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Cabanatuan | |
|---|---|
| City of Cabanatuan | |
    %2c_Cabanatuan_City.jpg)  From top to bottom, left to right:General Luna Statue in front ofCabanatuan Cathedral, Old Nueva Ecija Provincial Capitol,Nueva Ecija High School,Pan-Philippine Highway,Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center,Cabanatuan American Memorial | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nicknames: Tricycle Capital of the Philippines Gateway to the North | |
| Motto: Pagbabago, Progreso, Disiplina | |
 Map of Nueva Ecija with Cabanatuan highlighted | |
OpenStreetMap  | |
.svg)  Cabanatuan Location within thePhilippines | |
| Coordinates:15°29′27″N120°58′04″E / 15.4908°N 120.9678°E /15.4908; 120.9678 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Central Luzon |
| Province | Nueva Ecija |
| District | 3rd district |
| Founded | 1750 |
| Cityhood | June 15, 1950 |
| Barangays | 89 (seeBarangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Panlungsod |
| • Mayor | Myca Elizabeth R. Vergara (PFP) |
| • Vice Mayor | Joselito C. Roque (PFP) |
| • Representative | Julius Cesar V. Vergara (PFP) |
| • City Council | Members
|
| • Electorate | 244,298 voters (2025) |
| Area | |
• Total | 192.29 km2 (74.24 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 52 m (171 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 393 m (1,289 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[3] | |
• Total | 343,672 |
| • Density | 1,787.3/km2 (4,629.0/sq mi) |
| • Households | 81,792 |
| Demonym(s) | Cabanatueños (Male), Cabanatueñas (Female) |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 1st city income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 8.19 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 2,382 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 8,342 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 1,999 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 4,166 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Cabanatuan Electric Corporation (CELCOR) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 3100 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)44 |
| Native languages | Tagalog (predominant), other languages with limited presence include Ilocano, Kapampangan and Sinama |
| Website | www |
Cabanatuan, officially theCity of Cabanatuan (Filipino:Lungsod ng Cabanatuan;Ilocano:Siudad ti Cabanatuan;Kapampangan:Lakanbalen/Ciudad ning Cabanatuan), is a first-classcomponent city in the province ofNueva Ecija, Philippines.
According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 343,672 people[5], making it the most populous in Nueva Ecija, seventh in the whole ofLuzon outside theGreater Manila Area, and the largest city north ofMetro Manila along thePan-Philippine Highway (AH26). It has earned the moniker "Gateway to the North."
The city is known for being home to more than 30,000motorized tricycles, making it the "Tricycle Capital of the Philippines."[6] Its strategic location along theCagayan Valley Road has helped make the city into the major economic, educational, medical, entertainment, shopping, and transportation center it is today. It is the commercial center for Nueva Ecija and nearby provinces in the region such asTarlac,Aurora, andBulacan.
Cabanatuan remained Nueva Ecija's capital until 1965 when the government recognized nearbyPalayan City as the new provincial capital. Nueva Ecija's old capitol and other government offices are still used and maintained by the provincial administration. Cabanatuan also briefly became thecapital of the Philippines during theFirst Philippine Republic while PresidentEmilio Aguinaldo was moving north to evade capture by American forces.
After the campaign for the city's designation as ahighly urbanized city failed, a motion was made to convert the city into alone district instead.
Cabanatuan was founded as a Barrio ofGapan in 1750 and became a municipality and capital ofLa Provincia de Nueva Ecija in 1780. Majority of the original settlers of Cabanatuan were Tagalogs fromBulacan and Morong (Rizal Province); other early settlers came from Ilocos,Pampanga and Tayabas (nowQuezon Province). The Tagalogs settled the barrios on the western part while Kapampangans and Ilocanos settled in the vicinity around Sangitan.[7][8]
Cabanatuan is the site of the historical "Plaza Lucero" and theCabanatuan Cathedral, where GeneralAntonio Luna was assassinated by Captain Pedro Janolino and members of the Kawit battalion. Cabanatuan lost the title of provincial capital in 1850 when the capital of Nueva Ecija was moved to San Isidro, another historic town. It was only in 1917, when the administrative code was enacted, that Cabanatuan was restored as capital of the province. In 1926, the historicCollege of the Immaculate Conception was established within the vicinity of the Cabanatuan Cathedral by theRoman Catholic Church.[9] In 1938, Ling Hong Temple, the second oldest Buddhist temple in the Philippines, was established in Cabanatuan.[10]
During World War II, the occupying Japanese built the Cabanatuan Prison Camp, where many American soldiers were imprisoned, some of whom had been forced to endure the infamousBataan Death March. In January 1945, elements of the U.S. Army6th Ranger Battalion and two teams ofAlamo Scouts marched 30 miles (48 km) behind enemy lines to rescue the prisoners in what became known as theRaid at Cabanatuan. As a result of the raid on January 30, 1945, victorious Filipino guerrillas, American troops of the U.S. Army 6th Ranger Battalion andAlamo Scouts celebrated having obtained the freedom of 500 Americanprisoners of war. Soon thereafter, Philippine and American forces re-established the presence of military general headquarters and military camp bases of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, Philippine Constabulary 2nd Constabulary Regiment, and the United States Army in Cabanatuan from February 1, 1945, to June 30, 1946, during theLiberation of the Philippines. Before long, the combined Philippine Commonwealth and American armed forces, in cooperation with local guerrilla resistance fighters and Hukbalahap Communist guerrillas,[citation needed] had liberated Central Luzon from Japanese Imperial forces, a campaign that lasted from January until August 1945.
