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Palayan | |
|---|---|
| City of Palayan | |
     (From top, left to right): Provincial Capitol of Nueva Ecija, City Center Welcome Sign, Road in Brgy. Imelda Valley, Palayan City Business Park | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Motto: Kilos Palayano, Aasenso Tayo (Move for Progress, Palayanese) | |
 Map of Nueva Ecija with Palayan highlighted | |
 Interactive map of Palayan | |
.svg)  Palayan Location within thePhilippines | |
| Coordinates:15°32′32″N121°05′04″E / 15.5422°N 121.0844°E /15.5422; 121.0844 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Central Luzon |
| Province | Nueva Ecija |
| District | 3rd district |
| Foundation and cityhood | June 19, 1965 |
| Barangays | 19 (seeBarangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Panlungsod |
| • Mayor | Viandrei Nicole Joson Cuevas |
| • Vice Mayor | Romaric S. Capinpin (NPC) |
| • Representative | Julius Cesar V. Vegara (PFP) |
| • City Council | Members
|
| • Electorate | 34,738 voters (2025) |
| Area | |
• Total | 101.40 km2 (39.15 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 173 m (568 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 1,413 m (4,636 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 22 m (72 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[3] | |
• Total | 47,883 |
| • Density | 472.22/km2 (1,223.0/sq mi) |
| • Households | 11,193 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 5th city income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 12.64 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 677.3 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 1,612 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 478.9 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 227.2 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Nueva Ecija 2 Area 2 Electric Cooperative (NEECO 2 A2) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 3132 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)44 |
| Native languages | Tagalog Ilocano |
| Website | www |
Palayan, officially theCity of Palayan (Tagalog:Lungsod ng Palayan,Ilocano:Siudad ti Palayan), is acomponent city and capital of theprovince ofNueva Ecija,Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 47,883 people, making it the least populated city in the Philippines.[5]
Palayan was created on June 19, 1965, by theCongress of the Philippines and is one of sevenplanned cities in the Philippines (the other six beingManila,Baguio,Quezon City,Trece Martires,Koronadal and theIsland Garden City of Samal).[6]
The new provincial capitol, convention center, and sports center of Nueva Ecija are located in the city.
Palayan City is 14 kilometers (8.7 mi) fromCabanatuan, 130 kilometers (81 mi) fromManila, and 102 kilometers (63 mi) fromBaler.
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On March 25, 1952, a special consultation meeting was conducted by Governor Leopoldo Diaz along with Congressman Jesus Ilagan, Board Members Dioscoro de Leon and Antonio Corpuz, Don Felipe Buencamino, and the municipal mayors of Nueva Ecija to discuss the transfer the provincial capital fromCabanatuan. As a result, the group unanimously agreed to establish the new capital on the site of the Government Stock Farm located within the municipalities ofLaur andBongabon. The municipalities ofGapan,San Jose,Santa Rosa,Guimba,Talavera,General Tinio, Baloc (Santo Domingo), andMuñoz were also considered as potential sites for the new capital.
In 1955, PresidentRamon Magsaysay declared a portion of the Government Stock Farm open for settlement pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 237.[7]
On June 19, 1965, the Congress of the Philippines enacted Republic Act No. 4475 creating Palayan City and designating it as the new capital of Nueva Ecija.[8] "Palayan" (rice paddy) was chosen as the name of the new provincial capital to reflect the moniker bestowed upon the province of Nueva Ecija as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines”. The city government was constituted on December 5, 1965, with then Governor Eduardo L. Joson acting as the city's ex-officio Mayor, while the Provincial Board constituted the first City Council. Under this administration, theIglesia ni Cristo (INC) purchased a large tract of land at the city's parameters nearLaur to house INC members fromHacienda Luisita due to conflicts arising from union disbandments.
In 1969, Mayor Elpidio Cucio and Vice Mayor Felipe Bautista, initially appointed to their respective offices, were among the first elected local officials of the city, along with Councilors Flor Agustin, Tranquilino dela Cruz, Antonio Pascual, Federico Dacanay, Luis Lacalle, and Thomas Lumawig. The city also hosted the National Boy Scout Jamboree which was attended by thousands of local and foreign scouts at the time.
