Cauayan, Isabela, Cagayan Valley Region, Philippines

🇵🇭 Cauayan, officially the City of Cauayan, is a 3rd class component city in the province of Isabela, Philippines.

Etymology Cauayan have its name from the word Cawayan meaning bamboo or bulo in the Ilocano language, the early settlers of the place. How it got its name is vaguely told by the natives. In the tale, early Spaniards reached the place found abundant bamboo trees along creeks that circled the town site of Bulod, Sipat, Bungkol, and Marabulig creeks where few families lived. It was also a common to see crocodiles basking under the cluster of bamboo along the creeks in the early morning sun.

Another version of how the town was named is this way: One day the miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary disappeared. For many weeks, a tireless search was undertaken but it was nowhere to be found. Then one day in October the image was found among the bamboo groves. Not a single sign of mishandling or scratch was detected on the image.

History The original inhabitants (as recorded by the Dominican vicar of Ilagan, Father dela Torre, who explored the area in 1736) were Gaddang. Cauayan town was once a part of the province of Cagayan.

Founded in 1740, Cauayan antedates the establishment of Isabela by 116 years. The town site was first located in a place called Calanusian along the Cagayan River. After a series of disastrous floods, the town site was moved to its present location.

When Nueva Vizcaya was created as a province in 1839, Cauayan was transferred to it.

On May 1, 1856, the province of Isabela was created by a Royal Decree, Cauayan was again administratively transferred, this time to Isabela.

Cauayan used to be a big municipality in terms of land area. With the creation of the neighboring municipalities of Luna (Antatet) Cabatuan, Reina Mercedes (Callering), Aurora and San Mateo, however, the land area was reduced to about 336.40 square kilometers.

Cityhood On February 28, 2001, Republic Act 9017 was signed by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, converting Cauayan into a component city. It was ratified on March 30 of that year, after the voters voted in favor of cityhood.

Redistricting As of 2019, Cauayan is the only settlement in Isabela (and the second in the country after San Isidro, Bohol) to be covered by one district surrounded by another. In this case, Cauayan is part of the 6th district while being surrounded by towns in the 2nd (Reina Mercedes, Naguilian, Benito Soliven and San Mariano), 3rd (Angadanan, Alicia, San Mateo and Cabatuan) and 5th (Luna) districts.

Geography Cauayan is centrally located in the province and in the entire stretch out of Cagayan Valley. It is 29 km (18 mi) from the capital city, Ilagan, 369 km (229 mi) from Manila, and 112 km (70 mi) from Tuguegarao, capital of Cagayan.

Geography: Barangays Cauayan is politically subdivided into 65 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

There are 10 barangays that are considered urban (highlighted in bold). • Alicaocao • Alinam • Amobocan • Andarayan • Bacolod • Baringin Norte • Baringin Sur • Buena Suerte • Bugallon • Buyon • Cabaruan • Cabugao • Carabatan Chica • Carabatan Grande • Carabatan Punta • Carabatan Bacareno • Casalatan • Cassap Fuera • Catalina • Culalabat • Dabburab • De Vera • Dianao • Dissimuray • District I (Poblacion) • District II (Poblacion) • District III (Poblacion) • Duminit • Faustino (Sipay) • Gagabutan • Gappal • Guayabal • Labinab • Linglingay • Mabantad • Maligaya • Manaoag • Marabulig I • Marabulig II • Minante I • Minante II • Nagcampegan • Naganacan • Nagrumbuan • Nungnungan I • Nungnungan II • Pinoma • Rizaluna • Rizal • Rogus • San Antonio • San Fermin (Poblacion) • San Francisco • San Isidro • San Luis • San Pablo • Santa Luciana (Daburab 2) • Santa Maria • Sillawit • Sinippil • Tagaran • Turayong • Union • Villa Luna • Villa Concepcion • Villaflor.

Demographics In the 2020 census, the population of Cauayan, Isabela, was 143,403 people, with a density of 430 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Languages Cauayan is dominated by the use of Ilocano and Gaddang languages. English, being one of the official languages is used primarily in communication for government publications, local newsprints, road signs, commercial signs and in doing official business transactions. Tagalog, another official language and is also considered the national language is used as verbal communication channel among residents.

