Isabela | |
|---|---|
_-_ZooKeys-266-001-g003.jpg)     .jpg) (from top: left to right) Pacific coast inDinapigue,Sierra Madre Mountains,Magat Dam,Cagayan River inJones, Isabela Provincial Capitol and Our Lady of Atocha Church. | |
.svg) Flag  Seal | |
| Nicknames: | |
 Location in the Philippines | |
OpenStreetMap  | |
| Coordinates:17°N122°E / 17°N 122°E /17; 122 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Cagayan Valley |
| Founded | May 1, 1856 |
| Named after | Isabella II of Spain |
| Capital and largest city | Ilagan |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Panlalawigan |
| • Governor | Rodolfo T. Albano III (PFP) |
| • Vice Governor | Francis Dy (Lakas) |
| • Legislature | Isabela Provincial Board |
| Area | |
• Total | 13,102.05 km2 (5,058.73 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 2nd out of 81 |
| (includesSantiago) | |
| Highest elevation | 1,736 m (5,696 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,733,048 |
| • Rank | 15th out of 81 |
| • Density | 132.2730/km2 (342.5856/sq mi) |
| • Rank | 67th out of 81 |
| (Includes Santiago) | |
| Demonyms |
|
| Divisions | |
| • Independent cities | |
| • Component cities | |
| • Municipalities | |
| • Barangays |
|
| • Districts | Legislative districts of Isabela(shared withSantiago City) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PHT) |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)78 |
| ISO 3166 code | PH-ISA |
| Spoken languages | |
| Website | provinceofisabela |
Isabela, officially theProvince of Isabela (Ilocano:Probinsia ti Isabela;Ibanag:Provinsia na Isabela;Tagalog:Lalawigan ng Isabela), is the second largestprovince in thePhilippines by land area located in theCagayan Valley. Its capital and the largest local government unit is the city ofIlagan. It is bordered by the provinces ofCagayan to the north,Kalinga to the northwest,Mountain Province to the central-west,Ifugao andNueva Vizcaya to the southwest,Quirino,Aurora and the independent city ofSantiago to the south, and thePhilippine Sea to the east.
This primarily agricultural province is therice andcorn granary ofLuzon with its mix of plains and rolling terrain. In 2012, the province was declared as the country's top producer of corn with 1,209,524 metric tons.[7] Isabela was also declared the second-largest rice producer in the Philippines and the "Queen Province of the North".[8][9][10]
The province has four trade centers in the cities ofIlagan,Cauayan,Santiago and the municipality ofRoxas. Santiago is considered to have the fastest-growing local economy in the entire Philippines.[11]
The province was named during the time that the Philippines was under Spanish control, and named afterIsabella II, who wasqueen regnant ofSpain from September 29, 1833, until September 30, 1868, when she was deposed in theGlorious Revolution, and her formalabdication two years later.[12]
The province of Isabela used to be a vast rainforest where numerous indigenous ethnolinguistic groups lived. Many of the same ethnic groups still live in the province.Shell midden sites and other archaeological sites throughout the province constitute the material culture of those groups during the classical era.[citation needed]
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Tumauini ChurchDuring the Spanish era, prior to 1856, theCagayan Valley was divided into only two provinces:Cagayan andNueva Vizcaya. The Province of Cagayan at that time consisted of all towns fromTumauini toAparri in the north. All other towns fromIlagan southward toAritao composed the Province of the oldNueva Vizcaya. In order to facilitate the work of theCatholic missionaries in theevangelization of theCagayan Valley, aroyal decree was issued on May 1, 1856, creating the Province of Isabela consisting of the towns ofGamu,Old Angadanan (nowAlicia), Bindang (nowRoxas) and Camarag (nowEchague), Carig (nowSantiago City) andPalanan, all detached from the Province ofNueva Vizcaya; whileCabagan andTumauini were taken from the Province ofCagayan. The exception is Palanan, which was established in 1625 by Spanish forces who arrived by ship from the Pacific coastal town ofBaler in Tayabas province (now part of Aurora). Thus, Palanan was originally a part ofPampanga,[13] then toLaguna, Tayabas (nowQuezon Province; Tayabas became independent from Laguna), andNueva Ecija, before being transferred to Nueva Vizcaya and finally Isabela.[14] Also, unlike the rest of Cagayan Valley, it was served by Franciscan missionaries from Baler rather than the Dominicans. The population of the town was natively Paranan, then subsequently augmented by local Negritos, migrants from Baler who areTagalogs and outlaws from Cagayan Valley, with the lingua franca of the settlement being Tagalog as opposed to Ilocano or Ibanag.[15][16][17]
The province was placed under the jurisdiction of agovernor (Lieutenant Colonel of Cavalry Francisco Contreras y Urtasun) with Ilagan as the capital, where it remains up to present. It was initially calledIsabela de Luzón and alsoIsabela del Norte[14] to differentiate from other places in the Philippines bearing the name of Isabela. The new province was named after QueenIsabella II of Spain.[18] During that time, the Spanish controlled only the areas along the Cagayan River, leaving the Mallig Plants, the Magat River and the Sierra Madre Mountains toGaddang tribes.[citation needed]
TheAtta orNegritos were the first people in valley. They were later moved to the uplands or variably assimilated by the Austronesians, from whom theIbanags,Itawes, Yogads, Gaddangs, Irayas, Malawegs, and Paranans descended - who actually came from one ethnicity. These are the people found by the Spaniards in the different villages along the rivers all over Cagayan Valley, including present Isabela. The Spaniards rightly judged that these various villagers came from a single racial stock and decided to make theIbanag language thelingua franca, both civilly and ecclesiastically for the entire people of Cagayan which they called collectively as theCagayanes which later was transliterated to becomeCagayanos.[citation needed]
Various other peoples, mainly theIlocanos,Pangasinenses,Kapampangans andTagalogs, as well asVisayans,Moros,Ivatans, and even foreigners like the Chinese, Indians, Arabs, Spaniards and others were further infused to the native Cagayanes to become the modernCagayano, andIsabeleño in the exact province, that we know today.
