Cagayan is the 4th largest province in land area and is located at the northeastern tip of Luzon Island. Its territories include the islands of Palaui, Camiguin, Fuga, Barit, Dalupiri, Calayan, and Babuyan. It is bounded on the north by Batanes across the Luzon Strait, on the east by the Philippine Sea, on the south by Isabela, and on the west by Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and Kalinga. The eastern side is dominated by the Sierra Madre mountain range while the western part is a vast valley drained by the mighty Cagayan River which flows out to the Babuyan Channel in the north.

Climate varies from east to west. Rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. The main valley does not not have a very pronounced seasons but November to April is relatively dry and the rest of the year is relatively wet. The northwestern areas including the islands have no dry seasons with maximum rainfall from November to January.

Cagayan Provincial Capitol

Cagayan is accessible by land, air, and sea. The Maharlika Highway connects the province with Isabela in the south and Ilocos Norte in the northwest through the picturesque Patapat Viaduct. The capital city of Tuguegarao has a domestic airport while the towns of Aparri and Sta. Ana have seaports.

The people of Cagayan are mostly Ilocanos and the original tribes of the Negritoes, Ibanags, Malauegs, and Ytawes. Migrants from the Cordillera Region have founded their respective communities. The province celebrates the Aggao Nac Cagayan Festival to coincide with the Foundation Day on June 29. The civil government of Cagayan was established by the Spaniards on June 29, 1583.

1. Juan Ponce Enrile - Senate President, former Secretary of National Defense
2. Maja Salvador - Movie and television actress

With poverty incidence at 23.1%, Cagayan is one of the provinces where poverty incidence is below the national average of 32.9% in 2006. Its productive farmlands make it one of the major producers of agricultural products.

Production of some farm products are as follows (figure in thousand metric tons, rank among 79 provinces)

Animal inventory of Cagayan in 2007 are as follows (figure in thousand, rank among 79 provinces)

Other agricultural products are tobacco, sugarcane, and peanuts. Other than rice, corn, and sugar mills, Cagayan has little manufacturing activites. Cottage industries include making nipa-wine, Harp, pottery and other handicrafts. As of 2007, there were 56 banks operating in the province with total deposits of 10.7 billion pesos.

The establishment of the Cagayan Economic Zone and Freeport in Sta, Ana town provides fresh hope for a more sustained economic development of the province. Envisioned to become a transshipment point, an agro-industrial center, and a tourism hub, the zone covers around 54 thousand hectares and includes the islands of Fuga and Barit. Situated 155 kilometers away from the capital city Tuguegao, it will have its own seaport and airport of international standards. Businesses within the zone will enjoy several perks such as income tax holidays and duty-free importation of machineries, among others.

Elsewhere in the province, large-scale production of farm-inputs such as fertilizers, feeds, veterinary products, and farm implements is viable because they can be sold locally or export them through the freeport. Also, the processing of region's farm output like fruit and vegetable canning, flour and starch milling, meat and fish packing and/or canning, and biofuel production is highly justified. A modern cold storage terminal is needed to support agro-industrial development.

Other businesses that can be profitable in the province include hydroelectric plants, tourism-related ventures, furniture making from wood, bamboo, and/or rattan, and cacao and coffee plantation and processing.

1. Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul- in Tuguegarao City
2. San Raymundo De Penaforte Church in Rizal
3. Our Lady of Piat Basilica - a pilgrimage site
4. Santa Maria Bell - oldest bell in the Philippines, in Camalaniugan
5. Pamplona Church built in 1614
6. St. Philomene Church in Alcala built in 1881.
7. Calvary Hills in Iguig - a favorite pilgrimage site during Holy Week
8. Callao Caves in Penablanca
9. Baggao Bluewater Falls and cave
10. Palaui Island - for highend gamefishing
11. Chico River - good for white water rafting
12. Magapit Suspension Bridge in Lal-lo
13. Cape Engano Lighthouse in Sta. Ana
14. Beaches in Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Aparri, Ballestores, and Gonzaga
15. Lallo as Ciudad Nueva Segovia (Nueva Segovia City)
16. Provincial Museum in Tuguegarao
17. Iguig Pottery Making

Capitol photo credit to hotelcandice.com

Back to top