The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) invited the university to the 2015 Census of Population (population counts) Provincial Data Forum at the Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City, October 27, 2016. Dr. Carlos Eduardo Legaspi, Jr, Director for External Affairs, attended the affair. Engr. Ariel Florendo, PSA – NIR Regional Director gave the opening message while Mr. Luis Gonzales, Statistical Specialist gave the background of the 2015 census of population. Ms. Diesah S. Biaoco presented the 2015 Population counts by cities and municipalities while Mr. Rodrigo Gawal, Jr. shared the population counts by legislative district. Senior EDS, NEDA – NIR Gabriel Simbajon was the keynote speaker and presented the programs of NEDA – NIR and the significance of the PSA data to their agency. A message was also given by former RD, PSA –Region VI, Engr. Norman Julag-ay.
During the presentation, it came out that NIR has a total population of 4, 414,131 with an annual growth rate of .098% during the period of 2010 -2015 while Region VI has 4, 477,247 with the annual growth rate of 1.25% for the period of 2010 -2015. Negros Occidental (excluding Bacolod) has a population of 2,497,000 with a growth rate of 0.79%; Bacolod 562,000 with a growth rate of 1.79% and Negros Oriental has 1,355,000 with the growth rate of 0.99%. Furthermore, the most populous areas in NIR are: Kabankalan (181, 977), Bago, Cadiz, Sagay, San Carlos, Dumaguete, Silay, Bayawan, Himamaylan and Talisay while the least populous are: San Jose, Candoni, Amlan, San Enrique, Salvador Benedicto, Basay, Zamboanguita, Pulupandan, Dauin, and Jimalalud. In Bacolod City, the most populous Barangays in Bacolod are Mansilingan (45,181), Estefania, Taculing, Tangub, Villamonte, Singcang – Airport; Bata, Banago, Handumanan, and Granada.
In the previous census activity, the gathering of data is done in the period of 10 years while the recent survey is done in the period of 5 years.