Tuguegarao City, the capital of the Province of Cagayan and the Regional Center of
Cagayan Valley (Region 02) is a major urban center in Northeastern
Luzon and a Primary Growth Center. Historically, it is important as the
provincial capital of the Province of Cagayan, as a trading center for
the Tobacco Monopoly and as the only center for the higher education in
Northeast Luzon.
The original inhabitants of Tuguegarao
were the Irayas and the Itawes, who built houses and subsisted on
fishing, hunting, farming, and livestock raising. They wove cloth and
made household and farm implements.
On August 16, 1724, Tuguegarao
celebrated its first patronal town fiesta with the completion of the
elevated Ermita de San Jacinto. The provincial capital of Cagayan was
transferred from Lal-lo to Tuguegarao on May 24, 1839, with the division
of “La Provincia de Cagayan” into the southern part called Nueva
Vizcaya, and the northern part which retained the name Cagayan.
Tuguegarao’s first school was
established in 1892. Formerly belonging to the Diocese of Ciudad Nueva
Segovia, Tuguegarao grew to become a separate diocese in 1910. In 1975,
it was made the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao. The schools, the government
and the church greatly influenced the development of the town- its
economy, its services and facilities, and its people.
In 1975, Tuguegarao was chosen the
center of Region 2. By 1985, almost all national government agencies had
established their regional offices in Tuguegarao, bringing to the
region varied and higher-level government services and facilities. The
Department of Finance classified Tuguegarao a First Class Municipality
in July 1993.
Today, Tuguegaro City (December 18,
1999) is a bustling commercial, education and government center with
tall buildings, sprawling school campuses and a government center site.
It is now an emerging metropolis and a backbone support to the Cagayan
Special Economic Zone and Free Port in Sta. Ana, Cagayan and the Cauayan
City Regional Agro-Industrial Center in Isabela.
It has a total area of 144.8 square
kilometers. The city is politically subdivided into 49 barangays, 26 of
which are urban. In 2000. the city’s population was 120,645.
Tuguegarao’s economy slowly shifted from agriculture (primary) to
secondary/tertiary economic activities. By providing goods, services and
linkages, Tugeugarao City allows the adjacent municipalities in
Kalinga and Apayao (CAR), the coastal towns of Ilocos Norte (Region 01)
and the region’s industrial centers and agricultural production areas
to pursue their development functions in support to the overall regional
role. Region 02 is envisioned as an “open growth area and international
trade and industrial partner of the East Asian global economy”.
It is the regional tourism service
center because of its accessibility to tourism attractions, spots and
destinations and because of the existence of reliable facilities for
land, water and air transport, communications, power, health,
protective services, and finance as well as amenities for dining,
lodging, recreation and souvenir shops.
Tuguegarao City is a transport pivotal
point in Northern Luzon having three circumferential roads for traffic
management. There are 15 bus companies, with both air-conditioned and
ordinary buses, servicing Tuguegarao City, along with numerous
mini-buses, vans, jeepneys, tricycles and calesas.
The Tuguegarao City Domestic Airport is a
modern facility at 21.036 meters or 69 feet above sea level and is
capable of servicing a 737 jet plane. Small aircrafts, helicopters and
army cargo planes also utilize the airport. Cebu Pacific and Air
Philippines are the available domestic airline companies that provide
daily flights to the city.