In 1957, the barrios of Mataas na Kahoy, Balangkare Norte, Balangkare Sur, Sapang Kawayan, Magasawang Sampaloc, Talabutab Norte, Talabutab Sur, Platero, Belen, Pecaleon, Piñahan, Kabulihan, Pasong-Hari, Balaring, Pulong Singkamas, Panaksak, Bravo, Sapang Bato, Burol, Miller, Tila Patio, Pula, Carinay, and Acacia were separated from Cabanatuan and constituted into a separate and independent municipality known asGeneral Mamerto Natividad.[11]
Cabanatuan was near the epicenter ofthe 1990 Luzon earthquake, which registered a 7.8 on thesurface wave magnitude scale, at around 3:00 pm on July 16, 1990. The quake leveled several buildings, most notably the Christian College of the Philippines (Liwag Colleges) in the midst of class time, trapping 250 students and teachers and killing at least 133.[12]
Unlike in Baguio, local and international journalists were able to arrive at Cabanatuan hours after the tremor, and media coverage of the quake in its immediate aftermath centered on the collapsed school, where rescue efforts were hampered by the lack of heavy equipment to cut through the steel reinforcement of fallen concrete.
Cabanatuan became a city by virtue ofRepublic Act No. 526, approved on June 16, 1950.[13] In 1965, Congress created Palayan City, and transferred the capital of Nueva Ecija from Cabanatuan to the newly created city of Palayan.
In 1998, Cabanatuan was declared a highly urbanized city by PresidentFidel V. Ramos. However, it failed ratification after the majority of votes in the plebiscite was negative.
Cabanatuan was declared as ahighly urbanized city again by PresidentBenigno S. Aquino III under Presidential Proclamation No. 418 on July 14, 2012.[14] A plebiscite scheduled in December 2012 was moved by the Commission on Elections to January 25, 2014, so as not to burden the poll body during its preparation for the2013 local elections in the province. Incumbent Governor Aurelio Matias Umali, who had a strong voter base in the city, opposed the conversion and submitted a petition to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order on January 24, 2014.[15] On April 23, 2014, voting 9–5–1, the Supreme Court granted a petition for certiorari filed by Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali and declared as null and void Comelec Minute Resolution No. 12-0797 dated September 11, 2012, and Minute Resolution No. 12-0925 dated October 16, 2012, setting a date for the conduct of a plebiscite in which only registered voters of Cabanatuan would be allowed to vote.[16] The province-wide plebiscite was rescheduled for November 8, 2014, but cancelled again because the Cabanatuan City government could not provide the necessary funds. No new date is to be set until the city government certifies that₱101 million is available for the holding of the plebiscite.[17]
Cabanatuan is located in the rolling central plains of Luzon drained by thePampanga River. The city stands 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) southwest of the provincial capitalPalayan City and 116 kilometres (72 mi) north of Manila. It is bordered bySanta Rosa to the south,Talavera andGen. Mamerto Natividad to the north,Palayan to the north east,Laur to the east, andAliaga to the west.
Cabanatuan has atropical wet and dry climate (Köppen climate classification:Aw), with year-round warm weather and distinct dry and wet seasons. It is touted as one of the hottest cities in the country; in the summer season of 2011 Cabanatuan reached its hottest temperature at 39.8 °C, also the hottest in thePhilippines in that same year, and on June 4, 2015PAGASA reported a 53 °C (127 °F)heat index for the city, which is the hottest yet recorded.
According to the fifth Annual Natural Hazards Risk Atlas (NHRA) report in 2015, Cabanatuan was ranked as the sixth city in the Philippines with extreme exposure to a myriad of natural hazards, especially typhoons and flooding.[18]
Notable disasters have struck Cabanatuan in the past decades, includingthe 1990 Luzon earthquake, 2013Typhoon Santi, and 2015Typhoon Lando. The 2013 Typhoon Santi brought extreme winds measuring up to 120 km/h, causing widespread infrastructure damages and power loss to the city.
Later in 2015, Typhoon Lando caused massive damage in the form of severe flooding in Central Luzon, including Cabanatuan. The city experienced severe flooding, which hampered the operations of many establishments. Most roads going to the major districts of Cabanatuan were not passable to light vehicles for two to three days after the storm.
