Municipality of Toboso

Toboso is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 40,712 people in 8,060 households. The current mayor is Evelio Valencia.

Economy

Economic progress in Toboso is very slow due to the limited number of business establishments. It is commonly called the ‘’poorest municipality‘’ in Negros Occidental.

Kevin’s Reef is found at the off shore area of the seaside town of Toboso in the eastern side of Negros Island. It has an area of about 80 hectares submerged to about two fathoms deep and can be reached in 10 minutes by motorized boat.

Mainit Hot Spring. The hot spring is found in Brgy. San Isidro, about 12 kilometers from the town proper.

Kampanoy Cave is found at Brgy. Luna, some five kilometers from the town proper. Its spacious interior resembles a large dome cathedral.

Dalisun Falls. This magnificent waterfall found at Sitio Vergara in Brgy. Bug-ang, cascades from a height of 250 feet. Treasures believed to be that of the Japanese were reportedly found at the top of the falls.

Trangkalan Cave situated in barangay Magticol is believed to be the sanctuary of subversive elements during the early mid-eighties.

Festivals

Sag-ahan Festival in its search for cultural and tourism identity, named its festival “THE SAG-AHAN FESTIVAL” to manifest its joy and sense of thanksgiving and gratefulness for all the blessings and abundance it has received through the years. Sag-ahan is derived from the original name of the settlement near the Sag-ahan River many years ago In the local dialect “sag-ahan” means to take or catch fish with the hands, This method of fishing was popularly used due to the abundance of fish in the area.

Fishermen use traditional methods of fishing as hook and line, drop or drip nets or crew of large and new methods, the Kobkob or purse seine which venture farther to greater depths

The humble families find comforting moments when low tide occurs at night. So they could fish in the shallow beaches, using gas lamps bolos and spear. These simple methods greatly supplement their daily food requirements when other sophisticated methods fail to bring in a good catch. Often times these poor man’s method goes a little further to supplement family finances for food, clothing and educational needs of their children. The housewife vends or market what ever the husband’s caught in order to augment family income.

The life of a fishermen is not a cheerful one, the terrific heat or cold that beat upon his body when out to sea the sudden storm and gust of wind when far out to sea and the heart breaking misfortune of having no catch at all.

These are but part of the harrowing part life of a fisherman. Nevertheless, the fisherman of Toboso , despite his struggle for daily existence have always endeavored to find time for socio-cultural and religious activities by celebrating in its own humble way , its annual feast of thanksgiving and gratefulness to the Lord for all the blessing of abundance he has received trough the years

Sag-ahan is a reenactment of the lives of the fisherfolk of Toboso.

Since its municipality recognition in July 1, 1948, the town struggle to be at par with its neighboring towns like Escalante, Sagay, Calatrava and San Carlos City.