Although the province did not play a major role in the revolt against Spain, it is inPalanan that the final pages of thePhilippine Revolution were written when United States troops, led by GeneralFrederick Funston, finally captured GeneralEmilio Aguinaldo on March 23, 1901. To commemorate this historical event, in 1962 the town officials constructed a monument by the Palanan City Hall, right on the spot where General Aguinaldo was captured, to memorialize the historic event. The monument was inaugurated on June 12, 1962, Philippine Independence Day, and still stands.[citation needed]
Isabela was re-organized as a province under theAmerican military government throughAct No. 210, passed August 24, 1901.[19]
The Americans built schools and other buildings and instituted changes in the overall political system. However, the province's economy remained predominantly agricultural, with rice replacing corn and tobacco as the principal crop.[citation needed]
World War II stagnated the province's economic growth but it recovered dramatically after the war. In 1942,Imperial Japanese forces occupied Isabela. In 1945, the liberation of Isabela commenced with the arrival of thePhilippine Commonwealth troops under the 11th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Army, USAFIP-NL and the recognized guerrillas attacked by the Japanese Imperial forces in World War II.[further explanation needed][citation needed]
A new wave of immigration began in the late 19th and 20th centuries with the arrival of theIlokano who came in large numbers. They now constitute the largest group in the province, and it was only in this large-scale Ilocano immigration & settlement that made Ilocano language replaced Ibanag as thelingua franca of the province. Other ethnic groups followed that made Isabela the "Melting Pot of the Northern Philippines".[18][17]
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In the years after theSecond World War, Isabela was ruled by the Dy family for 35 years (1969-2004). The dynasty was started by the patriarch of the family,Faustino N. Dy Sr., who served as the mayor of Cauayan from 1965 to 1969 and sat as provincial governor for 22 years (1969–1992), surviving the initial attempts of PresidentFerdinand Marcos to remove him for being a member of the political opposition during the imposition of Martial Law in 1972 and winning reelection in 1988 after his removal by PresidentCorazon Aquino after he had sided with Marcos in 1986.[citation needed]
By thefirst term of the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, Isabela had become known among students activists for its remoteness and the poverty of its agricultural workers, making it a favorite destination for "dissatisfied, alienated young activists."[20] So when theCommunist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was established in 1968 after splitting from the largely-defeated old Communist Party (Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930), Isabela became one of the first strongholds of its armed wing, theNew People's Army. The actual size of the NPA at the time was very small, reportedly with only 60 guerrillas and 35 WWII-era guns as of 1969.[21] But Marcos hyped up its formation,[22]: "43" supposedly because this would help build up political and monetary support from the US.[22]: "43" [23] The Armed Forces had a number of initial successes against the NPA in Isabela at this time, including the discovery of the Taringsing Documents inCordon outlining plans for a communist takeover; and the failed landing of arms bound for the NPA inPalanan during theMV Karagatan incident in 1972. These incidents were cited as some of the justifications for the declaration ofMartial Law by Marcos later that year.
With only a year left in his last constitutionally allowed term as president Ferdinand Marcos placed the Philippines underMartial Law in September 1972 and thus retained the position for fourteen more years.[24] This period in Philippine history is remembered for the Marcos administration's record ofhuman rights abuses,[25][26] particularly targeting political opponents, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against the Marcos dictatorship.[27] Two of the major detention centers for political detainees located in Isabela wereCamp Melchor F. dela Cruz in Barangay Upi inGamu, in which officers of the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command were also stationed;[28]: 43 and the Headquarters of the Isabela Province Philippine Constabulary in Barangay Baligatan, Ilagan.[28]: 132 renamed Camp Lt. Rosauro Toda Jr. in 2020.[29]
The province of Isabela became a particular center of both conflict and protest whenMarcos croniesDanding Cojuangco and Antonio Carag managed to block a Spanish-era grant which was supposed to see the return of Hacienda San Antonio and Hacienda Santa Isabel in Ilagan to local farmers. Cojuangco and Carag purchased the two haciendas themselves, displacing tens of thousands of farmers who were supposed to get those lands back a hundred years after the Spanish acquired them.[30]
In its desire to serve its parishioners, theRoman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan hosted a Social Action Center which would help the farmers. In the Social Action Center's newsletter, the "Courier," researcher Sabino Padilla Jr. documented and exposed the ways by which Cojuangco, Carag, the provincial government, and the military harassed the farmers who were supposed to get the land. This all led to a protest march in joined by 12,000 protesters from all over Isabela, and eventually, for 4,000 farmers to finally get the titles to their land. But it also earned the ire of the administration.[30][31]
In 1982, Padilla and 12 others were arrested by the regime and jailed under poor conditions at theBayombong,Nueva Vizcaya Stockade of thePhilippine Constabulary until almost the end of the Marcos regime.[30] In 1983, soldiers went as far as to raid the residence of the Bishop of Ilagan,Miguel Purugganan, in search of alleged rebels and firearms. They found none but continued to keep Bishop Puruggananan and the church workers under him under military surveillance.[31]
In 1985, three councilors from Barangay Ibujan in the municipality ofSan Mariano, includingIbanag community leader Luis Gabriel who had rejected overtures for the establishment of a localCHDF base in the town, were forcibly taken by heavily armed men who claimed that they needed the three as guides. However, the three were never seen again, and they eventually became counted among the manydesaparecidos during the Marcos dictatorship.[32]
It was also during the dictatorship that Marcos began awarding logging concessions to his cronies in the areas of the Sierra Madre region, which heralded the beginning of widescale deforestation and other environmental problems that affect the province since then, despite Marcos creating the Palanan Wilderness Area in 1978 which was later expanded by PresidentFidel V. Ramos to become theNorthern Sierra Madre Natural Park in 1997.[citation needed]
In 1975, construction began on the Magat Dam on the boundary ofRamon, Isabela with neighboringIfugao Province, becoming a catchbasin for 8 rivers upstream in Ifugao[33] and serving multiple functions, including: irrigating of agricultural lands; flood control; and power generation. The construction was protested by theIfugao people due to the flooding of their ancestral lands,[34] but the dam was eventually completed in 1982, partially funded through a loan from theWorld Bank.[35]
After thePeople Power Revolution in 1986, many of the activists who had joined the underground movement decided to "surface," as the new administration of Corazon Aquino released political prisoners and initiated peace talks.[36] However, anticommunist sentiment in her new cabinet made the peace process difficult, and negotiations eventually collapsed, and the insurgency in Isabela persisted.[37][38]
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Following the1986 People Power Revolution, known as the current Fifth Philippine Republic, under the1987 Philippine Constitution, various changes have been attempted since then in the province.