Recently in 2022,Typhoon Karding damaged numerous establishments, farmlands, and electric lines in the city.[19][20]
| Climate data for Cabanatuan (rainfall and humidity 1991–2018, temperature 1981–2011, extremes 1949–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 36.2 (97.2) | 38.1 (100.6) | 38.8 (101.8) | 39.9 (103.8) | 40.4 (104.7) | 38.5 (101.3) | 37.0 (98.6) | 36.0 (96.8) | 37.0 (98.6) | 37.1 (98.8) | 37.5 (99.5) | 36.5 (97.7) | 40.4 (104.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32.1 (89.8) | 32.8 (91.0) | 34.3 (93.7) | 36.0 (96.8) | 35.6 (96.1) | 34.3 (93.7) | 33.0 (91.4) | 32.3 (90.1) | 32.5 (90.5) | 32.9 (91.2) | 32.7 (90.9) | 32.0 (89.6) | 33.4 (92.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.4 (79.5) | 27.0 (80.6) | 28.2 (82.8) | 29.8 (85.6) | 30.0 (86.0) | 29.4 (84.9) | 28.5 (83.3) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.2 (82.8) | 27.7 (81.9) | 26.8 (80.2) | 28.2 (82.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20.6 (69.1) | 21.1 (70.0) | 22.1 (71.8) | 23.5 (74.3) | 24.4 (75.9) | 24.4 (75.9) | 24.1 (75.4) | 24.1 (75.4) | 23.9 (75.0) | 23.4 (74.1) | 22.6 (72.7) | 21.7 (71.1) | 23.0 (73.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 15.0 (59.0) | 15.0 (59.0) | 13.7 (56.7) | 15.8 (60.4) | 18.8 (65.8) | 19.9 (67.8) | 18.4 (65.1) | 19.0 (66.2) | 20.0 (68.0) | 18.6 (65.5) | 17.0 (62.6) | 15.1 (59.2) | 13.7 (56.7) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 6.7 (0.26) | 24.7 (0.97) | 22.4 (0.88) | 32.9 (1.30) | 208.3 (8.20) | 184.3 (7.26) | 341.5 (13.44) | 386.8 (15.23) | 239.6 (9.43) | 180.2 (7.09) | 91.9 (3.62) | 28.0 (1.10) | 1,747.3 (68.79) |
| Average rainy days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 111 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 84 | 83 | 80 | 79 | 82 | 87 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 88 | 86 | 85 | 85 |
| Source:PAGASA[21][22][23] | |||||||||||||
Cabanatuan is administratively subdivided into 89 barangays.[24] Each barangay consists ofpuroks and some havesitios.
| Barangay | Population (2015) | Population (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Aduas Centro (Aduas) | 5,116 | 5,116 |
| Aduas Norte | 5,546 | 5,755 |
| Aduas Sur | 6,745 | 7,640 |
| Bagong Sikat | 4,599 | 5,272 |
| Bagong Buhay | 852 | 934 |
| Bakero | 3,073 | 3,359 |
| Bakod Bayan | 7,659 | 9,981 |
| Balite | 2,141 | 2,307 |
| Bangad | 7,596 | 7,688 |
| Bantug Bulalo | 2,390 | 2,009 |
| Bantug Norte | 8,695 | 8,686 |
| Barlis | 2,066 | 2,258 |
| Barrera District (Poblacion) | 5,374 | 5,290 |
| Bernardo District (Poblacion) | 1,233 | 1,144 |
| Bitas | 5,779 | 5,513 |
| Bonifacio District (Poblacion) | 2,917 | 3,041 |
| Buliran | 3,322 | 3,461 |
| Cabu | 4,054 | 5,182 |
| Caudillo | 1,614 | 1,920 |
| Calawagan (Kalawagan) | 1,757 | 1,836 |
| Caalibangbangan | 11,112 | 11,104 |
| Camp Tinio (Campo Tinio) | 11,449 | 11,917 |
| Caridad Village | 1,885 | 1,905 |
| Cinco-Cinco | 1,816 | 2,163 |
| City Supermarket/Bayan (Poblacion) | 172 | 95 |
| Communal | 1,451 | 1,791 |
| Cruz Roja | 4,145 | 5,354 |
| Daan Sarile | 7,191 | 8,030 |
| Dalampang | 2,057 | 2,202 |
| Dicarma (Poblacion) | 4,480 | 4,344 |
| Dimasalang (Poblacion) | 1,421 | 1,281 |
| Dionisio S. Garcia (D.S. Garcia) | 7,076 | 7,405 |
| Fatima (Poblacion) | 886 | 777 |
| General Luna (Poblacion) | 1,548 | 1,516 |
| Hermogenes C. Concepcion Sr. (H. Concepcion) | 4,039 | 4,756 |
| Ibabao-Bana | 2,313 | 2,662 |
| Imelda District | 4,001 | 3,639 |
| Isla (Poblacion) | 2,081 | 2,340 |
| Kalikid Norte | 3,344 | 3,585 |
| Kalikid Sur | 5,056 | 6,210 |
| Kapitan Pepe Subdivision (Poblacion) | 4,425 | 4,795 |
| Lagare | 2,366 | 2,715 |
| Lourdes (Matungal-tungal) | 2,457 | 2,478 |
| M.S. Garcia | 4,670 | 6,148 |
| Mabini Extension | 3,314 | 3,208 |
