Isabela is a province in northeast Luzon Island, Philippines.
Profile of Isabela Province (Geography)
Location –> Cagayan Valley Region, Northeastern Luzon Island, Philippines (See map below)
Neighboring Provinces –> Cagayan, Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga
Capital –> Ilagan City
Area –> 12,414.93 km2 (4,793.43 sq mi) *The 2nd largest among 81 provinces
Population –> 1,593,566 (2015 census)
Terrain –> Mountainous in the east, broad valley in the west
Industries –> Agriculture, Manufacturing
Major Products –> Rice, Corn, Sugarcane, Peanut, Livestock
People/Language –> Ilocano, Ibanag, Gaddang, Tagalog, Ifugao
Cities –> Cauayan, Ilagan, Santiago
Municipalities (Towns) –> (34) Alicia, Angadanan, Aurora, Benito Soliven, Burgos, Cabagan, Cabatuan, Cordon, Delfin Albano, Dinapigue, Divilican, Echague, Gamu, Jones, Luna, Maconacon, Mallig, Naguilian, Palanan, Quezon, Quirino, Ramon, Reina Mercedes, Roxas, San Agustin, San Guillermo, San Isidro, San Manuel, San Mariano, San Mateo, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Tumauini
Government Officials
Go here to see elected provincial officials of Isabela.
Isabela Province History
The province of Isabela was created out of some towns from southern Cagayan and some towns from northeastern Nueva Vizcaya through a Spanish royal decree issued on May 1, 1856. It was named after Queen Isabella II of Spain.
In 1901, then President Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by the Americans in the municipality of Palanan.
Don Francisco Dichoso became the first elected governor of Isabela when it was reconstituted as a province during the American Period. In 1907 when the First Philippine Assembly was opened, Nicasio Claravall represented the province. In 1987, the province was divided into four legislative districts. On September 27, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11080 reapportioning the cities and towns into six districts.
Go here to see all the famous people from Isabela Province.
Go here to see all the candidates of Isabela Province in the 2019 election and its results.
Read the history of Isabela Province in Tagalog here.
Economy of Isabela Province
Isabela is largely an agricultural area where rice, corn, peanut, and sugarcane are the main products. It is the top producer of corn and peanut in the Philippines and the second top producer of rice.
Although there are a few large manufacturers such as soft drinks bottling, manufacturing is still undeveloped in the province. Small-scale production of food items, furniture, handicrafts, hollow blocks, jeepneys, and tricycles are prevalent.
Tourism is slowly picking up. With the opening of the eastern corridor when the construction of a new road leading to the town of Divilacan is finished, the tourism potential of the province is expected to be fully developed.
Isabela is home to Magat Dam, the second largest in the Philippines. With its three fast growing cities, it has attracted many Metro Manila-based chain of shopping centers and real estate companies.
RELATED: Batanes Province
See also: List of Philippine Provinces and Capital by Region
Related: Isabela Province News Portal