Cagayan Valley

Cagayan Valley is located in the northeastern part of Luzon. It is composed of five provinces: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. It is designated as Region 02 in the regional grouping of provinces throughout the Philippines. The center of the region is in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan where most of the regional offices of public institutions could be found.

Regions can be found on the valley between the Cordillera Mountains in the west and the Sierra Madre to the east. The Cagayan River, the longest one in the Philippines runs right through the valley and then exit the Luzon Strait, which lies on the tip of Luzon in Aparri, Cagayan. In addition to the north is the beautiful Batanes group of islands and Babuyan Islands scattered.

From 2008, the population in the region of nearly 4 million and the population density is about 104.8 per square kilometer. Land area in Cagayan Valley is 26,837 square kilometers.

There are 3 cities in the region, 89 municipalities, 2311 Barangay and 10 Congressional districts. Ilocano, Ybanags, Itawis, Gaddangs and Ivatans are some of the ethnic groups in the region.

Batanes is the northernmost province of Cagayan Valley and throughout the Philippines. The capital of Batanes is Basco and it is composed of ten islands, the most economically active are Itbayat, Batan and Sabtang. They are also the only inhabited islands. Batanes is 190 km south of Taiwan. Joke is that you actually can hear a rooster's crow from Taiwan.

Cagayan is located east of Ilocos Norte and Apayao and north of Isabela and Kalinga. The name of Cagayan said to be derived from "tagay", a plant that can be found throughout the province. Therefore, "Catagayan" means a place where "tagay" is found. Through time it has been truncated to Cagayan. Is the capital of Cagayan Tuguegarao City which houses most of the regional offices of public institutions.

Isabela, located south of Cagayan, the second largest province in the Philippines next to Palawan. Its capital is Ilagan. With its arable land and the rural economy, Isabela has been hailed as rice and corn granary of Luzon.

Nueva Vizcaya is located south of Isabela and is located in the Cordillera Mountains. Its capital is Bayombong. Much of Nueva Vizcaya, forest, grassland and agricultural areas. It is also in Nueva Vizcaya, where you can see the famous Dalton Pass, just before you leave the Cagayan Valley and enter the province of Nueva Ecija.

Quirino was named after former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino. The province used to be in the forest region of Nueva Vizcaya. Ilocano is the dominant group in the province. Its capital is Cabarroguis.

These five provinces include Cagayan Valley. They are very rich with culture, tradition and history. Along Cagayan Valley is an important element in the development of the Philippines.