| Mabini Homesite | 4,317 | 5,501 |
| Macatbong | 3,378 | 3,623 |
| Magsaysay District | 4,492 | 4,242 |
| Magsaysay South | 2,800 | 2,419 |
| Maria Theresa | 930 | 969 |
| Matadero (Poblacion) | 1,123 | 1,010 |
| Mayapyap Norte | 2,288 | 2,750 |
| Mayapyap Sur | 5,473 | 5,904 |
| Melojavilla (Poblacion) | 654 | 387 |
| Nabao (Poblacion) | 730 | 703 |
| Obrero | 4,361 | 4,360 |
| Padre Burgos (Poblacion) | 324 | 328 |
| Padre Crisostomo | 4,018 | 4,298 |
| Pagas | 2,997 | 3,261 |
| Palagay | 2,221 | 2,648 |
| Pamaldan | 3,870 | 4,203 |
| Pangatian | 2,815 | 3,290 |
| Patalac | 2,349 | 2,417 |
| Polilio | 2,605 | 2,913 |
| Pula | 1,708 | 1,306 |
| Quezon District (Poblacion) | 1,949 | 1,648 |
| Rizdelis (Poblacion) | 789 | 784 |
| Samon | 1,713 | 1,806 |
| San Isidro | 4,996 | 6,277 |
| San Josef Norte | 4,442 | 4,684 |
| San Josef Sur | 6,793 | 7,785 |
| San Juan Accfa (San JuanPoblacion) | 6,687 | 8,772 |
| San Roque Norte | 1,128 | 944 |
| San Roque Sur | 1,356 | 1,314 |
| Sanbermicristi (Poblacion) | 1,331 | 1,298 |
| Sangitan | 2,015 | 1,566 |
| Sangitan East | 2,050 | 1,531 |
| Santa Arcadia | 4,598 | 5,751 |
| Santo Niño | 1,807 | 1,946 |
| Sapang | 1,382 | 1,590 |
| Sumacab Este | 4,118 | 4,517 |
| Sumacab Norte | 4,698 | 4,869 |
| Sumacab South | 4,487 | 5,776 |
| Talipapa | 1,796 | 2,498 |
| Valdefuente | 4,321 | 4,216 |
| Valle Cruz | 4,856 | 6,503 |
| Vijandre District (Poblacion) | 1,376 | 1,096 |
| Villa Ofelia Subdivision (Villa Ofelia-Caridad) | 1,319 | 1,315 |
| Zuleta District (Poblacion) | 1,558 | 1,495 |
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[25][26][27][28][29] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Roman Catholicism has been the predominant religion in the city, being host to a major cathedral – theSt. Nicholas of Tolentino Cathedral which serves as the seat of the bishop of theDiocese of Cabanatuan. Other major Catholic structures located within the city includes: Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish (Dambana ng Ina ng Laging Saklolo), Santuario de Sto. Niño Parish, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Monastery (the Carmelite Sisters Convent), St. Joseph the Husband of Mary Parish, St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, and the Maria Assumpta Seminary. Local chapels/parishes are also present in most barangays. The Roman Catholic Church owns theCollege of the Immaculate Conception, the first and only Catholic higher education institute in the city.[9]
The New St. Nicholas of Tolentine Cathedral (popularly known asCrypta) has been under construction in Lakewood, Cabanatuan since 1999. The cathedral will be a type ofround church, similar to churches that were prominent in Nordic countries during the 11th and early 12th century. It will become the largest church in the Philippines that shall feature a park and accommodate at least 3,000 people once it is finished.
Iglesia ni Cristo also maintains a sizable presence in Cabanatuan with its large house of worship in Barangay Zulueta that seats up to 3,000 people.It has a district office situated in compound.
TheUnited Methodist Church also has many local churches with a large congregation within the city. The United Methodist Church ownsWesleyan University Philippines and the Wesleyan University of the Philippines-Cardiovascular and Medical Center.
Other Philippine-based Christian denominations are also present in the city, such asJesus Is Lord Church Worldwide,Jesus Miracle Crusade,Members Church of God International, andVictory Christian Fellowship.
TheIslamic faith also has a presence in Cabanatuan, specifically within the districts of Imelda and Isla. Three large mosques exist in the city - two in Isla and one in Imelda District.