Economy Cauayan is a third class city in the province of Isabela. Cauayan has been selected to host the Proposed Isabela Special Economic Zone and the Regional Agro-Industrial Growth Center. As of 2016, there are over 3,418 registered business establishments that include distributors, wholesalers and retailers.

Agriculture Cauayan city is a surplus producer of rice and corn. A total of 24,004 hectares or 69.9% hectares is utilized for palay (rice) production and corn production. Average yield per hectare per cropping is 4.5 MT for rice and corn. Corn farmers in the city are also shifting to cassava farming due to huge losses brought about by the effects of climate change in the province of Isabela. Other products include livestock and poultry, fruits and vegetables, and fishery products such as hito (cat fish) and tilapia. The National Irrigation Administration has an office in the city.

Banking and finance As of 31 December 2021, Cauayan has a total of 34 banks, with a total volume of bank deposits at Php 27.5 billion. There are five banks based in the city namely FICO Bank (First Isabela Cooperative Bank), Rural Bank of Cauayan, North Pacific Banking Corp., Common Wealth Rural Bank Inc., and Golden Rural Bank of the Philippines. The largest of the five is FICO Bank with 39 branches in Region 1, 2, 3 & CAR, and second is Rural Bank of Cauayan with 19 branches all within the Cagayan Valley.

Commerce In 2014, SM Prime opened its 49th mall in the country, SM City Cauayan which is the first SM Supermall in Cagayan Valley region. It also hosts stores from international and local brands, giving Cauayan and other neighboring towns and cities the opportunity to experience high-end shopping on a vibrant and elegant environment—and most notably is the Japanese clothing line Uniqlo. Multi-national fast-food chains also have branches within the city. Puregold, a large retail chain in the Philippines, is currently operating two supermarkets in Cauayan.

Homegrown local shopping centres include Talavera Hypermart and Primark Town Center Cauayan, which opened in June 2016, has continued to take a significant part of the local commerce industry.

Culture Gawagaway-yan Festival of Cauayan is a celebration of the city's bountiful livelihood and merriment for the ethno-linguistic groups residing in Cauayan. It also traces and gives due recognition to the ancestry of Cauayenos from the ethno linguistic group called Gaddang and recognizes the diversity of the cultural groups residing in Cauayan through streetdancing, float parade and other indigenous activities.

Cauayan traces its roots to the people of Gaddang, whom the city celebrates during the annual festival of Gawagaway-yan. This celebration features a street dance competition, a float parade and assorted activities that different ethno-linguistic groups participate in.

The city was once tobacco land, and there are still reminders of this past at the Old Tabacalera Warehouse, known as Compania General de Tabacos de Filipinas during the Spanish period. This local tobacco industry was a massive enterprise going all the way back to 1881, when it first started supplying the Tobacco Monopoly of the Spanish government. The old Tabacalera Warehouse is part of Hacienda San Luis, an eco-tourism park in the city.

Aside from the majestic view of Cagayan river from the 250m long and 30 ft high zip line, Hacienda San Luis is a home for cultural heritage. Museo San Luis features how tobaccos are made for the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade. It also showcases sculptures of St. Luis (Louis) and several masterpieces.

Infrastructure In Cauayan, there is a difference in the adequacy of infrastructure facilities in urban and rural areas. Generally, the closer the area is to the main service centre of the city, i.e. the Poblacion, the better are the facilities for production and distribution of goods and services. The analysis in this sector is based on the existing infrastructure facilities and those considered in the pipeline for 2002–2006 implementation. No projects are as yet programmed beyond 2006 in higher levels of government.

