Cagayan Valley

Cagayan Valley(Ilocano:Tanap ti Cagayan;Filipino:Lambak ng Cagayan), designated asRegion II, is anadministrative regionin thePhilippines. Located in the northeastern section ofLuzon,it is composed of fivePhilippine provinces:Batanes,Cagayan,Isabela,Nueva Vizcaya, andQuirino. The region hosts four chartered cities:Cauayan,Ilagan,Santiago, andTuguegarao(the regional center and largest city).
Most of its land area lies in the valley between theCordillerasand theSierra Madremountain ranges. The eponymousCagayan River, the country's largest and longest, runs through the region, flows from theCaraballo Mountains, and ends inAparri. Cagayan Valley is the second-largest Philippine administrative region by land area.According to a literacy survey in 2019, 93% of Cagayan Valley's citizens (ages 10 to 64) arefunctionally literate, which is 5th out of the 17regions of the Philippines.
During the Spanish era, Cagayan Valley had a larger territory than today, then namedProvincia de Cagayan.Then it included the territories of the above-mentioned provinces and the eastern parts of theCordilleraprovinces ofApayao,Kalinga,Mountain Province,IfugaoandBenguet, and the north part ofAurora. Historian and missionary Jose Burgues said, "The old Cagayan Valley comprises the province of Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya as well as the military Districts of Apayao, Itaves, Quiangan, Cayapa and Bintangan, plus the area of the Sierra Madre to the Pacific Ocean in the said trajectory."The exception isPalanan, which was established in 1625 by Spanish forces who arrived by ship from the Pacific coastal town ofBalerin Tayabas province (now part of Aurora). Thus, Palanan was originally a part ofPampanga,then toLaguna, Tayabas (nowQuezon Province; Tayabas became independent from Laguna), andNueva Ecija, before being transferred to Nueva Vizcaya and finally Isabela. 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 areTagalogsand outlaws from Cagayan Valley, with the lingua franca of the settlement being Tagalog as opposed to Ilocano or Ibanag.TheAttaorNegritos, the first people in valley, were later moved to the uplands or variably assimilated by the Austronesians, from whom theIbanags,Itawes, Yogads,Gaddangs, Irayas,Malawegs, andParanansdescended - 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. The Spaniards rightly judged that these various villagers came from a single racial stock and decided to make the Ibanag language thelingua franca, both civilly and ecclesiastically for the entire people of Cagayan which they called collectively as theCagayaneswhich later was transliterated to becomeCagayanos. Various other peoples, mainly theIlocanos,Pangasinenses,KapampangansandTagalogs, 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 modernCagayanothat we know today.
In 1818,Nueva Ecijaannexed the towns of Palanan from Isabela, as well as Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Baler, Casiguran,Infanta(formerly called Binangonan de Lampon) andPolillo IslandsfromTayabas, and part of Rizal.In the nineteenth and 20th centuries, the prosperity found in tobacco cultivation caused manyIlokano peopleto settle here, it was only in this large-scale Ilocano settlement that made Ilocano language replace Ibanag as thelingua francaof the region. Ilocano settlers already migrated to Nueva Vizcaya (including present-day Quirino) earlier in 1700s also to work on the tobacco plantations, and later immigrants with skills construct churches and other structures needed for development, as the native Igorot tribes rejected labor imposed by the Spaniards. Tobacco is still a major factor in the economy of Cagayan, though a special economic zone and free port has been created to strengthen and diversify the provincial economy.
DuringWorld War II, atBalete Passin Nueva Vizcaya, the retreatingJapanese Imperial Armyunder GeneralTomoyuki Yamashitadug in and held on for three months against the American and Filipino forces who eventually drove them out; the pass is now called Dalton Pass in honor of General Dalton, USA, who was killed in the fighting.
Loan-funded government spending to promoteFerdinand Marcos' 1969 reelection campaigncausedthe Philippine economy to take a sudden downwards turn in the form of the1969 Philippine balance of payments crisis,which in turn led to social unrest throughout the country.Cagayan Valley became one of the flashpoints of conflict, with many previously-moderate young people joining the armed resistance against Marcos after being radicalized by various crackdowns.
With only a year left in his last constitutionally allowed term as president, Ferdinand Marcos placed the Philippines underMartial Lawin September 1972 and thus retained the position for fourteen more years.This period in Philippine history is remembered for the Marcos administration's record ofhuman rights abuses,particularly targeting political opponents, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against the Marcos dictatorship.
In Isabela, protests erupted whenMarcos cronyDanding Cojuangcomanaged 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, displacing tens of thousands of farmers who were supposed to get those lands back a hundred years after the Spanish accosted them.TheRoman Catholic Diocese of Ilaganled efforts to support the farmers in their cause, succeeding in forcing the Marcos administration to finally concede land titles to 4,000 farmers, but earning the ire of the dicatatorship against leading church figures such as Ilagan BishopMiguel Purugganan, Diocesan Social Action Center researcher Sabino "Abe" Padilla, and the various nuns and lay workers of the Diocese.