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Cabanatuan is the economic heart of Nueva Ecija. More than 640,000 people live in its metropolitan area comprising the city and its adjacent municipalities. As a hub, many people in Nueva Ecija commute to the city during the day. This causes the city's daytime population to swell to about a million.[38]
The city is a vital financial center housing a good number of banks, non-bank financial institutions, and headquarters of some of the largest rural banks in Central Luzon. TheBangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) maintains a branch in the city that performs cash operations and cash administration. As of June 2018[update], approximately 43 billion pesos in deposit liabilities is kept in the city's 65 banks.[39] This amount constitutes more than half of the province's deposits. In terms of banking convenience, the city ranks as one of the most livable in the country together withMakati.[40]
In October 2024, Cabanatuan City LGU partnered with the Department of Agriculture and the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO) to establish the country's first agri‑machinery manufacturing and assembly complex on a 20‑hectare site, featuring assembly lines, R&D facilities, job creation, and a targeted ten‑year rollout.[41]
Most of the water supply of the city is provided for by the Cabanatuan City Water District (CCWD), founded in 1974 through a resolution enacted by the Honorable City Council of Cabanatuan, pursuant to PD 198. In recent years, the CCWD has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement withPrimeWater, a private water service provider involved in the design of water distribution systems. It continues to provide most of the city's water supply.[42]
Unlike the majority of Nueva Ecija, most of the electric services in the city are provided by the Cabanatuan Electric Corporation. Power generation companies like FCVC and FCRV operate a 12-8 MW diesel power plant and a 10-MW solar power plant, respectively.
Major telecommunication companies like Globe Telecom, PLDT-Smart Communications, and Dito Telecommunity have also their respective infrastructures and business offices in the city. Local TV and Radio Stations, such as the city's main local channel CabTV 16 and radio broadcast channel, Big Sound FM 101.5, are also present.
The city is also a distribution and logistics center for goods and commodities; a number of distribution warehouses and sales offices of various companies serve the whole of Nueva Ecija and parts of neighboring provinces. TheNational Food Authority warehouses in the city play an important role in regulating Nueva Ecija's rice industry. The city acts as a trading place orbagsakan of agricultural produce from the surrounding farming communities.
Indicators reflect Cabanatuan's economic achievements in the past few years.[43] Annual business registrations in the city grew 31.7% last 2015[44] while locally sourced taxes grew 14.81% annually in the five years to 2015.[45] Residential buildings and subdivisions, numbering more than a hundred, are taking up lands on the fringes of the downtown.
The presence of big land developers such as Santa Lucia Realty, Vista Land, andAyala Land ensures competition and quality in the new suburban homes. New commercial buildings are springing up in theCBD and along Maharlika Highway at an average of seventy-five per year.
Vista Estates has recently planned to build Verterra Residences, Nueva Ecija's first condominium development and one of the Philippines' first "Urban Green Hubs," near Camella Cabanatuan.
Cabanatuan is gradually becoming a major investment hub and is considered one of the most competitive cities for doing business in the country. Investors in banking, real estate, retail and other business and industrial enterprises are similarly drawn to the city because of its adequate infrastructure and investor support services.
Its continuing urbanization is also luring investors into its suburban municipalities as well.
To further explore its economic potentials, Cabanatuan is seeking to have a share of theIT-BPO boom. The firstcall center in Nueva Ecija was successfully established in the city in 2008. The city government is providing prospective investors with fast business applications processing, low business taxes, and other incentives to attract big-ticket projects.[45]
In 2015, the city's total assets amounted to PHP 3.719 billion and the total income reached PHP 1.696 billion.[46]
Cabanatuan serves as the central shopping hub in Nueva Ecija and other nearby localities.
Major Philippine mall chains such as Robinsons Malls, SM Supermalls, Walter Mart, and Puregold Price Club, Inc. have established their presence in the city. Currently, major shopping centers in the city include:NE Pacific Mall;SM Megacenter;Robinsons Townville Cabanatuan;SM City Cabanatuan, which is built as a regionalSM Supermall with amenities such as a roof park, an indoor park, and a large-screen cinema;[47]AllHome, andWaltermart.
Cabanatuan has also multiple supermarkets including a chain of Savemore Supermarkets, Puregold Supermarkets, NE Supermarkets, and the warehouse club store,S&R. The city has also numerous hardware centers like Ace Hardware, Citi Hardware, and Wilcon Depot.
Robinsons Land Corp. has previously expressed plans for their second mall in the city, which will be namedRobinsons Place Cabanatuan.[48] However, the plan has since been scrapped due to backlash from groups that were against the decision to build it in the site of Nueva Ecija's Old Provincial Capitol.
Landers Superstore has shown interest in building a branch in Brgy. Sumacab Este.
Cabanatuan is also building a new main public market that is set to open in the near future, after its old public market burnt down in April 2020.[49] Aside from vendor spaces, the new market will house government offices, retail spaces, restrooms, escalators, passenger andfreight elevators, and lower ground parking to accommodate the growing population of consumers in the city.[50] The new Magsaysay Market in Brgy. Sangitan is also expected to open in a few years.