Transport: Public The existing infrastructure Provision for Transport of Cauayan is shown in Table 41. The city has a total of 512.27 km of roads. Roads are classified into national, provincial, municipal/city and barangay roads including NIA access roads. All of the 18.16 km of national roads are concrete roads while more than two-thirds of the 42.904 km of Provincial roads are graveled and 17.86 km of city roads are concrete roads, about 97.40% or 340.16 km of barangay roads are gravel roads while the 56.40 km of NIA access road is only 2.22% concrete. By type of pavement, the total of 512.27 km of roads in the city, only 12.37% or 63.322 km is concrete and 87.68% is graveled accounting to 448.948 kilometers. However, all settlement areas are provided with roads.

Transport: Road The national roads allow the operation of various bus and jeepney operators in the City of Cauayan and neighboring towns and areas to transport passengers and cargo to any point of Luzon, making the City of Cauayan one of the transport pivotal points in the Cagayan Valley.

The 18.16 km of national roads in the City of Cauayan provide mobility and access to the neighboring towns, provinces and regions. This road is the Cagayan Valley Road (CVR). The CVR is the Cagayan Valley section of the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway, also known as the Maharlika Highway.

The CVR from Alinam to Tagaran is the city's longest stretch of concrete road. This road links the City of Cauayan to the rest of the region, to Region 03 and National Capital Region in the south and to Region 01 in the north.

The proposed Cauayan Diversion Roads include the Minante I- Marabulig-I – Dadap (Mun. of Luna) – San Fermin – Tagaran with an approximate length of 12.5 kilometers; the Alicaocao – Turayong – District II – Labinab – District I – Minante I Diversion Road (4.8 km); and the San Fermin – Tagaran via CRAIGC (4.2 km) These Diversion Roads when constructed will improve the settlements, the movement of goods and services and even the flow of traffic in the city. The estimated construction cost for these tree (3) projects will reach PhP 119.5 million including drainage and 4 bridges.

Of the 59.66 km of provincial roads, only 28.09% or 16.756 km are concrete and the rest are all gravel roads constituting 42.904 km accounting to about 71.91%.

Approximately 61.3% of city streets or 17.860 km are concrete while 38.70% or 10.950 km are gravel roads. In order for business to flourish in the poblacion, all city streets need to be concreted within the plan period.

Of the total 512.27 km of roads within Cauayan, about 11.01% or an aggregate length of 56.40 km is NIA access roads constructed and maintained by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). However, in 1997, NIA turned over these roads to the city government for maintenance.

The barangay roads are important as they provide mobility and access in the settlement areas. With each new settlement area, barangay roads are initiated with private homeowners’ efforts, provided the road is donated to the government, for concreting and maintenance. The government later on augments the private road development.

Barangay roads totals 349.24 km or 68.17% of the total 512.27 km of roads in the city. Of this length, 97.40% or 340.16 km are graveled. Only about 9.080 km or 2.60% are concrete.

The provision of heavy equipment necessary in the construction and maintenance of roads and other infrastructure facilities and utilities is of high importance in order for the city government to enhance mobility thereby increasing productivity.

Road Density The standards for road provision are 2.40 km for every 1,000 urban population and 1.50 km for every 100 hectares of arable land in the rural areas. Presently, the rural road density (km/km²) is placed at 1.52 topping the list in the entire province in terms of rural road density. With 35.575 km of roads in the 5 barangays with a CY 2000 population of 31,037, the city of Cauayan has an urban road density of only 0.872 km per 1,000 urban populations. Additional roads must be constructed in the poblacion to hasten development. On the other hand, it has 313.665 km in the 60 rural barangays with 23,501.21 hectares of arable land. This means a road density of only 1.33 km for every 100 hectares of arable lands in the rural barangays. This implies that more roads have to be constructed in the rural barangays to fully support socio-economic development.

Bridges The city's road network includes 20 permanent bridges, 6 of which are reinforced concrete deck girder (RCDG) bridges. Thirteen concrete overflow bridges and one steel bridge account for a total aggregate length of 431.5 lineal meters. Two RCDG bridges along the Maharlika highway have recently been replaced under the Tulay ng Pangulo Program of then President Fidel Ramos and were inaugurated in 1999 by no less than President Joseph Estrada. However, The Alicaocao Overflow Bridge spanning 66 meters was hit by disastrous flood in 1998 causing the bridge to collapse particularly at the Carabbatan Chica portion. Replacement of the said bridge is crucial to the development of the other side of the Cagayan River since this is the only route going to that place except when you take Naguilian Bridge via Minanga in the municipality of Naguilian, which is a tormentous stretch aside from causing delay. Several overflow bridges within the city also needs immediate replacement and around 16 bridges and 18 RCCP culverts more need to be constructed/replaced in order to make the city road network system efficient.

