The town center was previously located in an uphill settlement called 'Omod', and a chapel was erected to serve the religious needs of the new converts.

During a mass, a native threw a lance in the priest, who was raising the Holy Host at that time, instantly killing him.

The name "Bayawan" stems from the Visayan term "Bayaw"– to hoist or elevate, in reference to the priest's action just before his death.

It is a coastal city with a land area of 69,908 hectares (172,750 acres), the largest in the province and whole Negros island.

Mabinay bounds it to the north, Santa Catalina to the south, Tanjay to the east, Basay to the west, and it also shares a boundary with Kabankalan of Negros Occidental on the northwest.

Revenues from land farming, livestock production, aqua-culture activities and marine fishing are a major income contribution of the city.

Besides agri-industries, the trading and auction markets are already well established in the hinterland barangays especially in Dawis and Kalumboyan.

Moreover, the fishery industry and aqua-culture also offers wide business opportunities especially in the establishment of the proposed fishing port.

The city is already recognized as a transport hub in South Negros, and planned to be enhanced further with improvement of the road network.

The Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) have classified that 72.7% and 27.3% (198.05 km2) of the total land area of Bayawan as A&D (alienable and disposable) and as forestlands respectively.

From these, it can be deduced that a large portion of the land area supposedly classified as forestlands are cultivated and unsuitably used.

There are uncontrolled and unmonitored conversions of classified forestlands through slash and burn practices, then cultivation by the people in all parts of the upland barangays.

The haphazard conversion and cultivation of the forestlands and denudation of the forest cover have resulted to the perennial problem of flooding in both upland and lowland barangays during rainy season.

In anticipation for more solid wastes in the future as development spins in the city, a new dumping site was acquired in Barangay Nangka.

The 2.5 kilometers long boulevard fronting the beachfront in the city proper is among the longest in the province, and has become a major local venue as well as a tourist attraction.

The road situation affected for the residents in the hinterlands and the farmers have to shoulder very high cost of transporting their products.

A reinforced concrete wharf located in Barangay Ubos and Suba along the Bayawan River, having a length of 326 meters served as a flood control structure.

This structure is to hold the water especially during high tides and strong typhoons from coming/ flowing into the City Proper.

This flood control mechanism however also needs improvement especially that the carrying capacity of the Bayawan River has been immensely reduced from its siltation.

Identified short-term solutions of flooding include the proper maintenance and repair of existing infrastructure and the expansion of construction projects.

This entails long-term integrated (multi-sectoral) and environment-focused planning, sound policy-making, strong political will and support, effective law enforcement, and vigilant monitoring.

Equally Bayawan in its crossroad of development, being efficient and effective not only through environmental management, administrative processes, infrastructure and business, but particularly on disaster preparedness.

The presence of early warning systems (LFEWS) linked to the Disaster Risk Reduction to provide accurate and timely advice to Barangay emergency response organizations.

Also, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bayawan circulates copies of GABAYAN, an official newsletter of the city, every quarter.

Radio Natin has broadcast coverage up to the Municipalities of Santa Catalina, Basay, Pamplona, and Siaton.

DOTC public calling stations exist in Barangay Nangka, Maninihon, San Roque and Dawis.

The LGU has begun implementing low cost housing projects, starting with Fishermen's Village in Tawi-Tawi.