Two temporary public markets were built in Melencio Street Ext., Brgy. Kapitan Pepe and Brgy. San Isidro, with the former planned to be converted into a convention center.
| No. | Name | Opening Date | Location | Remarks | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NE Mall (Puregold Zulueta) | late 1980s | Brgy. Zulueta | First mall in Nueva Ecija and one of the earliest in the region. |  |
| 2 | NE Pacific Mall | Apr 1996 | Brgy. H. Concepcion Sr.,Maharlika Highway | First full-service mall in Nueva Ecija; houses many restaurants, amenities, and also a movie theater that has three cinemas. | .jpg) |
| 3 | SM Megacenter Cabanatuan | 31 July 1998 (as Megacenter the Mall) 25 April 2015 (as SM Megacenter) | Brgy. San Roque Norte | FirstSM supermall in Nueva Ecija. SM Megacenter Cabanatuan was originally opened in 1998 as Megacenter the Mall, one of the earliest shopping malls in Cabanatuan City. The four-story mall was acquired in 2013 from the CHAS Realty and Development Corp before being developed into a SM mall.[51] |  |
| 4 | Melanio's Shopping Center | 1990s | Maharlika Highway cor. Gabaldon Street | Once a popular local shopping center in Cabanatuan, it has since ceased operations as a mall and now functions as a commercial building with small clinics, cafes, and office spaces for rent.[52][53] |  |
| 5 | Robinsons Townville Cabanatuan | 4 February 2009 | Brgy. H. Concepcion Sr.,Maharlika Highway | FirstRobinsons mall in Nueva Ecija. Originally named "Robinsons Cabanatuan," the mall was rebranded as "Robinsons Townville Cabanatuan", referring to the RRHI's (the mall's operator) own community mall-formatted that it was the sister counterpart of Robinsons Malls. |  |
| 6 | Puregold Cabanatuan | 8 October 2011 | Brgy. Bernardo District,Maharlika Highway | First Puregold supermarket in Nueva Ecija. |  |
| 7 | Puregold Circumferential | 15 February 2015 | Brgy. San Juan Accfa,Maharlika Highway | It is the second Puregold supermarket in the city and currently housesRobinsons Appliances.[54] |  |
| 8 | SM City Cabanatuan | 9 October 2015 | Brgy. H. Concepcion Sr.,Maharlika Highway | The second largest mall in Central Luzon and third in the whole island of Luzon outside theGreater Manila Area, boasting a total retail area of 154,020 square meters. The five-story mall also includes two Sky Gardens, a Garden Park, a Roof Park, as well as a large-format theater capable for 3D movies and stadium-type seating similar toIMAX housing up to 507 guests. |  |
| 9 | Waltermart Cabanatuan | 11 December 2015 | Brgy. Dicarma,Maharlika Highway | First Waltermart branch in Cabanatuan. |  |
| 10 | S&R Membership Shopping Cabanatuan | 6 June 2018 | Brgy. H. Concepcion Sr. | First S&R in Nueva Ecija and 3rd in Central Luzon. | |
| 11 | All Home Cabanatuan | 27 November 2020 | Brgy. Mabini Extension | First All Home branch in Cabanatuan and the entire province of Nueva Ecija.[55] It will soon be converted to aVista Mall, making it also the first in the province. | |
| 12 | Divimart Cabanatuan | 30 March 2023 | Melencio Street Extension | First Divimart in Nueva Ecija. | |
| 13 | Landers Superstore Cabanatuan (upcoming) | TBA | Brgy. H. Concepcion Sr.,Maharlika Highway, Cabanatuan City | First Landers Superstore branch in Nueva Ecija; currently under construction and expected to open soon[56] |
The city has numerous accommodation and lodging establishments such as hotels, motels, inns, and resorts. Some of the known hotels include Harvest Hotel, Top Star Hotel, and La Parilla Hotel. In recent years, the local food scene in the city has experienced growth. Several local and international restaurants, fast-food chains, bakeries, and coffee shops are also located in the city.
Cabanatuan's food scene offers a variety of culinary choices such as local Filipino delicacies, Japanese cuisine, Korean cuisine, Indian cuisine, and others. Food joints have also been established in Kapitan Pepe Subdivision, such as the Food Park.
The city also features Lakewood Golf and Country Club, a championship 18-hole golf course and leisure destination. The facility includes a clubhouse, driving range, and scenic fairways that host local and regional tournaments.
Various resorts and waterparks also operate in the city, such as BL Resort and Hotel, Acropolis North, and Lamarang Hotel.
The city has recently launched its first fully air-conditioned convention center in Brgy. Bitas in February 2025, serving as one of Cabanatuan's major event-holding venues.
Under the Marcos administration's Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino initiative, theDepartment of Human Settlements and Urban Development broke ground in mid‑2023 on a major in‑city housing project in Cabanatuan. The project aims to deliver 11,320 housing units in multiple phases on approximately 4.3 hectares of city-owned land along the circumferential road. Plans include constructing 28 to 30-storey residential buildings.[57]
Cabanatuan is a major hub of land transportation services in Central Luzon. The city has many bus companies operating provincial and regional routes, with the Cabanatuan Central Transport Terminal serving as the terminus.
Much of the city's population rely on public transportation such as tricycles andjeepneys to get around the city. Almost all types of public road transport plying Cabanatuan are privately owned and operated under government franchise.
