PROVINCE OF QUIRINO

Quirino Province acquired its juridical personality as a result of the division of the Provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela on June 18, 1966 under Republic Act 4734. Quirino was named in honor of the late President Elpidio A. Quirino.

On June 21, 1969, R.A. 5554 was enacted amending RA 4734 creating the Municipality of Cabarroguis taken from the portions of Diffun, Saguday and Aglipay. Finally, RA 6394 was passed on September 10, 1971 further amending RA 5554 separating the sub-province of Quirino from its mother province of Nueva Vizcaya constituting it into a regular province. Congressmen Leonardo B. Perez and Benjamin B. Perez had authored R.A. 6394.

OVERVIEW

Long before its creation, Quirino was the forest region of the Province of Nueva Vizcaya inhabited by tribal groups known as the Negritos. These tribal groups roamed the hinterlands and build their huts in the heart of the jungle area. Ilocano language is widely used in the lowlands of the various municipalities while Ifugao is the predominant dialect in the upland parts. Other dialects are Bugkalot, Pangasinense and Kankanai.

Geography

The Sierra Madre Mountain Range provides a natural barrier on the eastern and southern border and the Mamparang Range on the western part of the province. The province is generally mountainous, about 80 percent of the total land area is covered by mountains and highlands.

Location

Quirino province lies in the southeastern portion of Cagayan Valley. It is situated within the upper portion of the Cagayan River Basin bounded by Isabela on the north, Aurora on the east and southeast and Nueva Vizcaya on the west and southwest.

Area and Population

The province occupies an aggregate land area of 3,057.18 square kilometers which is approximately 8.4 percent of the total regional area and about 1.02 percent of the total land area of the country. Small as it may be, the little province has its own promise of making it big in the field of tourism. Part of the province's comparative advantage is its accessibility to Aurora. The population of the province as 1995 mid-decade census of population was 131,119, roughly 43 persons per square kilometer of land.

Climate

The province has a mean annual temperature of 26.6 degree Celsius. Warmest month is May and least dry months are March to August while the rest of the year is neither too dry nor too wet. These are the best times to visit the province--trek its mountains and explore its caves. Rainy days occur in September to November.

Political Subdivision

Quirino has six municipalities and these are Cabarroguis, the capital town, Saguday, Diffun, Maddela, Nagtipunan and Aglipay. The province has only one congressional district and 110 barangays.

Language

The major language is Ilocano which is spoken by 71.46 percent of the total populace. Other dialects are Ifugao, Bugkalot, Pangasinense and Kankanai.

Major Industries

Agriculture is the main industry with rice and corn as major crops. These are sold to supply the demands of neighboring provinces and the metropolis. Banana is also a major product and is sold in Metro Manila and Pampanga. Small scale industries like basketry, rattan craft and dried flower production are prevalent in the province. Marble and lime processing awaits investors.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

NAGBUKEL CAVE is a dome-shaped mountain usually visited by local tourists during the Holy Week for picnics and hiking and is being developed by the Lamplighter, a religious sect. Located along the national highway at Diffun, it is four kilometers from Cabarroguis.

AGLIPAY CAVES promises a special venue for communing with nature. A series of 38 caves, seven of which have been developed as tourist spots. Located in the midst of rolling hills and verdant forests, the caves boasts of peculiar characteristics such as underground river and well preserved stalagmites and stalactites. The caves interlink with each other and run to a depth of 20.0 meters. In the area are six cottages and picnic huts for overnight tourists. The caves are ten kilometers from Cabarroguis.

GOVERNOR RAPIDS is famous for its gigantic perpendicular walls of limestone jutting out from one side of the Cagayan River framing the Sierra Madre Mountain and its swift turbulent deep blue water perfect fro white river rafting, swimming and fishing. The riverside offers a suitable picnic ground with magnificent view of the Cagayan River this part of the region and is very accessible at Barrio Bisangal/ Divisoria Sur, Maddela some 34 kilometers from Cabarroguis.

AGLIPAY TOWN is a history-laden town having gotten its name from Fr. Gregorio Aglipay, a Philippine Independent Church priest who rebelled against the Spanish colonizers in his time and settled at the banks of Addalam River in Aglipay.

NAGTIPUNAN TOWN is home to virgin forests and perfect for ecotourism. It is being developed as a gateway to Quezon Province. Nagtipunan is about 54 kilometers from Cabarroguis.

VICTORIA FALLS at barrio Sangbay, Nagtipunan is believed to be one of the sources of the mighty Cagayan River which bisects the valley and ends at Aparri Delta.

BISANGAL waterfalls in Maddela rests on a virgin forestland. It serves as a sanctuary for endangered species of wildlife and is located 35 kilometers from the town of Cabarroguis.