Also during that time, logging concessions were awarded toJuan Ponce Enrile,Herminio Disini, and other cronies, leading to the severe degradation of forest cover in the region, which contributed to widespread flooding and other environmental issues that persist today.
Kalinga-Apayao and Ifugao were transferred to the Cagayan Valley region in 1972, and afterwards Ferdinand Marcos imposed a migration policy for Ilokanos into those provinces; the natives of Apayao calledIsnagbecome minority there.
After thePeople Power Revolutionin 1986, many of the activists who had joined the underground movement against Marcos decided to "surface," as the new administration ofCorazon Aquinoreleased political prisoners and initiated peace talks.However, anti-left sentiment in her new cabinet, which included individuals who had aligned themselves with theReform the Armed Forces Movement, made the peace process difficult. Negotiations eventually collapsed, and unrest in Cagayan valley persisted.
When theCordillera Administrative Regionwas formed in 1987 underCorazon Aquino, the indigenous provinces of Ifugao andKalinga-Apayao(laterdividedinto the provinces ofKalingaandApayao) were transferred into the newly formed region.
During the worldwideCOVID-19 pandemic, thesevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) virus reached Cagayan Valley on March 21, 2020, when the first case of the disease was confirmed inTuguegarao.All provinces have confirmed at least one COVID-19 case, withBatanesbeing the last province to confirm a COVID-19 case on September 28, 2020.
In November 2020,Typhoon Vamco(known in the Philippines asTyphoon Ulysses) crossed the island ofLuzon,causing dam operators from all around the island to release large amounts of water into their impounds as they neared their spilling points. All seven ofMagat Dam's gates were opened to preventdam failure, but the overflow into theCagayan Riverand caused widespread floods inCagayanandIsabela.This event was worsened by the information gap had developed b as a result of the recentshutdown of the ABS-CBN broadcast network, because those areas had previously gotten weather updates primarily from the network.
Cagayan Valley is the large mass of land in the northeastern region ofLuzon, comprising the provinces ofCagayan,Isabela,Nueva Vizcaya,Quirino, and theBatanesgroup of islands. It is bordered to the west by theCordilleramountain range, to the east by theSierra Madre, to the south by theCaraballo Mountains, and to the north by theLuzon Strait.
The region contains two landlocked provinces, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya, which are ruggedly mountainous and heavily forested. Nueva Vizcaya is the remnant of the southern province created when Cagayan Province was divided in two in 1839. They are ethnically and linguistically diverse, with a substrate ofAgtas,Negritoswho are food-gatherers withno fixed abodes, overlaid byIlongotsand others in a number of tribes, some of whom were fierce head-hunters (they have given up the practice), with the latest but largest element of the population being theIlocanos, closely followed by theIbanags.
Cagayan Valley comprises fiveprovinces, one independentcity, three componentcities, 89municipalities, and 2,311 barangays.
Ilocanois the main lingua franca (orally) of the region. Other languages includeIbanagandIvatan, the main language ofBatanes. The use ofTagalogandEnglishalso serve as the region's language in education, governance, tourism, popular culture, and commerce inside and outside the region.
The province ofIsabelaand the city ofSantiagoare notably the most progressive province and richest city in the region, respectively.Isabela was the 9th richest province in thePhilippinesin 2021, being the only province from the region to be included in the list.
The city ofTuguegaraois the center of excellence in education, commerce, trade and culture and as the economic center of the region, the city continuously aims for outstanding performance and competence in administration, citizen participation, community and economic development, cultural arts, education, fiscal management, infrastructure, intergovernmental cooperation, planning, public safety, recreation and leisure services, social services, and technology. Its economy gradually shifted from agriculture to secondary/tertiary economic activities such as trading, commerce and services. The shift was ushered by city's role as theRegional Government CenterandCenter of Commerce in Northern Luzon.
Tuguegarao Citywas included to be one of the digital cities for 2025 to sustain the rapid growth of the Information Technology and Business Process Management and to promote development in the city. The program (Digital Cities 2025) was created through a partnership between the DICT, the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), and Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC).
Cauayanis a component city in the province of Isabela. It is dubbed as theIdeal City of the Northand the host city for the proposedIsabela Special Economic Zoneand theRegional Agro-Industrial Growth Center.It is the home of Cosmos Bottling Corporation, now acquired by the giant multinational business conglomerate San Miguel Corporation manufactures soft drinks in the area and the Mega Asia Bottling Corporation with its newly built plant for RC Cola brand. It is also here where the regional sales offices of several multi-national companies are located. As a young city, it has enormous potential for small to large enterprises and its real estate industry is just beginning. Medium size commercial centers or subdivisions are the appropriate ventures to put up.