Jeepney, van, and mini-bus operators serve routes within the province with some reaching as far to Dingalan, Baler, and Dilasag in Aurora, Olongapo City, San Fernando, and Dau in Pampanga, Mariveles and Balanga in Bataan, Baguio in Benguet, Dagupan, and Tarlac City. Tricycle operators serve local routes in the city and sometimes to nearby towns of Santa Rosa and Talavera.
Intercity and interprovincial buses from Manila serve the city, and are usually operated byBaliwag Transit, Inc.,Five Star,Victory Liner,Genesis Transport Service Inc.,GV Florida Transport, ES Transport Inc., and Pangasinan Solid North.
Grab Philippines is looking to operateGrabTrike, a ride-hailing tricycle system, within Cabanatuan. The company has since established this in other cities in the Philippines such as Dumaguete, Zamboanga, and Angeles City.
Maharlika Highway (or Pan-Philippine Highway) is the main highway traversing Cabanatuan where most vehicles going to Cagayan Valley pass through. The city's portion of the Maharlika Highway starts from the city's southernmost barangay, Brgy. Sumacab Este, and ends at Brgy. Caalibangbangan.
Another highway that traverses Cabanatuan is the Nueva Ecija - Aurora Road. The highway links Cabanatuan toBaler, Aurora, passing through rural towns in eastern Nueva Ecija.
Burgos Avenue and Del Pilar Street both serve as the city's main thoroughfare in the downtown area. Other major roads include the General Tinio and Rizal Streets that run through the city proper in an east–west direction; Mabini Street, where two of the city's three universities are situated, and the Circumferential Road that connects the downtown area to the Kapitan Pepe residential district.
Cabanatuan was previously served by theManila Railroad Company in 1905 through the Balagtas – Cabanatuan line which was abandoned after the war because scavengers looted pieces of the rail tracks. Rail service was resumed in 1969 after the rehabilitation of the rail tracks as mandated by a government order. The service was again abandoned in the 1980s. The old Cabanatuan Railway Station is located at Barangay General Luna and is converted to a daycare center with the original structure remaining.
Cabanatuan shall also be serviced by a future expressway once completed, theCentral Luzon Link Expressway (SCTEX-TPLEX to San Jose City). It will shorten the usual travel time between the neighboring provinces and Cabanatuan, also stimulating the economy of the towns that the carriageway will pass through as a direct consequence.[58] Central Luzon Link Expressway from Tarlac City to San Juan,Aliaga was opened early 2024. The temporary exit to Cabanatuan will soon open to the motorists by July 2025.
The city is also the proposed terminus of theNorth Luzon East Expressway (NLEE), a planned expressway that will further enhance connectivity between Cabanatuan and Metro Manila via eastern Bulacan and Rizal.
The partially-complete majorring road system aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in the city proper of Cabanatuan. It consists of the following bypass roads:
Felipe Vergara Highway
During the early 2000s to decongest thePan-Philippine Highway and to spur new developments outside the downtown area, the 10.3-kilometer, four to eight-lane Felipe Vergara Highway was built to provide a more accessible route to the Cagayan Valley by directly connecting Cabanatuan and the town of Talavera.
The Cesar Vergara bridge is undergoing rehabilitation and will expand to three more lanes.
Emilio Vergara Highway
Also in the early 2000s, the 12.35-kilometer Emilio Vergara Highway was constructed to connect Cabanatuan andSanta Rosa to the Nueva Ecija - Aurora Road, avoiding traffic bottleneck along Pan-Philippine Highway. There are also present efforts being made to extend the Emilio Vergara Highway to Talavera as well, later serving as the exit point ofCentral Luzon Link Expressway in the future.
Cabanatuan-Palayan Bypass Road
This bypass road will connect to Emilio Vergara Highway in Santa Arcadia, with the other end leading directly toPalayan City. The bypass road is expected to be 32 meters wide in the future, similar to the width of said Vergara Highway.
Twoflyovers are currently being constructed to ease prevailing traffic congestions in the city. Both flyovers will open by September 2025.
Cabanatuan is also building major dike roads that shall serve as access roads to far-flung barangays in the city, such as Barangay Samon and Barangay Caudillo.
A future bypass road that shall connect the provinces ofBulacan and Nueva Ecija, greatly reducing travel time for Manila-bound motorists who traverse the Maharlika Highway. It will end at the junction of Lamarang Road and Emilio Vergara Highway at Cabanatuan City.
Infrastructure improvements by the administration are ongoing. A Unified Command Center for the city's traffic light system is currently under construction at 25 major intersections. Separate tricycle lanes are also present within the perimeter of the Public Market. Installation of solar-powered lamps along the city's roads are also being done.
Construction and rehabilitation of major bridges are also ongoing, such as the second Cesar Vergara and Valdefuente bridges to ease traffic. The widening of all city and arterial roads from one- to two-lane highway to three-lane highway is also being implemented. For example, road extension and widening of the Emilio Vergara Highway from two to six lanes is nearing its completion. Road asphalting is also being done in the city's major and minor thoroughfares.
