| City of Cabanatuan | |||
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| — Component City — | |||
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| Nickname(s): Tricycle Capital of the Philippines | |||
| Motto: Cabanatueño... Taas Noo, Marangal, Disiplinado, Handa sa Pagbabago, Kabalikat sa Pag-asenso (Cabanatueño... Proud, Honored, Disciplined, Ready for Change, Companion in Development) |
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| Map of Nueva Ecija showing the location of Cabanatuan City. Coordinates: 15 29N, 120 58E |
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| Country | Philippines |
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| Region | Central Luzon (Region III) | ||
| Province | Nueva Ecija | ||
| Congressional District | 3rd | ||
| Barangays | 90 | ||
| Founded | 1750 | ||
| Cityhood | June 15, 1950 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Representative, 3rd Congressional District | Czarina D. Umali (Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago/Lakas-Kampi-CMD) |
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| • Governor | Aurelio Matias Umali (Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago/Lakas-Kampi-CMD) | ||
| • Mayor | Julius Cesar V. Vergara (Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago/Liberal Party) | ||
| • Vice Mayor | Marius Adriane Garcia (Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 192.29 km2 (74.2 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2010 est.) | |||
| • Total | 276,638 | ||
| • Density | 1,438/km2 (3,724.4/sq mi) | ||
| Native Names | |||
| • Filipino | Lungsod ng Cabanatuan | ||
| • Ilocano | Ciudad ti Cabanatuan | ||
| • Kapampangan | Lakanbalen ning Cabanatuan | ||
| • Pangasinan | Lunsod na Cabanatuan | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | ||
| Zip code | 3100 | ||
| Area code(s) | 44 | ||
| Income Class | 1st Class | ||
| Classification | Component City; Urban | ||
| Income (2010) | Php 799,672,515 | ||
| Website | Official Website of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija | ||
| Population Census of Cabanatuan City | |||
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| Census | Pop. | Rate | |
| 1995 | 201,033 |
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| 2000 | 222,859 | 2.24% | |
| 2007 | 259,267 | 2.11% | |
The City of Cabanatuan (Filipino: Lungsod ng Cabanatuan) is a first class, urban city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is considered the commercial, industrial and educational hub of the province. According to the latest census, it has a population of 259,267 people in 45,424 households which makes it the largest city in the province and fifth all over the region. In terms of income and economic growth, Cabanatuan is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. It has a metropolitan population of +500,000. It's a bustling city home to many jeepneys and tricycles. It bears the title as the "Tricycle Capital of the Philippines", because it has about over 38,202 (as of September 2009) registered tricycles.[1]
Cabanatuan City is situated about the middle of Nueva Ecija. It is bounded by the municipalities of Santa Rosa to the south, Palayan City and Laur to the east, General Mamerto Natividad and Talavera to its north and Aliaga at its west side. From Manila, Cabanatuan is about 111 kilometers by NLEX by Santa Rita exit and through the Pan-Philippine Highway along the length of Bulacan province. Since the opening of the SCTEX most motorists prefer travelling the whole of NLEX to SCTEX exiting in La Paz, Tarlac and on to Zaragoza and Santa Rosa in Nueva Ecija to Cabanatuan City.
The old provincial capital of Nueva Ecija is located here and is still used and maintained by the provincial government.
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Cabanatuan was founded as Barrio of Gapan in 1750 and became a Municipality and capital of La Provincia de Nueva Ecija in 1780. Cabanatuan is the site of the historical "Plaza Lucero" and the Cabanatuan Cathedral, where General Antonio Luna was ambushed on his way to Palanan. Cabanatuan lost the title of capital in 1850 when the capital of Nueva Ecija was moved to San Isidro, another historic town. It was only in 1917, when the Administrative code was enacted, that Cabanatuan was restored as capital of the Province. However, in 1965, Congress created Palayan City, which has been the capital ever since.
During World War II, the occupying Japanese built Cabanatuan Prison Camp, where many American soldiers were imprisoned, some of whom had been forced to endure the infamous "Bataan Death March". In January 1945 elements of the U.S. Army 6th Ranger Battalion marched 30 miles behind enemy lines to rescue the prisoners in what became known as the Raid at Cabanatuan.
After the Raid at Cabanatuan on January 30, 1945 from the victorious Filipino guerrillas and the American troops of the U.S. Army 6th Ranger Battalion to freed 500 American POWs. The re-established of the military general headquarters and military camp bases of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, Philippine Constabulary and the United States Army here in Cabanatuan on February 1945 to June 1946 during the Allied Liberation. Before the combined American and Philippine Commonwealth armed forces aided the local guerrilla resistance fighters and Hukbalahap Communist guerrillas liberated Central Luzon from January to August 1945 against the Japanese Imperial forces and aftermath in World War II.
It became a city by virtue of Republic Act No. 526, approved on June 16, 1950.[2]
In 1957, the barrios of Mataas na Kahoy, Balangkare Norte, Balangkare Sur, Sapang Kawayan, Magasawang Sampaloc, Talabutab Norte, Talabutab Sur, Platero, Belen, Pecaleon, Piñahan, Kabulihan, Pasong-Hari, Balaring, Pulong Singkamas, Panaksak, Bravo, Sapang Bato, Burol, Miller, Tila Patio, Pula, Carinay, and Acacia were separated from Cabanatuan and constituted into a separate and independent municipality known as General Mamerto Natividad.[3]
Cabanatuan was also the epicenter of a massive earthquake at roughly 3 p.m. on July 16, 1990. The earthquake leveled some buildings, including the Christian College of the Philippines (Liwag Colleges) in the midst of class time. At 7.7 on the Richter scale, it killed 1653 people.[4]
The city is a major hub of transportation services within the province. It is often called as "Tricycle Capital of the Philippines" with over 40,000 tricycles that roam around the city. The Cabanatuan City Central Transport Terminal was constructed to handle all passengers and transport vehicles going in and out of the city. Within the city, tricycles are used as a major mode of transportation since buses and jeepneys are mostly headed outside the city.
