Camalaniugan

Camalaniugan, officially the Municipality of Camalaniugan (Ibanag: Ili nat Camalaniugan; Ilocano: Ili ti Camalaniugan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Camalaniugan), is a municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 25,236 people.^[5]

Camalaniugan
Municipality
Municipality of Camalaniugan
Spanish horno in Camalaniugan
Flag Seal
Map of Cagayan with Camalaniugan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Camalaniugan Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 18°16′32″N 121°40′32″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Cagayan Valley
Province	Cagayan
District	1st district
Founded	June 15, 1596
Barangays	28 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Angelica C. dela Cruz
• Vice Mayor	Isidro T. Cabaddu
• Representative	Ramon C. Nolasco Jr.
• Electorate	16,758 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	76.50 km2 (29.54 sq mi)
Elevation	8.0 m (26.2 ft)
Highest elevation	124 m (407 ft)
Lowest elevation	−2 m (−7 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	25,629
• Density	340/km2 (870/sq mi)
• Households	6,112
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	10 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 167.8 million (2021, 2022)
• Assets	₱ 401.6 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 136.7 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 72.36 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Cagayan 2 Electric Cooperative (CAGELCO 2)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	3510
PSGC	0201510000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)78
Native languages	Ilocano Ibanag Tagalog

This town is home to the oldest Christian bell in the Far East and is also the birthplace of Don Vicente Nepomuceno, the esteemed author of "Historia Nac Cagayan", a historical book written in the Ibanag language.

Etymology

The town was named after the "malaniug" trees which grew in abundance during the early years. In Fr. Jose Bugarin's Ibanag dictionary "malaniug, a wild palm...Camalaniugan, place where there are many of these [also] a town in this province."

History

Camalaniugan was founded on June 15, 1596, a rather early date because of its proximity to Nueva Segovia (Lallo). San Jacinto de Polonia was selected as their patron saint. The early settlers were the Ibanags and Ilocanos, both peace-loving citizens. They built their houses along the banks of the Cagayan River. They brought with them their knowledge of farming and skills in making weapons. According to the story related by the elders, among these "happy" settlers was Guiab, a famous strongman and leader of Camalaniugan. He did not like the missionaries. Because of this, he was arrested and later hanged from a malaniug tree by order of Juan Pablo Carreon. For years the people suffered injustice.

Between 1887 and 1888, Fray Marcelino Cascos, O.P., built a convent. It was in this convent where Col. Daniel Tirona billeted his men after arresting the missionaries when he occupied the town in 1898 after landing his vessel, the Compania de Filipinas.^[6]

The town has a church dedicated to San Jacinto or Saint Hyacinth which houses the oldest church bell (Sancta Maria, 1595) in the far east.

Geography

Camalaniugan is situated 94.16 kilometres (58.51 mi) from the provincial capital Tuguegarao, and 579.31 kilometres (359.97 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Camalaniugan is politically subdivided into 28 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

• Abagao
• Afunan Cabayu
• Agusi
• Alilinu
• Baggao
• Bantay
• Bulala
• Casili Norte
• Catotoran Norte
• Centro Norte (Poblacion)
• Centro Sur (Poblacion)
• Cullit
• Dacal-Lafugu
• Dammang Norte
• Dugo
• Fusina
• Batalla
• Jurisdiction
• Luec
• Minanga
• Paragat
• Tagum
• Tuluttuging
• Ziminila
• Casili Sur
• Catotoran Sur
• Dammang Sur (Felipe Tuzon)
• Sapping

Climate

Climate data for Camalaniugan, Cagayan
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	25 (77)	26 (79)	29 (84)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	28 (82)	27 (81)	25 (77)	29 (84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	20 (68)	20 (68)	21 (70)	23 (73)	24 (75)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	21 (70)	23 (73)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	120 (4.7)	77 (3.0)	62 (2.4)	40 (1.6)	118 (4.6)	138 (5.4)	162 (6.4)	173 (6.8)	143 (5.6)	198 (7.8)	185 (7.3)	248 (9.8)	1,664 (65.4)
Average rainy days	16.9	12.2	11.5	10.6	18.7	20.1	21.2	23.3	20.8	16.9	16.5	20.0	208.7
Source: Meteoblue (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.)[7]

Demographics

Population census of Camalaniugan

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 6,216 —     1918 7,655 +1.40% 1939 9,436 +1.00% 1948 7,708 −2.22% 1960 11,456 +3.36% 1970 13,268 +1.48% 1975 13,878 +0.91% 1980 15,078 +1.67%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 17,276 +1.37% 1995 19,915 +2.70% 2000 21,186 +1.34% 2007 22,489 +0.83% 2010 23,404 +1.46% 2015 24,923 +1.20% 2020 25,236 +0.26% 2024 25,629 +0.37%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11][12]

In the 2020 census, the population of Camalaniugan was 25,236 people,^[13] with a density of 330 inhabitants per square kilometre or 850 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Camalaniugan

5 10 15 20 25 30 2000 23.97 2003 20.86 2006 19.50 2009 16.94 2012 17.06 2015 11.92 2018 13.50 2021 10.00 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Camalaniugan is part of the first legislative district of the province of Cagayan. It 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

Members of the Municipal Council
(2019–2022)^[22]

Position	Name
Congressman	Ramon C. Nolasco Jr.
Mayor	Angelica C. Dela Cruz
Vice-Mayor	Isidro T. Cabaddu
Councilors	Milagros C. Libatique
	Helie C. Cervano
	Dante B. Canillo
	Edna M. Fillon
	Jamie C. Rosario
	Manuel U. Barsatan
	Marlon I. Tenorio
	Leslie G. Casauay

Education

The Schools Division of Cagayan governs the town's public education system.^[23] The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region.^[24] The Camalaniugan Schools District Office governs the public and private elementary and high schools throughout the municipality.^[25]

Primary and elementary schools

• Alilinu Elementary Schools
• Asbury UMC Learning Center
• Bulala-Fugu Elementary School
• Camalaniugan Central School
• Casili Elementary School
• Catotoran Elementary School
• Dugo Elementary School
• Fusina Elementary School
• Joaquin Dela Cruz Elementary School
• Minanga Elementary School
• Our Lady of Fatima Integrated School of Dugo
• Ziminila Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Camalaniugan National High School
• Camalaniugan National High School - Catotoran Annex
• Felipe Tuzon Agricultural School
• Lyceum of Camalaniugan