she weeps to this day, feeding Mabinay Spring, one of the town's many alluring attractions.
It had over 100 known caves, including the popular Pandalihan, Panligawan and Gasidlak, each one with its own distinctive features ranging from fascinating to awesome. A team of Belgian and Dutch cavers determined Odloman Cave to be the second longest in the Philippines.
Mabinay was carved from barrios of Bais and created a municipality in 1960. In 1966 more barrios of Bais and Manjuyod were annexed to enlarge it. Mabinay produces rice and corn, copra, soybeans and peanuts. Its principal crop, sugar cane, makes it an important member of the north's sugar district. It is a border town: the Provincial Highway runs through it and links Negros Oriental with its sister province.
Travel from Dumaguete is about two hours.
Geography
Mabinay is situated roughly in the central part of the island of Negros abutting the western side of the provincial boundary. The municipality of Ayungon bounds it in the north, the City of Bais in the south, the municipalities of Bindoy and Manjuyod and a portion of Bais in the east, and the province of Negros Occidental in the west. It is north-west of the provincial capital, Dumaguete and can be reached via the circumferential but well-paved national road that cuts across the middle of the province from Bais to Negros Occidental.
Barangays
Mabinay is politically subdivided into 32 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Abis
Arebasore
Bagtic
Banban
Barras
Bato
Bugnay
Bulibulihan
Bulwang
Campanun-an
Canggohob
Cansal-ing
Dagbasan
Dahile
Himocdongon
Hagtu
Inapoy
Lamdas
Lumbangan
Luyang
Manlingay
Mayaposi
Napasu-an
New Namangka
Old Namangka
Pandanon
Paniabonan
Pantao
Poblacion
Samac
Tadlong
Tarâ
Climate
Demographics
Economy
Tourism
Mabinay is known for its caves. The Odloman Cave is one of the largest cave in the Philippines with long and Cayaso Cave, the ninth longest cave in the country measuring long.
Aside from the caves, Mabinay also has rivers and natural springs. One of its known natural spring is located at the heart of the municipality, the Mabinay spring. Ideal for family outing, swimming, kayaking, it also serves as the main water resource of the main town. It is about a 3 to 5 minute ride with tricycle, jeepney or a bus from the town center.
Healthcare
Mabinay itself has a small government-run hospital. Mabinay Medicare Community Hospital provides both in emergency outpatients services and inpatient services. It is located directly behind the Municipal Hall. Mabinay Health Center, one of three Mabinay health centers.
Transportation
Motorcycles or "habal-habal", tricycles, jeepneys, and buses are the major modes of transportation in the municipality.
Education
The Santo Niño High School is a private Catholic institution located at Barangay Lumbangan.
On June 16, 1997, the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) Resolution No. 94 established the Mabinay Institute of Technology (MIT), a technical college operated with the approval of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports. On June 25, 2004, the Mabinay Institute of Technology (MIT) was integrated into the newly converted university, Negros Oriental State University by virtue of the university charter, Republic Act No. 9299 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on June 25, 2004, and to be known as Mabinay Campus (NORSU-M).
The public schools in the town of Mabinay are administered by four school districts under the Schools Division of Negros Oriental.