Don Salvador Benedicto

Mountain ranges seen at Don Salvador Benedicto

The concept of establishing the municipality was initiated by Nehemias 'Nene' de la Cruz, who, while imprisoned during the Martial law era, envisioned creating a town from what was considered a “cradle of insurgency.” and after his release, gained the support of his friend Mike Coronel, who was also the provincial commander of the Philippine Constabulary in Negros Occidental, in establishing the upcoming municipality based in Barangay Igmaya-an, which was then part of Murcia, in 1976. Located at the center of the mountains of northern Negros Occidental, Don Salvador Benedicto was chartered in 1983 through Batas Pambansa Bilang 336 by then President Ferdinand Marcos. It consolidated all the remote barangays of San Carlos City and the towns of Calatrava and Murcia.^[7] which were apparently neglected due to inaccessibility.^{[citation needed]}

The town is named after the former Vice Governor Salvador Valois Benedicto (March 31, 1889–November 28, 1956) who played an important role in the setting up of a Revolutionary Government in Negros Island particularly in Barangay Igmaya-an, when the country was occupied by the Japanese during World War II.^[7] He was also the main guerrilla coordinator in both Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental during the said war. Salvador Benedicto is a relative of Roberto Benedicto, a crony of Marcos.^{[citation needed]}

Don Salvador Benedicto is 47 kilometres (29 mi) east of Bacolod, via Negros Occidental Eco-Tourism Highway (N69) and 53 kilometres (33 mi) from Calatrava.

A small nipa hut amidst the rice fields of Don Salvador Benedicto.

Poverty incidence of Don Salvador Benedicto

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]}

Although a small town, the town of Don Salvador Benedicto has seen a rise in its municipal economy thanks to tourism and local agriculture. Due to its high altitude like Baguio, the town can support crops that grow in temperate areas, making it ideal for a multitude of farming businesses. Tourism is on the rise for the town especially when travellers head out into the heart of the province. Also located in the municipality are the Choco Hills, similar to Bohol's Chocolate Hills, with shared boundary of Barangay Prosperidad, San Carlos City.^[22]

• Mambukal, a township hill station in Negros Occidental.
• Baguio, first hill station and Summer Capital of the Philippines.