Ilocos region over view additional

The economy of Ilocos Region is based on agriculture, producing wide variety of vegetables, animals, and fish. Principal products are rice, corn, tobacco, garlic, sugarcane, and cassava. The Region is expanding into a variety of food-processing industries, and also practice a number of crafts and cottage industries: blanketweaving, basketry, shellcraft, broommaking, pottery-making, wine and vinegar making, jewelry making, wood and stone craft, among others jars and antiques can also be bought in the region.

IlocosPangasinan Region
in brief
"An invitation to do business with and in Region I"

Strategic Location

Strategically located in East Asia given its geographic proximity to some of the dynamic economies of Asia such as Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Southern China. Its coastline runs along the international sea lanes of the South China Sea Less than an hour flight time to and from Hongkong, Taiwan and South China Easy access through the Laoag International Airport (and DMIA)

Land Area
A sprawling 12,840.19 square kilometers of land, the region is 4.28 percent of the countrys land area.

Regions Jurisdiction
Within the Regions jurisdiction are the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte and the cities of Dagupan, San Carlos, Urdaneta, Alaminos, San Fernando, Candon, Vigan

and Laoag.

Climatic Condition
Relatively dry season from November to April and an abundant rainfall during the wet season from May to October The temperature occurs coolers during the months of December up to February. The hottest months are April and May.

People
Hospitable, peace-loving, industrious

Languages/Dialects
English, Tagalog, Ilocano and Pangasinenese

Economy
Good potential for export-oriented agri-industrial development and tourism activities. The major industries in the region are agriculture, mining, fishing, tourism, and small cottage industries. A leading producer of tobacco and mango for export and also among the leading producers of peanut, mongo, garlic, eggplant, onion, and tomato.

Leisure
Surfing, swimming, adventure, sports, trekking, spelunking

Culture/cuisine
Spanish churches and houses, museums, historical landmarks

Pinakbet, Ilokano sausage (longganisa), bagnet, kornik

Eco-tourism
Hundred Islands, Pagudpud-Bangui Beaches, La

Union Botanical & Zoological Garden

Infrastructure and Utilities

Planned Agro-industrial Estates for Investments The Laoag Economic Zone Poro Point Free Port and Special Economic Zone Mabini Industrial Estate Bacnotan Agri-Industrial Estate Salomague Free Port and Special Economic Zone Airports International Flights: Laoag International Airport
120 31' 49'' E 18 11' 0'' Latitude: N IATA code: LAO ICAO RPLI code: Longitude:

Domestic Flights: San Fernando Airport ( Latitude : 16.5945 Longitude : 120.303 )

, Vigan Airport

and Lingayen Airport (Latitude: 16.0348

Longitude: 120.241

Seaports Currimao Seaport (Ilocos Norte) Salomague Seaport (Ilocos Sur) San Fernando Seaport (La Union) Sual Seaport (Pangasinan)

Power Plants Bauang Power Plant Sual Coal-fired Power Plant San Roque Multi-Purpose Project (Power Component) Wind Power in Bangui, Ilocos Norte Information and Communication Technology Presence of voice and data (fiber optics) service providers Presence of DSL Broadband Internet Connectivity Presence of Wi-Fi Internet Connectivity Presence of numerous internet cafes Presence of mobile phone service centers and

providers Land Transportation Manila to Laoag, Vigan, San Fernando route and vice versa Provincial Bus Carriers ( PARTAS, Farias, Dominion, Autobus, Martinez Trans, and Viron) Manila to Dagupan Provincial Bus Carriers (Victory Liner, Dagupan Bus Lines)

Regional Profile

Enlarge Photo REGION 1 PROFILE The ILOCOS and PANGASINAN Way back in 1572 when Juan de Salcedo subjugated the Ilocos, its area extended up to towns of Cagayan in the northwest. Pangasinan likewise has a territorial jurisdiction that included the present province of Zambales and parts of Tarlac. By the later part of the 19th century, the territorial boundaries of these provinces were diminished when some towns were annexed to other neighboring provinces. In 1988, the area of Region I was further diminished when Abra, Mt. Province, Benguet and Baguio City became parts of the Cordillera Administrative Region. Within the Region's jurisdiction at present, are the provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Ilocos Norte. The cities of Dagupan, San Carlos, Urdaneta, Alaminos are situated in Pangasinan. Candon City and Vigan City are located in Ilocos Sur. Laoag City is in Ilocos Norte while San Fernando City is in La Union. Situated on the northwestern coast of Luzon, Region I covers an area of 12,840.19 square kilometers. Predominantly mountainous, this narrow strip of land is bounded on the west by the China Sea, on the east by the Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region, on the south is Central Luzon, and on the north is the Bangui Bay. Its river basins are found in Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan. Region I experiences a relatively dry season from November to April and an abundant rainfall during the wet season from May to October. The temperature occurs cooler during the months of December up to February. The hottest months are April and May. In year 2000, the total population was 4,200,478 distributed as follows: Ilocos Norte 541,241; Ilocos Sur - 594,206; La Union - 657,945; Pangasinan - 2,434,086; San Carlos City - 154,246; Dagupan - 130,328; Laoag - 94,466; City of San Fernando - 102,082. The population count in 2000 showed a 2.5% increase from the 1995 record. Majority of the people speak the Ilocano dialect. Pangasinense is spoken in the central towns of Pangasinan while English and Filipino remain as basic medium of instruction in schools. An extensive road network links Region I to the other parts of Luzon. Sea transport facilities are concentrated in the Port of San Fernando and Currimao. The Salomague Port in Cabugao has facilities as a containerized transhipment port. These are primarily for the movement of goods. The Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte serves as the main gateway to the Ilocos Region. It caters to international flights to and from Taiwan, Hongkong and Guangzhou, and to local flights as well via Cebu Pacific and Asian Spirit. The San Fernando Airport is