Dy Sr. was succeeded by his son,Benjamin G. Dy, in the gubernatorial seat from 1992 to 2001. Another Dy took over the gubernatorial seat in 2001 when Faustino Dy Jr. won the2001 elections after having served as the district representative of the 2nd Legislative District of the province from 1992 to 2001. It was only in the2004 elections that the family's control of the gubernatorial seat ended whenGrace Padaca, a former journalist, won over Faustino Dy Jr. She was the first woman to serve as the governor of the province. After serving for six years (2004-2010), Padaca was defeated in the 2010 National Elections byFaustino "Bojie" G. Dy III who served as governor of the province for three consecutive terms (2010-2019). He was then succeeded byRodolfo "Rodito" Albano III, a member of the Albano dynasty that dominatesIsabela's 1st congressional district.
In July 1994, the municipality ofSantiago was converted into an independent-component city by virtue ofRepublic Act 7720.[39] In February 1998, theRepublic Act 8528 was enacted which amended certain sections of theRepublic Act 7720 causing Santiago to be a component city in the province of Isabela. However, in September 1999 throughcourt ruling which granted the petition to declareRepublic Act 8528 unconstitutional, hence, the status of Santiago was reverted back to independent-component city, due to lack of plebiscite.Santiago is geographically located in Isabela but not under the administration of the province. Its electorates are prohibited to participate in the provincial-level elections except in the 4th legislative district of Isabela where the city belongs for congress representation.
In June 1995,Republic Act 7891 was passed, legislating that Isabela be divided into two new provinces: Isabela del Norte and Isabela del Sur.[40][41] A referendum was held on the same year with a slight majority voting againstpartitioning theprovince.[42]
In 1999, the municipality ofIlagan, also serving as the capital town of the province, sought to become a city by virtue ofRepublic Act 8474. The plebiscite held on March 14, 1999, turned down its first bid for cityhood. The majority of the people votedno in that event. In its second attempt to achieve cityhood, the campaign did not go through due to lack of concurrency in thesenate in 2006. Finally,Ilagan became a city, after its third move gained 96% of the votes in a plebiscite conducted on August 11, 2012.[43][44] The night after the plebiscite, Ilagan was declared as a component city in the province by virtue ofRepublic Act 10169.[45]
In 2001, the municipality ofCauayan became a component city in the province of Isabela through the ratification ofRepublic Act 9017.[46]
In 2019, the province was reorganized into six districts, thereby increasing the number of legislative districts from four to six. Cities and municipalities were retained and others were reapportioned to the current district assignments.[47]
Cagayan has been heavily impacted by changing weather pattern changes resulting from climate change,[48] with the 2020 Ulysses flood being counted as one of the most severe examples.[49][50]
In November 2020,Typhoon Vamco (locally known in the Philippines as Typhoon Ulysses) crossed the country, dams from all around Luzon neared their spilling points, forcing them to release large amounts of water into their impounds including Magat Dam. The dam opened all of its 7 gates at 24 metres (79 ft), releasing over 5,037 cubic metres (1,331,000 US gal) of water into the Cagayan River flooding numerous riverside towns.[51][52]
Because there was very little media coverage of the flooding in the area in the wake of theCOVID-19 lockdown in Luzon and theShutdown of ABS-CBN broadcasting earlier that year,[53] residents resorted to social media to request the national government for rescue.[54] As a result of the catastrophe, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) indicated that it would review its protocols regarding the release of water in Magat Dam and improve its watershed.[55]
Isabela comprises an aggregate land area of 12,414.93 square kilometres (4,793.43 sq mi),[56] representing almost 40 percent of the regional territory. It is the largestprovince in the island ofLuzon and the second largestprovince in thePhilippines by land area. Occupying the central section of theCagayan Valley region in Luzon, Isabela is bordered byCagayan to the north,Kalinga to the northwest,Mountain Province to the central-west,Ifugao andNueva Vizcaya to the southwest,Quirino to the south, andAurora to the south. To the east lies thePhilippine Sea, making Isabela one of thetyphoon-prone provinces in the country.[57][58]
Theprovince is divided into three physiographic areas. The eastern area, straddled by theSierra Madre mountain range, is rugged and thickly forested. A substantial portion is uncharted. These unexplored hinterlands are home to a rich variety offlora andfauna, and some are under government reservations. It is home to one of the world's largest remaining low-altitude rainforests, with numerous unknown endemic species offlora andfauna and biological diversity in the protected area known as theNorthern Sierra Madre Natural Park.[59] Isabela has 600,000 hectares (1,500,000 acres) ofCagayan Valley's 900,000 hectares (2,200,000 acres) offorest cover.[60][61][62]
The highest point of the province is located near the border with Cagayan. Mount Dos Cuernos peak has an elevation of 1,785 metres (5,856 ft) located inSan Pablo near the border withMaconacon. Other notable peaks in the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park is Mount Cresta inDivilacan with an elevation of 1,672 metres (5,486 ft).[63]
The western area is a fertile valley hemmed by theCentral Cordillera. It is crisscrossed by the mightyCagayan River, Siffu River, and Magat River.
Mallig Plains is a region in the western section of the province. Its name was derived from the rolling terrains or kilometers of plain lands in western part of Isabela. The municipality ofRoxas serves as the business center of the region. The Plains encompass the municipalities ofQuezon,Mallig,Quirino,Burgos,Aurora,San Manuel andRoxas.
Isabela is politically subdivided into thirty-four (34) municipalities, two component cities and one independent component city. The province is represented in thePhilippine House of Representatives with sixlegislative districts.[56]
The province has ten first class municipalities, two second class cities and one first class independent component city.Ilagan City, which became a city thirteen years after its failed cityhood proposal in 1998, it is now Luzon's largest and the country's fourth largest city by land area afterDavao City,Puerto Princesa andZamboanga City.