Ilaganis a component city and the capital of the province of Isabela. The city is theCorn Capital of the Philippinesand has been considered as thePrimary Growth Center of Region 2.Most of the industries in the city are agri-based. Over the past decades, there has been a great number of local investments in poultry and hog raising. There are several poultry contract growers and small and medium scale hog raisers in the city. Other support facilities, warehouses and small and big rice mills, strategically located in the different barangays of the city to address the storage needs of farmers during the harvest season. Of all cities in the country, Ilagan ranks as the top producer of corn.As an agriculture-based city, it produces ample supply of corn, rice, vegetables and legumes. Fruits like the banana are year-round products especially in the mountainous areas of the city. Ilagan also produces seasonal fruits such as mangoes and pomelo. Commerce and trade is considered to be the city's second economic-based income. It is also the hub of theCoca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, Inc., one of the industrial complexes in the region.
Solanois a first class municipality and the main commercial and financial center of the province of Nueva Vizcaya. It also has the most fast food restaurants chains and the most banks among the municipalities in the entire region. According to the 2016 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index conducted by the National Competitiveness Council, Solano took the 25th spot overall and ranked 30th among the first class and second class municipalities in the Philippines. This further solidified the status of Solano as the undisputed premier town of Cagayan Valley being the premier town in Nueva Vizcaya and the fastest-growing municipality in the region.
Cagayan has several attractions which include beaches, swimming, snorkeling, skin-diving, fishing in the river and the sea, hiking in primeval forest, mountain-climbing, archaeological sites, the collection of the provincial museum, the Callao Caves, and many churches.
TheCagayan Economic Zone Authority(CEZA)is situated inSanta Ana, Cagayan.
Quirinois the youngest province in the region. With its agricultural based nature, the vast vegetative agricultural covers reveal the major source of living of the people. Farming has been the main industry in the province, with rice and corn as major crops as with other provinces in the region. Virgin forest and wealthy bodies of water have been great contributors in its development. Small scale industries like furniture making, basketry, rattan craft, and dried/fossilized flower production, where the province was famously known, are prevalent. Banana products also sold in and out the province and also for export purposes. The small scale business and associations also make their own products like banana chips, peanuts, patupats and others. The province also produces a substantial amount of fruits/crops like mango, citrus, pineapple, coffee, coconut, papaya,lanzones,rambutanand vegetables.
The province ofNueva Vizcayahas basically an agricultural economy with commerce, trade, and industry contributing to its growth and development. Among other major economic activities are farming and cattle and swine raising. Primary crops arepalayand corn. The province produces quality onions and vegetables often sold in Metro Manila. Oranges and mangoes are now major crops being exported fresh to other Asian countries; earning its title as theCitrus Capital of the Philippines.
Batanesis the northernmost and smallest province in the region as well as in the whole Philippines. It is the only province located outside the mainland Cagayan Valley. Due to its geographical location, fishing is considered as a major industry and source of livelihood for the people. Garlic and cattle are major export crops. Ivatans also plantcamote(sweet potato), cassava, gabi or tuber and a unique variety of whiteuvi. Sugarcane is raised to producepalek, a kind of native wine, and vinegar. Tourism also contributes to the province's thriving economy.
Cagayan Valley being the country's second largest region in terms of land area. As of 2022, Cagayan Valley region remains to be the top producer of corn in the whole country and second in rice production.Isabela is now dubbed as the top producer of Corn in the Philippines and the Rice Granary of the North.
In 2014, retail giants likeRobinsons LandandSM Primeopened its pioneer malls in the region, theRobinsons Place SantiagoandSM City CauayaninSantiago CityandCauayanrespectively.The two retail companies further strengthened their presence in the region with the opening ofSM Center Tuguegarao Downtownin 2017 andRobinsons Place Tuguegaraoin 2018, both are located in the region's capital,Tuguegarao City. In 2022,SM PrimeopenedSM City Tuguegarao, its third in the region and second in Tuguegarao City.
In 2018,Vista Land and Life Scapes, Inc. announced the establishment of its first high-end mall in the region that is Vista Mall Santiago inSantiago City, and they are also putting up Vista Mall inTuguegarao Cityit will be second on the region after Vista Mall Santiago.