Terminals Cauayan road network is supported with privately owned terminals for jeeps and buses located at Barangay San Fermin. SM City Cauayan has built a terminal beside the mall to support the public transportation in/out of the Cauayan.

Transport: Bus • Victory Liner • Dalin Liner

An inter-provincial bus terminal with an estimated cost of PHP 70.00 million needs to be constructed in this rapidly urbanizing city to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the city's transportation system and to provide additional prime commercial area and needed tourism support services.

Transport: Air The city airport located at Barangay San Fermin completes the infrastructure provision for transport for the city of Cauayan with provincial and regional impact. It is a secondary airport as per BAT classification. The airport runway has a total length of 2,500 meters and 30 meters wide capable of accommodating Boeing 737s. It is equipped with VHF Omni Range Transmitter, VHF Air/Ground single band radio and provided with fire-fighting equipment and facilities. It is likewise provided with facilities for arriving and departing passengers. The entire airport facility is provided with a perimeter fence.

At present, the facility is undergoing upgrading of facilities intended to accommodate international cargo flights. When completed, it is also expected that normal operations of the Philippine Airlines will resume which is very crucial in the commerce and industry sector of the city. This is very timely since Cauayan has been selected to host the Proposed Isabela Special Economic Zone and the Regional Agro-Industrial Growth Center.

Cebu Pacific Air fly in Cauayan daily utilizing an Airbus A320 aircraft with Flight No. 5J 196 departing from Manila and Flight No. 5J 197 departing from Cauayan.

Telecommunication The PLDT provides fixed line services. Wireless mobile communications services are provided by Smart Communications and Globe Telecommunications. Dito Telecommunity is now available offering connectivity service. Philpost, LBC, JRS Express, FedEx, DCI Express, and EXL Express move mails. Broadcast media is provided by radio and TV stations operating in the city, a cable TV facility while a number of Internet Café have established their operations here. Nowadays, the most important means of communication with relatives and friends is thru internet. This was being provided by the NSCV internet connections plus the Converge, PLDT Home and SmartBro broadband. The LGU likewise is utilizing handheld radio transceivers covering all barangays in city and the province as well with bases at the city hall, city police and fire protection offices.

Healthcare The health needs of the city is served by a district hospital and 7 private hospitals; 2 City Health Units, 22 BHS, a puericulture Center, 37 private medical clinics, 15 private dental clinics, a rehabilitation centre for the disabled, and the Cauayan Microscopy Center. These medical facilities has a total of 255 beds. Health personnel includes 41 medical doctors, 16 dentist, 74 nurses, 84 midwives, 10 medical technicians, 7 sanitary inspectors, 7 paramedics, 250 Barangay Health Workers and 148 Community Volunteer Health Workers both in the public and private sector.

Education The Schools Division Office of Cauayan governs the city's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region. The office governs the 64 public and 14 private elementary and eight public and seven private high schools throughout the city.

There are also two universities and four private colleges being governed by TESDA and CHED

