History

During Spanish Era Ilog Town is considered the Capital of Negros. During that time, the natives are only farming at the lowland area, or rather flat portion of Ilog. Food source were plenty but their land were so close to the sea and river and the natives also want to eat something decent like meat from wild boar (pig) and deer coming from the dense forest of the mountain part of the Island. The natives try to explore the wild-forested and mountainous portion of the Island travelling along the Ilog River to go upstream. 

Orong used to be not only a settlement by the Ilog River about 9 kilometers from the town proper but all the areas from the Hilabangan River to the boundary of Negros Oriental. Those places were then inhabited by the “Bukidnon” compose of several tribes, each independent to each other. 

The easiest and safest means of travel in those days was by the Ilog River and travelling by boat was convenient means neither it was a fast way. Since one could carry more load than carried it on his back so most people took to the River travel by boat.

Now the hamlet by the Ilog River was the most strangle point in going up or down the River. Travel by night was very dangerous. They were using tree- dug log (Boat/Baroto) as means of transportation up river as these were their practice even if it’s hard to go against the force of water upstream. They were using bamboo poles called “tokon” to paddle their way. It’s more on travelling upland through the very dense forest, and risk their lives against natives called “Maghat”. These tribe have a habit or practice that whoever member of their family died they have that tendency to avenged by killing others. So lowlanders don’t mind going upstream against the strong current just to avoid the Maghat.

Mostly people who reach this hamlet take a rest and prepare food so as to reach the place they wanted to stay and explore. Natives who visited and happens to take a rest or stop wish to settle in this place and eventually consider this place as their regular stop-over. They make this place as point of stop.

As years goes by the stop over point got its name “ORONG” means to STOP. Thus the present name the hamlet by the Ilog River midway between the towns to the common destination of the people upland was called Orong.

Orong used to be a barangay of Ilog before Kabankalan separated from Ilog. On March 14, 1907, the Philippine Commission passed Act No. 1612, which increased the number of municipalities of the Province of Negros Occidental from twenty-one (21) to twenty-two (22), separating Kabankalan from Ilog where Orong becomes one of the barangay of

Kabankalan along with Brgy. Salong (Tabugon, Tapi, Bantayan), Barangay Talubangi (lowland). Barangay Orong covers from Hilabangan River up to Barangay Inapoy and boundary of Negros Oriental.

Based on history the following are the past leaders/Teniente del Barrio/Barangay Captains of Barangay Orong:

List of Teniente del Barrio/ Barangay Captain/Punong Barangay of Barangay Orong
Name	Term of Service	Name	Term of Service
Teniente del Barrio		Barangay Captain/ Punong Barangay
1)      Sixto Barile	1930 – 1937	7)   Panfilo G. Trinidad	1974 – 1994
2)     Teofilo Cayot	World War II	8)     Arthur R. Abaja Sr.	1994 – 2004
3)      Ruben Panes	World War II	9)       Leticia A. Bertanico	2004 – 2007 (by Succession)
4)     Fermin Rivas	Liberation Era	10)       Consejo R. Merzo	2007 – 2010
5)      Jesus Yales	1960 – 1968	11)     Santiago B. Tamayo Sr.	2010 – 2018
6)      Alfonso Juarez	1968 – 1974	12)       Gerardo T. Gonzaga	2018 – to date

It was during the time of Sixto Barile, Teofilo Cayot, Ruben Panes and Fermin Rivas that Barangay Orong used to be a stopover place for those travelling via Ilog River. History accounts the first inhabitants of Barangay Orong whose family names are Sabico, Yales, Rivas, Flores, Montesino, Mahinay, Narciso, Deguitos, Sumagaysay, Pedregosa, Tunogbanua, Tonog, Pado-ong and Garcia.

It was in early 60s where Christianity entered Brgy. Orong. The patron saint is Senior San Jose with its patronal fiesta every 19^th of March. There was a time where a group of pranksters lead by Tiyo Ilok Tonog remove the statue of San Jose before the celebration of its fiesta and put it in the deep portion of the river where there was no current called in local dialect “linao”. When people noticed the absence of San Jose in the chapel, they were frightened because barangay fiesta is fast approaching. Miraculously, a boatman passing the deep part of the river saw the head of the statue and informed the people. Many run to the river and help carry the statue back to the Chapel. In return people realized the value of going to church and devotion to the patron saint.

The early Puroks/ Sitios of Orong where Orong Proper, So. Bunga, Mindangon, Marcopa, Hda. Galang/Garahe (now So. Malasbalas), Hda. Bino, Daan-Suba, Marinay, Mainit, Balisong and extends from Tan-awan, Ulalod, Nahuiguin, Oringao, Camingawan, up to Piliopiliohan, and Inapoy. Now, it is comprise of thirty one (31) Puroks/Sitios with 4 Puroks located in Orong proper. Since then, Barangay Orong was one of well-known and visited Barangay in the City. It is bestowed with one of the best tourist destination in the City… the Balicaocao Eco Park, well known for its relaxing and vibrant lowland birds-eye view of the City. It is home of ORONGAN Festival, held every 19^th day of March, during its annual Patronal fiesta.

Land Area

• 2,838.6944 hectares

Map

Total Population

• 9,355

Number of Households

• 2,037

Education Health and Services Facilities

• 1 Junior High School
• 4  Elementary School
• 8 Day Care Centers
• 2 Health Centers
• Life Bank
• Dungganon
• Fair Bank
• Home Credit
• Commercial Banks (LandBank, DBP, PNB, BDO, etc.)
• Tay Tay sa Kauswagan Foundation Inc. 
• Card Inc.
• Community Ventures Lending
• First Valley Bank
• Cooperatives (KABGEM, DCCCO, CFI,  BAFAWA, others)
• Electricity- NOCECO
• Local Water System (Owned by Barangay) – Level 2 and Level 3, Private owned Deepwells, Puso
• Orong Proper Water System (Piped – Level 2 converting to level 3) serving Puroks: 1, 2, 3,
• 4, So Malasbalas, Bunga,  and Tinago/Budyong
• Balicaocao Water System (Piped – Level 3) serving Puroks 1, & 2 – Upper Balicaocao and Lower Balicaocao
• Balisong Water Source – Spring (Level 1) serving Sitio Balisong 
• La Bamba Water Source – Spring (Piped – level 2) serving Purok La Bamba
• Magkinigkig water source – spring (Piped – Level 2) serving So. Magkinigkig
• Dug well serving various Puroks
• Tubed-Well/ Deep-well serving various Puroks
• Tanod –  16
• B-PAT –  12
• Philippine Army (Civil Military Operations Team)
• Lupong tagapamayapa  –  16
• Citizens Crime Watch (CCW) – 15
• Bantay Bayan – 10
• Bantay Purok – 5 per Purok