# Alcala, Cagayan

Alcala, officially the Municipality of Alcala, is a municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 41,295 people.
Alcala is the birthplace of Senator Melecio Arranz of 1st Senatorial District of the Philippines. It is also the home of the Saint Philomene Church, regarded as the widest church in the Cagayan Valley.
Alcala is 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Tuguegarao and 516 kilometres (321 mi) from Manila.

## History

The indigenous tribes of the Ibanag people were the first settlers of modern-day Alcala. They called the area Fulay, literally meaning red, in its reference to the distinct red color of its soil. After two centuries of Spanish rule, Fulay was formally proclaimed as a township on 20 July 1789. However, it was not until 1843 when it was renamed Alcala, in honor of Governor General Francisco Paula de Alcala.

## Geography
### Barangays

Alcala is politically subdivided into 25 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
* Abbeg
* Afusing Bato
* Afusing Daga
* Agani
* Baculod
* Baybayog
* Cabuluan
* Calantac
* Carallangan
* Centro Norte (Poblacion)
* Centro Sur (Poblacion)
* Dalaoig
* Damurog
* Jurisdiction
* Malalatan
* Maraburab
* Masin
* Pagbangkeruan
* Pared
* Piggatan
* Pinopoc
* Pussian
* San Esteban
* Tamban
* Tupang

### Climate

Climate data for Alcala, Cagayan :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 28 (82) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 28 (82) | 26 (79) | 24 (75) | 28 (82) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 21 (70) | 22 (72) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 21 (70) | 23 (72) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 150 (5.9) | 106 (4.2) | 84 (3.3) | 48 (1.9) | 103 (4.1) | 115 (4.5) | 134 (5.3) | 156 (6.1) | 136 (5.4) | 240 (9.4) | 246 (9.7) | 300 (11.8) | 1,818 (71.6) |
| Average rainy days | 19 | 14.3 | 12.8 | 10.8 | 17.7 | 18.9 | 21.5 | 23.3 | 22.1 | 20.4 | 20.3 | 22.2 | 223.3 |
| Source: Meteoblue ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1903 | 7,308 | — |
| 1918 | 9,808 | +1.98% |
| 1939 | 12,480 | +1.15% |
| 1948 | 13,214 | +0.64% |
| 1960 | 17,723 | +2.48% |
| 1970 | 21,328 | +1.87% |
| 1975 | 22,568 | +1.14% |
| 1980 | 24,505 | +1.66% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1990 | 29,161 | +1.76% |
| 1995 | 32,035 | +1.78% |
| 2000 | 33,997 | +1.28% |
| 2007 | 35,694 | +0.67% |
| 2010 | 37,773 | +2.08% |
| 2015 | 38,883 | +0.55% |
| 2020 | 41,295 | +1.19% |
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority :
In the 2020 census, the population of Alcala, Cagayan, was 41,295 people, with a density of 220 inhabitants per square kilometre or 570 inhabitants per square mile.

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Alcala
* 10
* 20
* 30
* 40
* 50
* 2000 45.27
* 2003 28.97
* 2006 22.30
* 2009 21.81
* 2012 18.88
* 2015 13.58
* 2018 14.66
* 2021 12.61
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
Alcala Milk Candy is a famous product of this municipality.

## Government
### Local government

Alcala is part of the first legislative district of the province of Cagayan. It is governed by a mayor, designated as its local chief executive, and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

### Elected officials

Members of the Municipal Council (2019–2022) :
| Position | Name |
| Congressman | Ramon C. Nolasco Jr. |
| Mayor | Cristina I. Antonio |
| Vice-Mayor | Joy C. Duruin |
| Councilors | Daniel A. Sumabat III |
| Councilors | Josefina P. Te |
| Councilors | Edna D. Ventula |
| Councilors | Soledad M. Espejo |
| Councilors | Eliseo C. Vergara Jr. |
| Councilors | Roberto C. Viloria |
| Councilors | Napoleon J. Castillo Jr. |
| Councilors | Conrado A. Vergara Jr. |

## Education

The Schools Division of Cagayan governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region. The office governs the public and private elementary and public and private high schools throughout the municipality.

## Notable personalities

* Alvaro Antonio, a former governor of Cagayan and former mayor, He is a former pro-bono lawyer at the Citizen's Legal Action Office (now known as the Public Assistance Office, or PAO).