Etymology
Cauayan have its name from the word ''Kawayan'' 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
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.Establishment
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. 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. 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.Cityhood
On February 28, 2001, Republic Act 9017 was signed by then PresidentRedistricting
As of 2019, Cauayan is the only settlement in Isabela (and the second in the country afterGeography
Cauayan City is centrally located in the province and in the entire stretch out of Cagayan Valley. It is about 375 kilometers northeast Manila; 34.5 kilometers south of Ilagan, the capital city of Isabela; about 48 kilometers north Santiago City; and roughly 117 kilometers away from Tuguegarao City in Cagayan Province.Barangays
Cauayan City is politically subdivided into 65Climate
Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Cauayan, Isabela, was 143,403 people, with a density of .Languages
Cauayan is dominated by the use of Ilocano and Gaddang languages.Economy
Cauayan is a third class city in the province of Isabela. Cauayan City has been selected to host the Proposed Isabela Special Economic Zone and the Regional Agro-Industrial Growth Center. There are over 2,422 commercial 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. Other products include livestock and poultry, fruits and vegetables, and fishery products such as hito (cat fish) and tilapia. TheBanking and finance
As of the year December 31, 2015, Cauayan has a total of 30 banks, with a total volume of bank deposits at Php 17.5 billion. There are six banks based in the city namely PR Bank (Philippine Resources Savings Bank), 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. PR Bank is the largest of this six with 46 branches all over the Philippines, second is FICO Bank with 37 branches in Region 1, 2, 3 & CAR, and third is Rural Bank of Cauayan with 19 branches all within theCommerce
Recently,Culture
Gawagaway-yan Festival of Cauayan City 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 City 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.Government
Local government
The city is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.Elected officials
Congress representation
Cauayan, as a component city, belongs to the sixth legislative district of the province of Isabela, being represented by Faustino A. Dy V.Infrastructure
In Cauayan City, 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 center 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.Public Transport
The existing infrastructure Provision for Transport of Cauayan City is shown in Table 41. The city has a total of 512.27 kilometers of roads. Roads are classified into national, provincial, municipal/city and barangay roads including NIA access roads. All of the 18.16 kilometers of national roads are concrete roads while more than two-thirds of the 42.904 kilometers of Provincial roads are graveled and 17.86 kilometers of city roads are concrete roads, about 97.40% or 340.16 kilometers of barangay roads are gravel roads while the 56.40 kilometers of NIA access road is only 2.22% concrete. By type of pavement, the total of 512.27 kilometers of roads in the city, only 12.37% or 63.322 kilometers is concrete and 87.68% is graveled accounting to 448.948 kilometers. However, all settlement areas are provided with roads.Roads
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 kilometers 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 City 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 kilometers of provincial roads, only 28.09% or 16.756 kilometers are concrete and the rest are all gravel roads constituting 42.904 kilometers accounting to about 71.91%. Approximately 61.3% of city streets or 17.860 kilometers are concrete while 38.70% or 10.950 kilometers 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 kilometers of roads within Cauayan, about 11.01% or an aggregate length of 56.40 kilometers 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 kilometers or 68.17% of the total 512.27 kilometers of roads in the city. Of this length, 97.40% or 340.16 kilometers are graveled. Only about 9.080 kilometers 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 kilometers for every 1,000 urban population and 1.50 kilometers 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 kilometers 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 kilometers per 1,000 urban populations. Additional roads must be constructed in the poblacion to hasten development. On the other hand, it has 313.665 kilometers in the 60 rural barangays with 23,501.21 hectares of arable land. This means a road density of only 1.33 kilometers 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.Bus Companies
*Airport
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 accommodatingTelecommunication
TheHealthcare
The health needs of the city is served by a district hospital and 5 private hospitals; RHU-1 & RHU-2, 22 BHS, a puericulture Center, 13 private medical clinics, 11 private dental clinics, a rehabilitation center 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 City governs the city's public education system. The division office is a field office of theMedia
These are the following radio and television stations in Cauayan City, Isabela.FM Radio
* 88.5 MHz DWND * 89.7 MHz Yes! FM (DWYE) * 90.5 MHz Century Communications Marketing Center (DWIX) * 92.9 MHz Brigada News FM (DWYI) * 95.3 MHz Big Sound FM (DWWC) * 98.5 MHz IFM Cauayan (DWKD)AM Radio
* 801 kHz Bombo Radyo Cauayan (DZNC) * 1107 kHz RMN Cauayan (DWDY)Television
* TV 13 - Rinconada Broadcasting Corporation (DWAA) * TV 43 - Interactive Broadcast Media, Inc.See also
* Cauayan Airport * Cauayan City Sports Complex * Cauayan City National High School * SM City CauayanReferences
* https://web.archive.org/web/20141006113021/http://itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/cauayan-city/ Retrieved October 4, 2014 * http://cityofcauayan.gov.ph Retrieved October 4, 2014External links
Government website
General information
Social media