The 34 municipalities and 3 cities of the province comprise 1,055barangays, withRizal inSantiago City as the most populous in 2010, andCatalina inCauayan as the least. If cities are excluded,Bugallon Proper (Poblacion) inRamon has the highest population, andUauang-Tuliao inSanto Tomas has the lowest.[68]
After Isabela was re-organized as a province under the American regime in 1901, its first provincial governor was Rafael Maramag, a former Municipal President and also the first Municipal President of the capital town Ilagan. He was succeeded by his brother, Gabriel. Since 1969, the position has been occupied mostly by members of the Dy family, a political dynasty based in Cauayan that has expanded to neighboring municipalities. The current governor is Rodolfo "Rodito" Albano III, a member of the Albano dynasty that dominatesIsabela's 1st congressional district and is an ally of the Dys.
| Position | Provincial Official |
|---|---|
| Provincial Governor | Rodolfo T. Albano III |
| Provincial Vice Governor | Faustino G. Dy III |
| District Representatives | Rep. Antonio T. Albano (1st District) |
| Rep. Ed Christopher S. Go (2nd District) | |
| Rep. Ian Paul L. Dy (3rd District) | |
| Rep. Joseph S. Tan (4th District andSantiago City) | |
| Rep. Faustino Michael Carlos T. Dy III (5th District) | |
| Rep. Faustino A. Dy V (6th District) | |
| Provincial Board Members | Delfinito Emmanuel L. Albano (1st District) |
| Emmanuel Joselito B. Añes (1st District) | |
| Ed Christian S. Go (2nd District) | |
| Edgar R. Capuchino (2nd District) | |
| Mary Grace A. Arreola (3rd District) | |
| Ramon Juan N. Reyes (3rd District) | |
| Clifford R. Raspado (4th District) | |
| Victor G. Dy (4th District) | |
| Manuel Faustino Dy (5th District) | |
| Edward S. Isidro (5th District) | |
| Marco Paolo A. Meris (6th District) | |
| Amador A. Gaffud Jr. (6th District) |
On September 27, 2018,Republic Act No. 11080, an act reapportioning the province of Isabela into six legislative districts from four, was signed into law and the reapportioned districts elected its representatives starting in the 2019 midterm elections.[70][71] Accordingly, the six districts[72] are as follows:
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 76,431 | — |
| 1918 | 112,960 | +2.64% |
| 1939 | 219,864 | +3.22% |
| 1948 | 264,495 | +2.07% |
| 1960 | 442,062 | +4.37% |
| 1970 | 648,123 | +3.90% |
| 1975 | 730,386 | +2.43% |
| 1980 | 870,604 | +3.57% |
| 1990 | 1,080,341 | +2.18% |
| 1995 | 1,160,721 | +1.35% |
| 2000 | 1,287,575 | +2.25% |
| 2007 | 1,401,495 | +1.18% |
| 2010 | 1,489,645 | +2.24% |
| 2015 | 1,593,566 | +1.29% |
| 2020 | 1,697,050 | +1.33% |
| 2024 | 1,733,048 | +0.51% |
| Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[73][65][68][74][75] | ||
The population of Isabela in the 2020 census was 1,697,050 people,[5] making it the most populated province among the five provinces inCagayan Valley (Region II). It had a density of 140 inhabitants per square kilometre or 360 inhabitants per square mile.
In 2010, Isabela had a population of 1,489,645 people: 46 percent of the 3.2 million people in the region at that time. At the national level, the province contributed 1.58 percent to the total population of 88.57 million. There were 254,928 households in the province in 2007.
For all ages, the sex ratio in Isabela was about 105 with 660,627 males and 626,948 females in the 2000 Census of Population and Housing (Census 2000). There are more males than females below 50 years old.
Ilocanos are the most prominent group in the province. Of the total household population, 68.71 percent classified themselves asIlocanos, followed by theIbanags (14.05 percent), andTagalogs (10.02 percent). The majority ethnic group were the Ibanags, who were first seen by the Spanish explorers and converted toChristianity by missionaries, the reason why the Ibanag language had spread throughout the valley region prior to the arrival of the migrating Ilocanos. The remaining 7.22 percent are eitherGaddang, Paranan, Yogad, or from other ethnic groups who have assimilated into the Ibanag-Ilocano culture. More recently,[when?] a new group from the south, theMuslim Filipinos, have migrated to this province and have made a community for themselves. In addition to this, Tagalog-speaking peoples from Central Luzon (mostly fromNueva Ecija andAurora) and Southern Luzon have also settled in the area, as well as a fewPangasinans andKapampangans from theCentral Luzon andCebuanos andHiligaynons fromVisayas andMindanao; the majority of the population of Palanan are Tagalogs, with ancestors being settlers fromBaler, Aurora during Spanish territorial rule.
Major languages spoken areIlocano followed byIbanag,Yogad, andGaddang. Ilocanos and Ibanags speak Ilocano with an Ibanag accent, as descendants of Ilocanos from first generation in Isabela who lived within Ibanag population learned Ibanag; same situation with Ilocano tinged by Gaddang, Paranan, Yogad, and Itawis accents when descendants of Ilocanos from first generation in Isabela who lived within Gaddang, Paranan,Yogad, and Itawis populations learned their languages. People especially in the capital and commercial centers speak and understandEnglish andTagalog. Tagalogs, Ilocanos, and Ibanags speak Tagalog with an Ibanag accent, as descendants of Tagalogs from first generation in Isabela who lived within Ibanag population learned Ibanag. Languages not native in Isabela are also spoken there such asMaranao,Maguindanaon,Tausug,Pangasinan,Kapampangan,Cebuano andHiligaynon to varying degrees by their respective ethnic communities within the province.
Roman Catholicism is the predominant faith followed by about 80% of the people.[76]Iglesia ni Cristo is the second most popular religion, with 4% of the population. Other religions includeMembers Church of God International (MCGI),[77]Aglipayan,United Methodist Church,the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,Baptists,Seventh-day Adventists,Jehovah's Witnesses, and other Charismatic Christians. There are also a small number ofMuslims.