On January 11, 2008, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) stated thattilapia(speciesofcichlidfishesfrom thetilapiine cichlidtribe) production grew and Cagayan Valley is now thePhilippines'tilapiacapital (Saint Peter's fish).Production supply grew 37.25% since 2003, with 14,000 metric tons (MT) in 2007. The recent aquaculture congress found that the growth of tilapia production was due to government interventions: provision of fast-growing species, accreditation of private hatcheries to ensure supply of quality fingerlings, establishment of demonstration farms, providing free fingerlings to newly constructed fishponds, and the dissemination of tilapia toNueva Vizcaya(inDiaditown). Cagayan Valley is one of the largest tilapia producing regions in the country,with Isabela as the leading producer.The development of the tilapia farming industry in the province came about with the water supply provided by the Magat Reservoir for irrigating rice fields. The high demand for food fish in the region was also a contributing factor. Based on the data from the Bureau Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in 2020, there are about 1,000 hectares of freshwater ponds in Isabela, producing around 16,000 metric tons of tilapia a year.
Cagayan's coastline is one of the longest in the country having almost 73% of Cagayan Valley Region's coastal seaboards. This is aside from the large rivers and their tributaries, lakes, creeks and streams which are also rich fishing and aquaculture grounds. Untapped coastal fishing grounds stretch from the towns ofSanta Praxedesin the west toSanta Anaon the east, on its northern coast facing theBabuyan Channel;and from Santa Ana down toPeñablancaon its eastern coast facing thePhilippine Sea.Despite this endowment, the province's fish production is not even enough to supply and sustain its own fish requirements. Deep sea fishing is not a common occurrence in the province – thus, foreign poachers are the ones reaping the bounties of its seas. Cagayan's deep seas are known for species like tuna, tuna-like fishes, hairtail, snapper, scad, slipmouth, mullet, grouper, shrimp, squid, and lobsters. The inland waters are used primarily by subsistence fishermen. Few privately-operated fishponds and fish cages contribute to the overall fish supply of the Province.
The coastal waters of Isabela are big sources of marine life that could supply the fish requirements of the region, according to a study commissioned by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). The study stated that Isabela waters are rich in untapped fisheries and marine resources and also has extensive sea grass beds and coral reefs that are home to variety of fish species which include sardines and mackerel and have sizable chunks of oceanic tunas, which thrive throughout the year. The fishing ground has 238 marine fish species. High species diversity could be an indication that the habitat is still good and undisturbed.
The fishing industry in Cagayan Valley has been in perturbed condition owing to the declining pattern of production for the past years.Since 2015, average annual reduction in fisheries production in the region was estimated at three thousand metric tons or more than five percent decrease per year. In 2020, the latest estimated production at 45,382 metric tons is 4.6 percent lower than the 2018 total fish production of 47,572 metric tons and almost one third lower than the highest production realized in 2011 at 64,876 metric tons.
By fishing grounds classification in the region, there is an inland municipal fisheries production and marine municipal fisheries production, the latter, particularly in provinces with coastal areas in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Batanes. According to thePhilippine Statistics Authority(PSA), inland municipal production for 2021 has gone up close to 2,000 metric tons, while marine municipal production reached close to 3,300 metric tons, both as an initial production in the first quarter of 2020.
According to the Bureau Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), since 2010 to 2015, the fish sufficiency level in Cagayan Valley is on downtrend level because of the various threats to the industry. Several problems have affected the sector in the recent years including the weather disturbances, use of illegal fishing gears and methods and the increasing demand of a fast-growing population. The provinces of Batanes and Cagayan have passed the 100 percent sufficiency level at 138 percent while Cagayan recorded 96 percent. However, the performances of Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya at 17 percent, 11 percent and 10 percent, respectively, have affected the total performance of the region. Data obtained from the Bureau Fisheries and Aquatic Resources showed that from 2006 to 2015, the sufficiency level has dropped significantly in 2010 until it reached its lowest level at 44 percent in the last five years.However, the overall fisheries production in the region grew by one percent in 3rd Quarter of 2020. From the total output of 11,954 metric tons in 2019, it accelerated to 12,075 metric tons in 2020.
Cagayan Valley is positioned to become the country'sCitrus Capitalthrough a program undertaken by theNueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU)with funding from thePhilippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST-PCAARRD).The country's domestic supply of citrus is currently insufficient to meet local demand, according to DoST-PCAARRD, due to "high incidence of pest and diseases, poor orchard management, and low adoption of improved management practices, among many other factors." The NVSU's citrus research and development program includes yield improvement, setting up agene bank, and value chain analysis. It targets a 233% increase in yield — from 4.5 tons per hectare ha (t/ha) to 15 t/ha — and a 60% reduction in post-harvest losses from 25% to 10% by 2019. The targets are part of theCitrus Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP)of DoST-PCAARRD. By the end of 2017, the program team is expected to produce value chain maps forcalamansi,orange, andpomeloin the region; characterize fifteen species for the database system of the gene bank study; improve NVSU andMunicipal Agriculture Office (MAGRO)citrus nurseries producing 10,000 and 2,000 budded seedlings, respectively; establish new 1-hectare orchard with planting materials from NVSU; and generate data on the description of local citrus pests and diseases.