ISABELA

Isabela, the second largest among the Philippines’ 82 provinces, is located on the northeastern seaboard of the island of Luzon – the biggest among the 7,641 islands comprising the Philippine archipelago.

With a total land area of 10,655 square kilometers comprising more the 3% of the Philippine territory and almost 40% of the Cagayan Valley region, Isabela is the largest province on Luzon Island. It is bounded on the north by Cagayan province; on the west by Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ifugao; on the south by Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Aurora; and on the east by the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

In terms of physiography, the province is divided into three distinct areas: Western, Eastern, and Coastal Isabela. All three are straddled by the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains, the longest mountain range in the Philippines. Isabela is home to one of the largest remaining rainforests in the world known as the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, a government reservation covering more or less 3,600 square kilometers of terrestrial and marine ecosystems rich in genetic species and biodiversity. The park is considered among the global top ten biodiversity hotspots.

A fertile valley between the foothills of the Central Cordillera mountain range to the west and the Sierra Madre to the east, Western Isabela has flat and rolling terrain subdivided by several tributaries into smaller valleys and plains. Criss-crossing the area is the Cagayan River, the Philippines’ longest river.

Vast portions of Eastern Isabela are considered uncharted territory, characterized by thick forestlands and rugged terrain. These largely unexplored hinterlands contain a variety of still unnamed flora and fauna, with majority of the country’s endemic species represented in the protected area.

Separated from the rest of the province by the mountain peaks of the Sierra Madre, Coastal Isabela has 113-kilometer shoreline facing the world’s biggest ocean, the Pacific. Rich in untapped fisheries and aquatic resources, the bay area is dotted with small islands and white sand beaches.

Two types of climate are prevalent in the province. Both Eastern Isabela and Coastal Isabela experience moderate rainfall throughout the year, while Western Isabela has more pronounced wet and dry seasons.

Isabela: Sentro ng AgriKultura

Isabela Logo and tagline use symbolic representations:

- The rising sun-represents the inclusive development that radiates to every corner of the province signifying hope and empowerment of all.

- The mountains - represent the vast Sierra Madre Mountains that serves as protection from calamities, and symbolizing the many indigenous tribe in Isabela, encompassing all the people of Isabela.

- The Isabela word spelled with green colors-represents the combined cultures, traditions and rich environment that cradles fertility and productivity.

- The blue cursive lines represent provincial waters-both the seas in the eastern seaboard, and rivers that traverse through the community, and the rich marine resources of the land.

- the image of Tobaco, Corn, and Rice - represents the major high value crops that showcase the prosperity and abundance in Isabela

- The white scalloped line represents the bountiful dairy products from cows, carabaos and goats.

- Agri-Kultura symbolizes the integrated and rich agriculture in all of the cities and municipalities of the province combined with updated agriculture practices that makes Isabela the corn capital of the country and 2nd highest rice producer in the Philippines

TOURISM