In terms of income classification, Isabela is rated as first-class province and considered among the richest and most progressive province in the Philippines and the most progressive in Region 02 courtesy of the three key cities strategically located in the province.[86]
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Strategically located at the center of Cagayan Valley region, Isabela is acknowledged to have demonstrated strengths in business and industry. Thus, it has come to be known as theRegional Trade and Industrial Center of north-eastern Luzon.[87]
The province of Isabela is the richest inCagayan Valley. It is also the 9th Richest Province in thePhilippines last 2021.[88][89]
The cities of Cauayan, Ilagan, Santiago and the town of Roxas are the principal commercial centers of the province. Metro Manila-based malls and fast food chains have recently opened in these key trading hubs. To date, 192 banking branches operate in the province, with most of the universal and commercial banks providing automated teller machines for the convenience of their clients.[90]
Since the start of the 21st century, a growing number of foreign and local investors have selected Isabela as site of their business ventures. Heading the list are Isabela's top investors, namely: Mindanao Grains Processing Company, Inc., SN Aboitiz Power- Magat Inc., Universal Leaf Philippines,Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc.,San Miguel Corporation,RC Cola andPepsi Cola.[91][92][93][94][95][96]
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Agriculture is the biggest industry in Isabela. As the country's top corn producing province, it contributes 13.02% of the annual national yellow corn production. Asia's largest post-harvest corn processing facility, the Mindanao Grains, is located in the town of Reina Mercedes.[97][98]
As second highest rice-growing province nationwide, Isabela produces 15% of the aggregate national rice production on an annual basis. Being a surplus producer of the Filipinos' staple crop, the province's rice sufficiency rate is at 224%, which means that Isabelinos produce more than they consume and are in fact responsible for supplying the rice requirements of Metro Manila and many other provinces. The unprecedented increase in palay production of Isabela made the province theHybrid Rice Champion of the Philippines.[99]
High-value agricultural crops grown in Isabela include monggo, tobacco, coffee, banana, and mango. Its livestock and poultry industries are also on the rise, especially dairy processing, hog production, cattle breeding, and commercial poultry raising.
Farming is highly mechanized as most of the agricultural lands are irrigated.[100][101] With the presence of theIsabela State University, joint ventures and other foreign assisted projects and the Magat Dam contribute to the high productivity in agriculture.[102][103][104] It is also the hub of trade and commerce and other economic activities due to its central location in the region. The wood industry used to be a top earner for the province but due to the logging ban imposed in the Cagayan Valley Region, activities in this industry considerably declined. However, furniture making usingnarra wood and other indigenous forest materials continue to exist.
Isabela is one of the most progressive provinces of the Philippines having been adjudged as the most outstanding province on food security in theGawad Sapat Ani Awards 2000. Forcorn production, Isabela ranks first among the top ten corn producing provinces for cy 2004, contributing 15.70% to national production. In 2013, theDepartment of Agriculture declared Isabela as theBest Corn-Quality Awardee.[105]Ilagan City was proclaimed as theCorn Capital of the Philippines for being the top corn producer among the 34 municipalities and 2 cities of the province as well as in the whole country.[106]
Forestland covers 54.37% or 579,819 hectares (1,432,760 acres) of Isabela's total land area of which 62% is protected forest and 38% is production forest. The best quality oftimber resources in the Philippines are found in Isabela's forests.[107][108] Isabela's vast forest resources are now being ecologically managed to effect sustainable forest-based resource not only for the wood working industry but to secure a balanced ecosystem. The woodwork industry continues to operate under a regulated system, particularly the making of furniture using indigenous materials.
Isabela has a fertile fishing ground on the Pacific Coast. TheMagat Dam reservoir is utilized for fish cage operations fortilapia production for domestic markets.[109][110] Another thriving industry in the province isaquaculture, sustained by inland fishing through 1,108 hectares of developed freshwater fishponds and 450 hectares of fish cage culture at Magat Dam Reservoir.[111][112] There are 238 marine fish species that were identified by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Isabela's coastal seaboard municipalities of Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, and Dinapigue.[113][114]
Large deposits ofcopper,gold,zinc andchromite,manganese andnickel have been found in Isabela. It also has extensive deposits of non-metallic minerals such aslimestone,clay,marbles,guano, sand and gravel, and boulders. Indigenous energy sources such asnatural gas and hydroelectric capabilities have been found to be abundant in the valley. Many of its mineral reserves have yet to be fully tapped.[115][116]
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Solar andbiomass power plants in the city ofCauayan and in the town ofAlicia have started operating in 2015 to supplement the region's high energy demand. The online solar power plant in Cauayan is capable of supplying at least 20 megawatts while the biomass power plant in Alicia can produce another 20megawatts. Both systems provide clean and renewable energy. The P2 billion power facility established by theIsabela Biomass Energy Corporation (IBEC) was built to augment power supply in the Cagayan Valley region.[117][118] The use of biomass as fuel makes the power plantcarbon neutral and sustainable. This biomass power facility is the first in the region and is designed to provide economical source of energy as well as job opportunities to residents of the host town/city.[119]
On 27 May 2015, the service contract of the largest solar PV power plant in the country has been approved by theDepartment of Energy (DOE). The P7-billion worth 100 MW Solar PV project in the city ofIlagan is designed to reduce the current shortage of electricity that causes regular blackouts that results to industry closures as well as inconvenience to the consumers. The solar power facility will be constructed at a 100-hectare land at Barangay Cabannungan, several kilometers away from the city proper.[120][121]
In December 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) has given the go signal to a Filipino-French joint venture to develop one of the biggest renewable energy projects in the Philippines - an P18-billion solar farm in Ilagan City. The project will be undertaken by San Ignacio Energy Resources Development Corporation, which is part of the Nextnorth Energy Group developing over 450 megawatts of solar and hydro projects in Northern Luzon, and French firm Total Eren S.A. The project will involve the development of a 440 MWp/336 MWac solar PV project to be built on around 400 hectares of available land located along the Northern Luzon high voltage transmission network of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). The project is scheduled to start construction in 2024 and start feeding electricity into the grid in 2025.[122]
Isabela is accessible by all means of transportation. Almost 180-kilometers of thePan-Philippine Highway pass through the different towns and cities of the province. Several bus companies offer daily trips to different routes like Manila, Dagupan, Baguio, Ilocos, and vice versa. Public utility vans and small-time bus operators ply daily trips from Tuguegarao in Cagayan to Santiago City vice versa, while jeepneys and tricycles are commonly used as the basic mode of transportation within the province's jurisdiction.