Colleges: • Our Lady of the Pillar College-Cauayan • Isabela State University – Cauayan Campus • University of Perpetual Help System – Isabela Campus • Isabela Colleges Incorporated • Isabela College of Arts and Technology (Marine School) • System Technology Institute (STI) College • National Police College Regional Training School • Saint Clare College of Region 2 • College of Business Education Science and Technology • East Asia International System College; High schools: • Cauayan City National High School-Main • Cauayan City Stand-Alone Senior High School (formerly Senior High School Department of Cauayan City National High School-Main) • Isabela Colleges Incorporated • Metropolitan Bible Baptist Learning Center • Centro De Cultura School • Merry Sunshine Montessori School • St. Clare Elementary School – Cauayan • St. Xavier Montessori School • Our Lady of the Pillar College – Cauayan • Nansing School • University of Perpetual Help System • United Shepherd Integrated School • Christian Learning Center • Children of Lourdes Academy • Cauayan City National High School Annex • Pinoma National High School • San Antonio National High School • Cauayan City Science & Technology HS (former Villa Luna National High School) • Villa Conception National High School • Villa Concepcion High School - ROGUS EXTENSION VCHS-ROGUS EXTENSION • West Tabacal Region National High School • Sillawit National High School • Gappal National High School • Linglingay High School; Elementary schools: • Cauayan North Central School (District) • Cauayan Northeast Central School (District) • Cauayan East Central School (District) • Cauayan West Central School (District) • Cauayan South Central School (District) (with SPED and Science Section) • Bible Baptist Learning Center • Blessed Faustina MS • Centro De Cultura School • Epiphaneia Private School • Merry Sunshine Montessori School • Nansing School • North-East Horizon Institute • Pilgrims Evangelistic Academy of Christian Academy • St. Clare Elementary School – Cauayan • St. Xavier Montessori School • Children of Lourdes Academy • Metropolitan Bible Baptist Learning Center • Cauayan City School of Excellence • Our Lady of the Pillar College – Cauayan • Nansing School • University of Perpetual Help System • United Shepherds Integrated School • Christian Learning Center • Cauayan Messiah United Methodist School • Alicaocao Elementary School • Alinam Elementary School • Amobocan Elementary School • Andarayan Elementary School • Bacolod Elementary School • Baringin Elementary School • Buena Suerte Elementary School • Bugallon Elementary School • Buyon Elementary School • Cabugao Elementary School • Casalatan Elementary School • San Pablo Elementary School • Cassap Fuera Elementary School • Catalina Elementary School • Culalabat Elementary School • Dabburab Elementary School • De Vera Elementary School • Dianao Elementary School • Dissimuray Elementary School • Duminit Elementary School • Faustino Elementary School • Gagabutan Elementary School • Gappal Elementary School • Guayabal Elementary School • Labinab Elementary School • Linglingay Elementary School • Mabantad North Elementary School • Mabantad South Elementary School • Maligaya Elementary School • Manaoag Elementary School • Marabulig I Elementary School • Marabulig II Elementary School • Minante Research Elementary School • Naganacan Elementary School • Nagrumbuan Elementary School • Nungnungan Elementary School • Pinoma Elementary School • Rizal Elementary School • Rogus Elementary School • San Antonio Elementary School • San Fermin Elementary School • San Francisco Elementary School • San Isidro Elementary School • San Luis Elementary School • Santa Luciana Elementary School • Santa Maria Elementary School • Sillawit Elementary School • Sinippil Elementary School • Tagaran Elementary School • Union Elementary School • Villa Concepcion Elementary School • Villa Luna Elementary School • Villaflor Elementary School.

Media: Radio • DWND 88.5 (DWND; Northeastern Broadcasting Service) • 89.7 Yes! The Best (DWYE; Manila Broadcasting Company/Cebu Broadcasting Company) • 90.5 Magik FM (DWIX; Century Broadcasting Network) • 92.9 Brigada News FM (DWYI; Brigada Mass Media Corporation/Baycomms Broadcasting Corporation) • 95.3 Big Sound FM (DWWC; Vanguard Radio Network) • 98.5 IFM Cauayan (DWKD; Radio Mindanao Network) • 105.7 Radyo Bandera Cauayan (Bandera News Philippines/Fairwaves Broadcasting Network); AM Radio • DZNC 801 Bombo Radyo Cauayan (DZNC; Bombo Radyo Philippines/Newsounds Broadcasting Network) • DWDY 1107 Cauayan (DWDY; Northeastern Broadcasting Service)

Media: Television • TV 13 - Rinconada Broadcasting Corporation (DWAA) • TV 43 - Interactive Broadcast Media, Inc.

Cable and Satellite Operators • Northeastern Star Cable Network • CMD Cable Vision • Cignal TV.