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Historical and cultural sites found in the city include:
Festivals and celebrations celebrated in Cabanatuan include:
Cabanatuan's current seat of government, the city hall, is located at Barangay San Josef Sur. The local government structure is composed of one mayor, one vice mayor, and ten councilors. Each official is elected publicly to a 3-year term and can be re-elected up to 3 terms in succession. The day-to-day administration of the city is handled by the city administrator. Soon, the city hall and its civic centers will be relocated in a new site.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| District Representative (3rd Legislative District of the province of Nueva Ecija) | Julius Cesar V. Vergara |
| Chief Executive of the City of Cabanatuan | Mayor Myca Elizabeth R. Vergara |
| Presiding Officer of the City Council of Cabanatuan | Vice Mayor Joselito C. Roque |
| Members of the City Council | Jo-Mario Angelo E. Matias |
| Jean Yasmin D. Cruz | |
| Marius A. Garcia | |
| Aldwin Joseph V. Diaz | |
| Oscar M. Mendoza | |
| Jojo V. Balino | |
| Epifanio G. Posada | |
| Medel R. Seeping | |
| Christian Jan G. Cecilio | |
| Emmanuel D. Liwag II |
Cabanatuan is a regional educational hub. The city has more than forty higher education institutions including four universities, a science high school, more than fifty public and private high schools, and more than a hundred public and private primary schools.
Some prominent schools, universities and colleges within the city includeAraullo University,College of the Immaculate Conception, the Sumacab Main and General Tinio campuses of theNueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, the Nueva Ecija campus ofOur Lady of Fatima University, andWesleyan University Philippines.
Many hospitals and clinics can be found in the city, most are private and with modern facilities which made Cabanatuan the center for medical operations and research in the province. Most residents of the province go to Cabanatuan for their check-ups and appointments in hospitals and clinics within the city.
There are three (3) notable public and six (5 fully constructed, 1 under construction) private hospitals in Cabanatuan:
| No. | Name | Location | Remarks | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (PJGMRMC) | Brgy. Mabini Extension | It is the 400-bed modern multi-story regional health center of Cabanatuan. It was opened to the public on December 15, 1930, with a capacity of thirty (30) beds. The hospital has since been designated as the region's specialty center for heart and lung, kidney transplant, trauma, brain, orthopedic, physical medicine and rehabilitation, eye, and reproductive health. The hospital's bed capacity is planned to be increased to 1000 beds in the near future.[60] | %2c_Cabanatuan_City_-_2025.jpg) |
| 2 | Eduardo L. Joson Memorial Hospital (Nueva Ecija Provincial Hospital) | Maharlika Highway, Brgy. Daang Sarile | It is a government-owned hospital located along the Maharlika Highway, Brgy. Daang Sarile. | 13.jpg) |
| 3 | Dr. M.V. Gallego Cabanatuan City General Hospital | Maharlika Highway, Brgy. Imelda | It is a local government-funded hospital that offers health services mostly to the people of Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, and to some extent to the neighboring municipalities. It has since undergone rehabilitation to add more modern facilities and cater to the growing healthcare of the city. |  |
| 4 | Immaculate Conception Medical Center of Central Luzon (ICMC) | Circumferential Road, Brgy. San Juan Accfa | A private-owned hospital located in Circumferential Road, Brgy. San Juan Accfa. It was established by a group of doctors and businessmen-investors and was opened on September 8, 2007.[61] | %2c_Cabanatuan_City_-_2025.jpg) |
| 5 | Nueva Ecija Doctors' Hospital | Maharlika Highway, Brgy. Sumacab Este | A private hospital started by a group of 22 American-trained doctors, headed by Dr. Rodrigo Cuizon, who arrived in Nueva Ecija during the 1960s to settle and practice their profession at Cabanatuan.[62] The hospital has since been undergoing renovations to add more facilities. |  |
| 6 | GoodSam Medical Center | Burgos Avenue | It is a private hospital part of the network of hospitals of Mt. Grace Hospitals (MGHI). At present, GoodSam has an eye and laser center, a fresenius renal center and major components of a secondary hospital in both Cabanatuan and Gapan, an out-patient department, emergency room, imaging center, operating and delivery room complex andintensive care unit. (ICU) |  |
| 7 | Premiere Medical Center | Maharlika Highway, Brgy. Daan Sarile | A private hospital that has been serving the city's residents since 1997. |  |
| 8 | Wesleyan University General Hospital and Cardiovascular Center | Brgy. Mabini Extension | Non-stock, non-profit hospital owned and operated by the United Methodist Church through the Wesleyan University – Philippines (WU–P). It is located within the campus of Wesleyan University - Philippines. |  |
| 9 | Cabanatuan Doctors Medical Center (CMC) | Emilio Vergara Highway, Brgy. Valle Cruz | An under-construction private hospital situated along Emilio Vergara Highway, Brgy. Valle Cruz. |
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Cabanatuan travel guide from Wikivoyage
Media related toCabanatuan at Wikimedia Commons| First | Capital ofNueva Ecija 1801–1850 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Capital ofNueva Ecija 1912–1965 | Succeeded by |
Places adjacent to Cabanatuan | |
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