The construction of an 82-kilometer route across theSierra Madre National Park is intended to improve access to the province's three coastal communities - Divilacan, Maconacon, and Palanan. The project's authorized budget contract, worth P1.5 billion, will traverse the foothills of the Northern Sierra Madre mountain ranges, which cover 359,486 hectares. The idea is to rehabilitate an ancient logging route that was utilized until the 1990s by a defunct logging firm. It will begin in Barangay Sindon Bayabo in Ilagan City and end at Barangay Dicatian in Divilacan's seaside town. The project is scheduled to conclude in 2021.[123][124]
The secluded coastal settlements ofDivilacan,Palanan, andMaconacon are frequently accessible only by boat or plane, making these difficult to reach at times of emergencies and calamities. There are no reliable road networks connecting Isabela's capital city to the coastal districts, denying locals access to basic commodities and social services such as health care. Once completed, the route is projected to bolster coastal economies, citing Divilacan's 119-hectare beach and freshwater areas that have attracted tourists.
Resolution No. 11 of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) reclassifies areas of the Sierra Madre as a special-use zone. Additionally, the Agta and Dumagat communities in the vicinity have signed a memorandum of understanding with the provincial administration expressing their support for the road project. At least 1,800 Agta and Dumagat have made their homes in park areas. However, the road's impact on the protected forest has upset neighbors, who believe the project will harm the region's woods and ecosystems. The project has been delayed in recent years due to worries about the road's possible environmental impact. The Cagayan Valley Regional Development Council required that the road's proponents conduct a comprehensive analysis of the road's impact on the area's biodiversity.[125]
There are three airports in the province. TheCauayan Airport[126] is the primary airport in the province serving a trip toManila,Palanan, andMaconacon.[127] The other two are thePalanan Airport inPalanan and Maconacon Airport inMaconacon.[128][129] The country's leading passenger airlineCebu Pacific services the Cauayan-Manila-Cauayan Route. Light planes operated by Cyclone Airways and WCC Aviation's Sky Pasada Have flights from Cauayan Domestic Airport to the community airports in Palanan and Maconacon.[130] The province has two minor seaports, the Divilacan Port and Palanan Port in the coastal towns ofDivilacan andPalanan. The trade going to the ports comes primarily from major seaports inCagayan such as Port of Aparri inAparri, Cagayan, and Port of San Vicente and Port Irene, both inSanta Ana, Cagayan. The other two airstrips are found inDivilacan, and in Magat River Management Project Site.
Isabela is one of the primary centers of education in the Cagayan Valley Region. There are several public and private educational institutions, the most notable being theIsabela State University, a government-owned and controlled public university. Its main campus is located in Echague and satellite campuses in Cauayan, Ilagan City, Angadanan, Cabagan, Jones, Palanan (extension), Roxas, San Mariano, San Mateo and Santiago City (extension).
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Among the most notable higher educational institutions found in the province of Isabela are the following:
Since the early 2000s, tourism has become an income-generating industry for Isabela. New hotels and resorts have opened, mostly in the cities ofIlagan,Cauayan andSantiago, and the towns ofTumauini,Gamu,Roxas,Alicia,Burgos,Ramon,San Mariano andCordon. Top tourist attractions are the centuries-old churches;Magat Dam Tourism Complex, which houses Southeast Asia's biggest dam; Santa Victoria Caves, Pinzal Falls and Ilagan Sanctuary at Fuyot National Park; the white sand beaches in the coastal municipalities ofMaconacon,Divilacan,Palanan,Dinapigue and islands of coastal Isabela; the world's biggest wooden lounge chair orbutaka in Ilagan City; and various festivals and fiestas, including theBambanti Festival annually celebrated every February, and the commemoration of the birth of the province during Isabela Day every May.[131][132][133][134][135]
| Tourist attraction | Location |
|---|---|
| Abuan River | Ilagan City |
| Aguinaldo Shrine — Historic capture and heroism of GeneralEmilio Aguinaldo | Palanan |
| Ancient Burial Site (Archaeological Site) | Palanan |
| Antagan Caves | Tumauini |
| Balai na Ilagan | Ilagan City |
| Balay Segundo Museum | Ramon |
| Balay na Santiago | Santiago City |
| Bonifacio Park | Ilagan City |
| Bonsai No Sato Park | Cauayan City |
| Bonsai Park | Dinapigue |
| Borubor Falls | Roxas |
| Bountiful Flower Garden | Alicia |
| Burmurbur Falls | Ilagan City |
| Cabagan-Santa Maria Landmark Bridge | Santa Maria |
| Cabagan Square Park | Cabagan |
| Camp Samal Eco-Park and Training Center | Tumauini |
| Camp Vizcarra | Ramon |
| Crocodile Sanctuary | San Mariano |
| Department of Agriculture - Cagayan Valley Research Center Agro Eco-Tourism Farm | Ilagan City |
| Desert Island | Divilacan |
| Dibulo Falls | Dinapigue |
| Diminalno Lake | Palanan |
| Dicangrayan Falls | Palanan |
| Dicotcotan Beach | Palanan |
| Digoyo Cave | Palanan |
| Digoyo Point | Palanan |
| Dilaknadanum — is the homeAgta people, a minority group on the coast of Isabela. Features forests, beaches, rivers and small farmsteads uprivers. | Palanan |
| Dimanek Falls | Palanan—San Mariano boundary ridge |
| Dinapigue Sea Wall | Dinapigue |
| Disadsad Falls | Palanan |
| Hacienda De San Luis | Cauayan |
| Hagdan na Bato | Palanan |
| Hanging Bridge | Maconacon |
| Honeymoon Island | Divilacan |
| Ilagan Sanctuary | Ilagan City |
| Ilagan Japanese Tunnel | Ilagan City |
| Isabela Museum and Library | Ilagan City |
| Isabela Provincial Capitol Grounds | Ilagan City |
| "Isabela Thy Will Be Done" Marker | Cordon |
| Kagumatan Falls | Tumauini |
| Kuweba Danum | Tumauini |
| La Rizalina Orchard Garden and Farm | Reina Mercedes |
| La Salette Shrine — located in Balintocatoc Hills, contains life-sized statues of religious icons. | Santiago City |
| Maconacon Falls | Maconacon |