In August 1969, the city was enlarged by virtue of Republic Act No. 6052, authored by then Congressman Angel Concepcion (Nueva Ecija 2nd), which provided for the inclusion of the Military Reservation in Laur and theFort Magsaysay cantonment area located inSanta Rosa.[9]
In 1972, by virtue of Proclamation No. 893, a portion of the Government Stock Farm was allocated for the displaced population ofPantabangan following the construction of thePantabangan Dam. The resettlement site was eventually converted into Barangay Marcos Village.
In 1983, the training ground of thePhilippine Army was transferred fromFort Bonifacio inMetro Manila toFort Ramon Magsaysay. This paved the way for the development of the reservation area into a training complex to serve the army's training requirements.
In 1993, the Asianwide Green Scouts Movement was founded during the first Philippines-Japan Bilateral Ecology Work Camp held in the city. The event also led to the establishment of the projects Kawayang Buhay and the Asian Ecology Forest which is supported by the Asian Friendship Society.
In 1995, Barangay Popolon, formerly a barangay of Bongabon, was annexed into the city by virtue of Republic Act No. 8030. This was ratified in a plebiscite held on October 1, 1995.[10] Moreover, Bagong Buhay, one of the three resettlement areas in the city, was converted to a regular barangay after a plebiscite on November 26, 1995.
The new provincial capitol building of Nueva Ecija was completed in 2002, solidifying the city's status as both thedefacto andde jure capital of the province. The old provincial capitol is located on Burgos Avenue, Cabanatuan, and is still utilized by the provincial government.
Palayan City is politically subdivided into 20barangays. Each barangay consists ofpuroks and some havesitios.
| Climate data for Palayan City, Nueva Ecija | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 33 (91) | 33 (91) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 30 (87) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19 (66) | 19 (66) | 20 (68) | 22 (72) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 21 (70) | 20 (68) | 22 (71) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 36 (1.4) | 34 (1.3) | 36 (1.4) | 41 (1.6) | 202 (8.0) | 282 (11.1) | 418 (16.5) | 393 (15.5) | 340 (13.4) | 237 (9.3) | 99 (3.9) | 90 (3.5) | 2,208 (86.9) |
| Average rainy days | 2.5 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 6.3 | 15.8 | 19.4 | 22.5 | 21.6 | 20.1 | 17.5 | 9.6 | 4.0 | 146.4 |
| Source: Meteoblue[11] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8,382 | — |
| 1975 | 12,140 | +7.71% |
| 1980 | 14,959 | +4.26% |
| 1990 | 20,393 | +3.15% |
| 1995 | 26,851 | +5.29% |
| 2000 | 31,253 | +3.31% |
| 2007 | 32,790 | +0.66% |
| 2010 | 37,219 | +4.72% |
| 2015 | 41,041 | +1.88% |
| 2020 | 45,383 | +2.14% |
| 2024 | 47,883 | +1.30% |
| Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16] | ||
Poverty incidence of Palayan
Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]
| Position | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Viandrei Nicole J. Cuevas | NPC | |
| Vice Mayor | Romaric S. Capinpin | NPC | |
| Councilors | Alvin A. Magtalas | NPC | |
| Julius M. Sta. Maria | NPC | ||
| Ken Anthony S. Malang | NPC | ||
| Pacifico Rico C. Fajardo | NPC | ||
| Julius E. De Leon | NPC | ||
| Julius D. Bautista | NPC | ||
| Victorino L. Rullan | NPC | ||
| Roda G. Anga-Angan | NPC | ||
| Edgar V. Valdez | Independent | ||
| Anita R. Pineda | NPC | ||
| Ex Officio Municipal Council Members | |||
| ABC President | TBD | Nonpartisan | |
| SK Federation President | TBD | Nonpartisan | |
| Preceded by | Capital ofNueva Ecija 1965–present | Incumbent |
Places adjacent to Palayan | |
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