now serving Manila - San Fernando City, La Union - Manila route through Asian Spirit. Major industries include agriculture-based like crop production, mining, manufacturing and cottage industries. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION Located on the northwestern coast of Luzon island, it includes four (4) provinces: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. It has a direct access to international sealanes, as it is bound on the east by the South China Sea and the Central Cordillera mountain range on the west. It is expected to develop export-oriented agri-industrial and tourism activities due to its proximity to Taiwan, Hongkong and outhern China. Its land area of 12,840.2 sq. kms. is composed of towering mountains, thick forests and narrow coastal plains. POPULATION In 2000, the region's total population was 4,174,000. It increased by 8.86% since 1995. In 1995, the province of Pangasinan had the largest population at 2,178,412 or 57.27%. La Union had 15.7%, Ilocos Sur at 14.3% and Ilocos Norte , 12.7%. In 1990, the urban population comprised 37.75% of the total population while that of the rural population was at 62.25%. CULTURAL GROUPS This Region has three (3) distinct groups: Ilocanos, Pangasinenses and Igorots. Ilocanos occupy the coastal provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union and certain parts of Pangasinan. The natives of Pangasinan are the Pangasinenses. There are also Tingguians who live in the secluded mountains of Ilocos Sur. CLIMATE Dry season is from November to April while the rainy season is from May - October. LAND USE The region has prime agricultural land inspite of the scarcity of arable land due to its rough terrain. Its most important crops are tobacco, rice, and vegetables. 810,062 hectares of land are classified as alienable and disposable and 473,957 hectares are forestland. NATURAL RESOURCES The region is a producer of food surplus - rice, corn, vegetables, rootcrops and fruits such as mangoes. It has abundant natural resources such as limestone for cement, feldspar for ceramics, fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, and forest products such as bamboo and rattan. Other mineral resources include copper, gold, chromite, iron, manganese and silica.

It has one of the longest coastlines, aside from numerous rivers and streams. It has extensive fishing grounds and excellent prospects for fishpond cultivation. ECONOMY As part of the Northwestern Luzon Growth Quadrangle (NWLGQ) and Northern LuzonSouth China growth area, it has good potential for export-oriented agri-industrial development and tourism activities. The major industries in the region are agriculture, mining, fishing, tourism, and small cottage industries. It is a leading producer of tobacco and mango for export. URBAN CENTERS Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, Vigan in Ilocos Sur, San Fernando in La Union and the capital town of Lingayen and the cities of Dagupan and San Carlos in Pangasinan are the centers of trade, business, and education. FACILITIES The region has fairly a developed intra-regional and inter-regional road network. Approximately 99% of all municipalities or 96% of all barangays have access to electricity. Private and government telecommunication services area available in most areas of the region especially in urban centers. The region is a net energy provider, with two more power plants to be built. Only one - seventh of the total local road network is paved, rural roads become impassable during the rainy season. While 90% of households have access to water facilities, these become scarce during summer and turbid during the wet season. At present, irrigation facilities cover only 52% of the total potential area for irrigation.

Demography
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, June 15 (PIA) -- The National Statistic Office 1 (NSO-R1) announced that the population of region 1 increased by 547,000, based on the result of its 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH). NSO 1 Regional Director Socrates Ramores said the 2010 CPH was designed to take an inventory of the population and housing units here.

It was also aimed to collect information about their characteristics. This is also in pursuant to Batas Pambansa Building 72 and Commonwealth Act 591, an act to create a bureau of census and statistics to consolidate statistical activities of the government therein. According to the NSO, the region posted a total population of 4, 748,372 persons. This is an increase of 547,894 from the May 1, 2000 population count of 4,200,478. Among the four provinces in Ilocos Region, Pangasinan province registered the highest population with 2,779, 862 persons, comprising more than half of the regions total population. It was followed by La Union with 741, 906 persons; Ilocos Sur with 658,587; and Ilocos Norte had the smallest population with 568, 017. The 2010 census figure is five times the region population in 1903 which recorded a total of 948, 935 persons when the first census of population was conducted, Ramores said. Likewise, NSO La Union provincial statistic officer Imelda Buyuccan, said during Danggayan radio program here last June 13, the increase in population is translated to an average population growth rate of 1.23 percent annually during the 2000 to 2010 period. The CPH was undertaken by 82,000 fieldworkers, mostly participated by the Department of Education public school teachers nationwide. The census, which counts up to the barangay level, was made official through Proclamation No. 362 signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III last March 30. Said population count was based on census questionnaires done by enumerators all over the country. The questionnaires were processed in Census Processing Centers by using Optical Mark Recognition technology along with the Census Integrated Processing System developed by NSO for this purpose, Ramores explained.

He also said that 2010 CPH was made possible with the support of the local and national officials, government agencies, local government units, media, private agencies and non-government agencies. (ANL/MHH PIA1 La Union with reports from NSO1)