| Magat High Rise Dam —Asia's biggest dam project at the time of its construction. It serves the primary function of power generation and irrigation. Its reservoir area of 4,450 hectares has a great potential for water-based recreation like fishing, boating and water skiing, among others. | Ramon |
| Magoli Eco-Park and Natural Resort | Tumauini |
| Mammangi Park | Ilagan City |
| Meraki Garden | Reina Mercedes |
| Mororan | Tumauini |
| Museo de Pattaraday | Santiago City |
| Mushroom Center | Cauayan City |
| Obelisk | Jones |
| Pasa Dam | Ilagan City |
| Paseo De Paraiso Leisure Park | Burgos |
| Payong na Bato | Palanan |
| Pinzal Falls | Ilagan City |
| Punta Amelita Resort | Cordon |
| Queen Isabela II Monument and Park | Ilagan City(in front of the Isabela Provincial Capitol) |
| Rizal Park | Ilagan City |
| Sierra Madre Natural Forest Park | Isabela's eastern coast |
| Sinavulluan Caves | Tumauini |
| Spring Garden Resort | Santiago City |
| Santa Maria Triangular Park | Santa Maria |
| Santa Victoria Caves | Ilagan City |
| Sisangkilan Falls | Palanan |
| Sitio Binongbong | San Agustin |
| Torre de Hardin | Naguilian |
| Tumauini Watershed and Natural Park | Tumauini |
| Villa Diana Resort | Cordon |
| Water Impounding Dam | Roxas |
| Waterworld Grand Resort | Ramon |
| White Sand Beaches — Typical of coastal areas along theSierra Madre mountains of Cagayan Valley. | Dinapigue,Palanan, andDivilacan coastal towns |
| World's Largest Butaka — It is 11 feet 4 inches high, 20 feet 8 inches long, and 9 feet 7 inches wide. It weighs 2,368 kilos and was constructed by 25 workers in 29 days. | Ilagan City |
| Festival[159][160] | City/town | Notes[161] |
|---|---|---|
| Baka Festival | San Pablo | A survey revealing quite number of ranches in San Pablo led to the establishment of the Baka Festival. Held every 15 January, it aims to promote the local cattle industry. The festival also showcases cowboys of San Pablo displaying skills reminiscent of the American Wild West.[162] |
| Balatong Festival[163] | San Mateo | In San Mateo, mungo beans are packed with economic potential that it is referred to as "black gold".[164][165] In previous years, the annual town fiesta promoted duck-related products during thePato Festival. |
| Bambanti Festival[166] | Province of Isabela | Celebrated annually by the entire province to honor the province's bountiful harvest and its emerging agro-industrial prowess.[167] The festivity showcases thescarecrow dancing spectacles and agricultural booths. The municipalities and cities exhibit their respective culture, beliefs, traditions, origins and products.[168] Annually, the event can drew at least 250,000 crowds all over theCagayan Valley region, the biggest in the history of annual festivities in the region.[169] It has become Isabela's showcase of its rich cultural heritage and pristine natural beauty.Bambanti is aniluko word for "scarecrow".[170][171][172][173] |
| Binallay Festival | Ilagan City | Ilagueños have made thebinallay a symbol of the noble characteristics they aspire to have. These include beingmasipag (hardworking),matiyaga (patient),matalino (intelligent), andmakadiyos (God fearing). According to them, they are patient because the process of preparingbinallay[174] is tedious and involves steaming the rice cake twice, hardworking because it is difficult to prepare the rice cake (the glutinous grains are ground the traditional way, with a stone mill), intelligent because it requires a special technique to peel the wrapper off so that none of the cake is wasted and God fearing because it is a delicacy associated with the Holy Week.[175] They regard the white cake as a representation of the body of Christ and the laro as his blood. As part of their penitence duringHoly Week,Binallay is the only food that Ilagueños eat.[176] Every May, their signature product takes center stage twice, once during the festival itself and during the Isabela Day celebrations earlier in the month when it usually has a wider audience.[177] |
| Binnadangan Festival | Roxas | A yearly celebration of Pagay Festival (Palay Festival) held every July 4. The Festival was popularly known as theAraw ng Roxas Celebration but it was declared formally as Pagay Festival during the reign of Mayor Benedict Calderon. It is celebrated because of the rich agricultural bounty of Roxas, being one of the towns that produce large stocks of rice. The festival features a parade mostly of politicians and participating schools from different parts of Roxas,kuliglig contest and cooking of the biggest rice cake that was also featured in the national television[citation needed]. Major events include a Street Dance Competition from different schools andPalarong Bayan. Due to a conflict in the name of the festival, by which the town ofAlicia celebrates the same. It was changed toBinnadangan Festival by then Mayor Harry Soller. TheBinnadangan comes from an Ilocano word meaningbayanihan and was also derived from the former name of the town during the 1600s. The festival ends with a long Pyromusical. |
| Dikit Festival | Aurora | Known for being an agricultural municipality, Aurora annually celebrates its Dikit Festival every April 28 to 30.Dikit is anIlocano term for "glutinous rice". The festival is celebrated to showcase this delicacy and its by-products which arebibingka,muriecos,inangit,tupig,kalamay andtinudok, among others. Farmers in Aurora plant this glutinous rice served to guests during special occasions. |
| Gakit Festival | Angadanan | An annual festival held at theCagayan River. Participants of the festival offer fruits, vegetables, poultry, and livestock as thanksgiving for their abundant bounty. The practice also remindsAngadanians of their tradition of planting crops and raising poultry in their own backyards for their own consumption. The Gakit Festival also aims to show Angadanians that progress can only be achieved if they are united as one. A key detail of the festival is the hand-made bamboo rafts which are used by the participants. Each bamboo pole, if alone, has no value. It cannot float reliably on a river nor can it be used to transport anything. But if many bamboo poles are tied together as one, it can be made into a raft which can float and sail on calm or rough waters while transporting people and products.[178][179] |