Maharlika Highway (or Pan-Philippine Highway) is the main highway in Cabanatuan City. All vehicles coming from and to Cagayan Valley passes through this highway. Nueva Ecija-Aurora Highway is also a main road in the city connecting Cabanatuan City and parts of Aurora Province. The newly constructed 11-kilometer four-lane Felipe Vergara Highway that links the town of Talavera to Brgy. Sumacab Este was opened to ease the traffic congestion along the busy Maharlika Highway, which has a daily vehicle traffic of more than 60,000. Other major roads include Circumferential Roads 1 and 2, Burgos Avenue, M. De Leon Avenue, Emilio Vergara Boulevard, Mabini Street and del Pilar Street.
Infrastructure improvements are ongoing with projects done by administration. All key intersections in the city are already signalized. Bicycle and tricycle lanes will be built in 2012 while road widening of the Maharlika Highway from the present four lanes to eight lanes will commence in the same year. Road widening of all city and arterial roads from one/two-lane highway to three-lane highway is also being considered.
The proposed North Luzon East Expressway will pass through the city from Manila all the way to Tuguegarao City, and also Tarlac-Nueva Ecija-Aurora Expressway that will link Tarlac to Dingalan Bay.
Cabanatuan City was credited for its good access to commercial banks that is why the city was ranked as one of the most livable cities in the Philippines together with Makati City in terms of banking. There are 50 commercial banks in the city, including the major players and their multiple branches citywide. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has a branch in the city's business district. Globe Telecom, Smart Communications and Sun Cellular also have their business offices located in the city. The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) have their business office at General Tinio St., while Digitel is in Mabini Extension. TV and Radio Stations are also present in the city.
Cabanatuan City boasts of modern establishments serving a large consumer market that can absorb further commercial development. Some new developments in the city include the opening of 2 branches of Mang Inasal, Hotel Sogo Cabanatuan, Puregold and Camella Homes. The major car companies Toyota, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Ford, Nissan, Isuzu, Kia, Suzuki and Mazda have their car dealerships placed along the city's main thoroughfare. There is a recent upsurge in housing development with the entry of big land developers such as Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Corporation (Acropolis North), Landco (Lakewood City), Ayala Land (Avida and Amaia) and lately, Vista Land's Camella Homes.
Cabanatuan City being the center of trade and commerce suffers on market facilities, which are inadequate to serve the population. According to the Philippine National Standard, one (1) hectare of market area for every 20,000 residents is deemed adequate. Considering the present population, which is 276,638, the city still lacks 8 hectares of market area.
Besides being the trading center of agricultural products from the surrounding farming communities, there are other markedly vibrant economic potentials for Cabanatuan City. It is building a reputation of becoming the IT hub of Central Luzon by using the thousands-strong InfoTech workforce in and around the city. The first call center in Nueva Ecija was established in the city in 2008. It is also fast-becoming a major investment hub and considered as one of the most competitive cities for doing business in the country.
The city's continuing urbanization lured investors not only into the city but also to the suburban municipalities as well. Its properly placed infrastructure is already having an effect to the city's economy. Cabanatuan will be converted into an independent component city or a congressional city district to further accelerate development.
Cabanatuan City is the educational center of the province. The city is a university town with 48.21% of the population being students. The city has 3 universities plus 11 other higher education institutions, 1 science high school, more than 15 public and private high schools, and more than 80 public primary schools. Notable institutions include Wesleyan University (Philippines), which is the largest and oldest private university in Nueva Ecija and the only internationally accredited school in Central Luzon and the first and only autonomous university in the province; Araullo University, owned by PHINMA and one of the most modern universities in the province; Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Nueva Ecija's state university with multiple campuses spread around the province; College of the Immaculate Concepcion; Good Samaritan Colleges, College for Research & Technology of Cabanatuan, AMA Computer College, ABE International College, Nueva Ecija Colleges, M.V. Gallego Foundation Colleges, Midway Maritime Foundation, La Fortuna Colleges and Dr. Gloria Lacson Foundation Colleges. The city is also home to a Catholic seminary - Maria Assumpta Seminary, which is a minor and major seminary.
Many hospitals can be found in the city proper, mostly private and clean which made Cabanatuan City the center for medical operations and research in the province. Notable hospitals include Manuel V. Gallego Cabanatuan City General Hospital, Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Medical Hospital, a national research hospital and one of the largest hospitals in the region; ELJ Provincial Hospital, Nueva Ecija Doctors Hospital, Good Samaritan General Hospital, Premiere Medical Center, Immaculate Conception Medical Center, and the newest, Wesleyan University General Hospital Center.
The city is also home to large malls which provide entertainment for the population. These malls include NE Pacific Mall, Robinsons Cabanatuan, Megacenter the Mall, Melanio's,and the NE Mall. SM Prime has approximately 42,000 square-meter property near the CBD, based on the company's 2010 year-end financial report. This SM Prime property is rumored to be developed in the near future.
Cabanatuan City is administratively subdivided into 89 barangays.
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