Nueva Vizcaya is a landlocked province of Cagayan Valley Region in the Philippines.

Profile of Nueva Vizcaya Province (Geography)
Location: Cagayan Valley Region in northeastern Luzon Island, Philippines (See map below)
Neighboring Provinces: Ifugao, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, and Benguet
Capital: Bayombong
Area: 3,975.67 km2 (1,535.01 sq mi)
Population: 452,287 (2015 census)
Topography: Mountainous with rolling hills and extensive valley drained by the Magat River
Industries: Agriculture, mining
Major Products: Rice, corn, vegetables, fruits (oranges)
People/Language: Ilocano, Gaddang, Ifugao, Ibanag, Bungkalot, Kankana-ey, Isinai, Dumagat, Kalanguya, Pangasinense, Tagalog
*Note: The residents of Nueva Vizcaya proudly call themselves Novo Vizcayanos

Municipalities (Towns): (15) Alfonso Castaneda, Ambaguio, Aritao, Bagabag, Bambang, Bayombong, Diadi, Dupax Del Norte, Dupax Del Sur, Kasibu, Kayapa, Quezon, Santa Fe, Solano, and Villaverde

Government Officials
Go here to see elected provincial officials in Nueva Vizcaya.

Nueva Vizcaya History

The name of the province is derived from Biscay, a province in Spain. It means “New Biscay”. During the ealier part of the Spanish regime in the Philippines, Nueva Vizcaya was part of Provincia de Cagayan. The earliest known Christian settlement in the province was in Santa Clara, now a barangay in the town of Aritao, where a convent was built. On April 10, 1841, a royal decree was issued creating Nueva Vizcaya as a separate politico-military province. Its territory at that time included the now provinces of Ifugao, Mountain Province, Quirino, some parts of Isabela Province and some areas of Aurora Province.

During the American period, the territory of the province was reduced with some areas going to Ifugao and Mountain Province while other lands to Isabela. The province was first represented in the Philippine Congress in 1916 with Wenceslao Valera as its first congressman. During World War II, Balete Pass (now Dalton Pass) in Santa Fe Municipality was the scene of a major battle between the Japanese and the combined American-Filipino forces. In 1971, the territory of the province was further reduced when Quirino Province was created. (Read the history of Nueva Vizcaya in Tagalog)

Go here to see all the candidates and results of the 2019 election in Nueva Vizcaya.

Economy of Nueva Vizcaya

Nueva Vizcaya is one of the most progressive provinces in northern Luzon. Being the gateway to the Cagayan Valley Region, many commercial establishments have been established along the Maharlika Highway providing livelihood to the local people. Bayombong, its capital town, has become an educational center with two universities and several colleges and learning centers. Solano is the foremost commercial center while Bambang is slowly developing as a trading center for agricultural products. The province is rich in mineral resources but developing its mining potential has become too controversial with many official opposing the operation of Oceana, an Australian-owned company. Still, small-scale mining provides employment to many people. The mighty Magat River that bisects the province has made Nueva Vizcaya a major supplier of sand and gravel.

The province is endowed with many attractions and tourism is fast becoming a major source of livelihood.

Manufacturing industries are mostly small scale and family-owned. Major manufactured products include furniture, hollow block, processed food and handicraft.

Still, majority of the people of Nueva Vizcaya depend on agriculture as their source of income. Rice and corn are the major products but the production of high value agri-products like vegetables in the towns of Kayapa and Bambang and citrus fruits in the town of Kasibu is being given much attention by the government.

The province of Nueva Vizcaya has a lot of attractions and tourism is being promoted as another industry that would sustain economic development of the province. Go here to see all the tourist spots of Nueva Vizcaya.

RELATED: Famous People from Nueva Vizcaya

See also: Batanes Province History; Other Provinces of the Philippines

External links
Philippine Congress
RA 4734 – The law creating Quirino Province
Philippine Information Agency
Provincial Website