| Gawagaway-yan Festival | Cauayan | The City Fiesta and theFeast of Our lady of the Pillar are celebrated annually on April 10–13 and October 10–12 respectively. Since its conversion into a component city on March 30, 2001, the City Government started to celebrate its founding anniversary with the conduct of "Gawagaway-yan Festival" aimed to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the city. It is highlighted by street dancing, beauty contest,trade fair, cultural parade, parlor games, free concert, band exhibition and other variety shows performed by local and Manila-based talents as well.[180][181][182] |
| Isabela Day | Province of Isabela | Anniversary of the establishment of the civil government of Isabela in honor ofQueen Isabella II of Spain. Activities like agro-industrial trade and tourism fairs, parades, sports events are conducted to entertain visitors. Also, one of the highlights of the celebration is theMiss Isabela, an extravagant colorful pageant featuring the candidates from each town/city of the province who exemplify Isabela's youth and vibrancy. A grand fusion of fashion, music and dance with particular focus on Isabela's tourism attractions and its leader.[183] |
| Kankanen Festival | Cabatuan | Celebrated in Cabatuan, showcasing native delicacies made of glutinous rice. Mayor Alma Dayrit and the Rural Improvement Club started this annual tradition in 2003 and done on the Foundation Day rites of every year.[184] |
| Mammangui Festival | Ilagan City | Celebrated byIlagueño farmers as a thanksgiving activity for a bountiful harvest,Mammangui is anYbanag word which means to harvest corn, the primary crop in the city.[185] Since the assumption in office of Mayor Josemarie L. Diaz, Mammangui Festival was proclaimed as the official festivity of the city. During the celebration, different activities such as parlor games, cultural and trade fairs, colorful street dance, cook fest, sports events, cheerdance competitions, float parade and many others are conducted by the city government to showcase the past to present day transition of Ilagan's rich tradition and cultural heritage. Highlights of the celebration are the annual beauty pageants namelyLittle Miss Mammangui,Miss Gay Mammangui and theMiss Mammangui, which is one of the most prestigious of its kind in the valley[186] and a free concert featuring local celebrities. It is annually celebrated every May 29–31.[187] |
| Mangi Festival | Tumauini | Corn (Zea mays) was one of the plants that came aboard the Spanish galleons to become one of the primary crops of the Philippines. The lateNational Artist for Dance, Ramon Obusan traced the origins of a traditional dance inspired by the crop to Tumauini. Thus, a corn-inspired festival seemed especially appropriate for Tumauini.[188][189] |
| Nateng Festival | Mallig | |
| Cariada Festival | San Manuel | |
| Nuang Festival | San Agustin | Thecarabao (Bubalus Bubalis Carabanesis), which remains a farmer's indispensable helpmate in the fields, is honoured in the Nuang Festival of San Agustin as are the products the carabao enables farmers to produce. The town boasts of over 300 heads and farmers bring them over to thepoblacion (town center) for the festival. To get the cattle there, they either guide the animals onto the ferry and keep them quiet for the short river crossing or find the shallowest point of the river, take off their clothes then lead them across. San Agustin supplies carabao milk to other towns where carabao milk candy is produced. The festival also serves as a venue for promoting other major products such asmaize (Zea mays) andbananas (Musa paradisiaca L.).[190][191][192] |
| Pagay Festival | Alicia | Held annually every September 28 in conjunction with the founding anniversary of the town of Alicia. It used to be calledAlicia Town Festival, but was redefined and renamed toPagay Festival in 2010 by Mayor Cecilia Claire N. Reyes. The festival aims to uphold the town's cultural identity and heritage and to promote the municipality's primary agricultural product called,pagay (Ilocano word forrice) - the municipality's major livelihood economy and trade mark. The festival is widely participated by the community which features various competitions (e.g., rice planting, harvesting, and cooking among others), street dance showdown, beauty pageant (Mutya ng Alicia), battle of the bands, and exhibits. However, the Pagay Parade is the main highlight of the festival that features decorated carabaos, various rice crop floats, and people marching with colorful costumes. |
| Pansi Festival | Cabagan | Pansi Festival is the official festivity of Cabagan.Pansi is anYbanag word forpansit, a noodle dish topped with choppedkarajay orlechon kawali inTagalog. The town became noted for its well-known local product, the "Pansit Cabagan".[193][194][195][196] |
| Pattaraday Festival | Santiago City | Frompattaraday, anYbanag word for "unity", the festival is celebrated in the city of Santiago to honor its founding anniversary, and the unity of theethnolinguistic groups that have merged in the city to make it the melting pot of culture ofRegion II and contributed to the city's progress and development-unity in action. Highlighted with the presentation of the Comedia – a moro-moro dance made famous by the Spaniards to stress the power of Christian Religion over the Moorish non-believers; other activities include beauty pageant, grand batalla presentations and a grand street dancing parade and exhibition with performers from other cities, provinces and regions.[197][198] |
| Pinilisa Festival | Jones | |
| Sabutan Festival | Palanan | Held every March in Palanan, the festival is named after the local name forpandan (Pandanus tectorius) which is plentiful in the town. The people of Palanan are fine craftsmen who weave dyed and natural colored strips into a variety of bags, hats, and placemats, among other items that have both traditional and contemporary designs. For the festival, thesabutan products are not only sold, these are also used as a theme and are fashioned into costumes and décor. |
| Sinag-Banga Festival | San Isidro | |
| Balamban Dance Festival | Santiago City | On the year 2014, a new festival was conceptualized by the city government to celebrate Santiago's cityhood anniversary. Balamban which means butterfly is a cultural dance of lowland Christians that originated in Santiago City. The dance depicts the graceful movement and fluttering of butterflies that throng Dariuk Hills' scented gardens. It is usually danced during wedding celebrations in Santiago. |
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