| Roxas | |
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| — Municipality — | |
| Map of Isabela showing the location of Roxas. | |
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Roxas
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Cagayan Valley (Region II) |
| Province | Isabela |
| District | 2nd District, Isabela |
| Founded | |
| Barangays | 26 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Benedict Calderon |
| Area | |
| • Total | 184.80 km2 (71.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 53,461 |
| • Density | 289.3/km2 (749.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| ZIP code | 3320 |
| Income class | 1st class; partly urban |
| Population Census of Roxas | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | Rate | |
| 1995 | 45,187 |
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| 2000 | 48,929 | 1.72% | |
| 2007 | 53,461 | 1.23% | |
Roxas is a first class municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 53,461 people in 9,896 households.
It is currently one of the fast-growing towns in Isabela. It is the center of business and commerce in the Mallig Region. It is envisioned to be a city in the next few years.
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In 1600, the municipality of Roxas comprises the barrios of Holy Friday and San Jose in Mallig as far as to the municipalities of San Manuel, Isabela. The former name of the town is Bindang(Bayani), and was part of the "La Provincia del Valle de Cagayan".But in 1839, two new provinces were created by the Spanish conquistadors dividing the La Provincia del Valle de Cagayan into two. One retained the name Cagayan, while a new province of Nueva Vizcaya was created. Bindang along with the towns of Ilagan, Gamu, Camarag(now Echague), Carig(now Santiago City) and Palanan comprised the new province of Nueva Vizcaya up to the Caraballo del Sur in Santa Fe .[1]
In May 1, 1856, Bindang was one of the municipalities which comprised the newly-created Isabela De Luzon, to distinguish it from other Isabela's in the country.[2] In 1949, it was renamed to as the municipality of Roxas to honor the death of former President Manuel Roxas.
In 1952, the barrios of Holy Friday, San Jose (East), and San Jose (West) were transferred to the newly-created town of Mallig.[3]
In 1957, the barrios of Callang, Eden, Babanuang, Cabaritan, Sta. Cruz, Malalinta, Mararigue, Calaocan, and Caraniogan of were separated to form the municipality of Callang, now San Manuel.[4]
In the same year, the barrio of Basilio was renamed to San Jose.[5]
The municipality of Roxas is one of the 37 municipalities comprising the wide province of Isabela. It is exactly located on the central-western part of the province, bounded in the north by the municipality of Mallig, on the northeastern part by the municipality of Quirino, on the east by the municipality of Burgos, on the south by the municipality of San Manuel all within the province of Isabela and on the west by the municipality of Paracelis in the province of Mountain Province. Its exact location is 17°7′16″N and 121°37′12″E.
The road traversing the municipality of Roxas is the Maharlika Road or better known as Cagayan Valley Road. It connects the town to other towns in Isabela particularly Gamu to the east, Quirino to the northeast, Mallig to the north and San Manuel to the south. The southern tip of Cagayan Valley Road connects the town to Manila, which is 9 to 10 hours travel by land and to other southern provinces like Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Bulacan.
Roxas lie on a flat fertile land between the two valleys of Cagayan. It occupies an area of 184.80 km2 or 71.4 sq mi or 2.01% of the total land area of Isabela. The town is partly urban, and partly rural. The urban area is expanding rapidly throughout the years making it a future city. The rural part of the town compose mainly of rice fields.
Using the corona classification scheme, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) classified Roxas' climatic type as to Type III category. Type III Climate is characterized by no pronounced seasons, but often drier from November to April and wet season from May to October. This classification system is merely based on precipitation levels because the location of the Philippines is tropical, which prevents any significant fluctuation in temperature readings.
Roxas is described as Cloudy especially during summer time with an average wind of 1 mph to 3 mph.
The temperature of Roxas is very rare to change but it varies minimally with an average temperature ranging from 23.4 °C to 23.9 °C. The hottest months of the year are April and May with an average of 32.9 °C, but it can reach as low as 19.6 °C in January. People can describe the temperature as hot weather, due to its close proximity to the hottest points of the Philippines, like Quezon in Isabela and Tuguegarao City in Cagayan.[6]
Humidity arises from Roxas hot climate, which results from evaporation in the area. The average humidity is 65%, with a low level during October and peak as high as 71% at the month of December. The data was gathered using weather station RPLC, 310 feet (94 m) above Roxas, Isabela.
The landscape of Roxas is relatively compose of flatlands with minimal rise at certain point with base mountain elevations on the eastern part, on the part of Sinamar, Simimbaan and San Placido. It is approximately 90% of the land area comprising the town can be described as low-lying hills with rolling terrain and an elevation of 200 feet or 61 meters above sea level.[7] The town is dissected by creeks, river and waterways acting as natural drainage from waters coming from the uplands. The Siffu River, a connection from Ilog ng Cagayan(Cagayan River) traverse west ward from its diversion from Paracelis to Tuguegarao City.
The center of the town is relatively low relief of flatlands, while the south-western and north-western part having a moderately sloping areas comprisimg the foothills of Mountain Province.
In the area, rice is the predominant crop, planted twice a year. The livelihood opportunity is very limited thus,a year round planting of vegetables is practiced to sustain additional income for the settlers. Farm labor is highly utilized and low productivity was experienced because of manual farming. As such, during peak of drying, farmers are compelled to sell their produce freshly threshed which commands lower price.
In 2009, the government provided P3 million financial assistance for the Mestizo 1 hybrid seeds planting and for the establishment of needed agricultural components for Farming improvements. With the Local Government Unit’s strong support, cooperative members embarked on hybrid rice production starting as early as 2007-2008 wet season cropping and followed through the next dry season using 40-percent organic fertilizer.
Roxas municipality prides itself as the “pioneer” in hybrid rice production in the province of Isabela with the farmers now producing their own M1 hybrid seeds. The farmers who belong to three irrigators associations in barangays Simimbaan, Casilbagan and Tanap Progreso, have organized themselves into a cooperative called Simca Model Cluster MPC under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture. The rice cluster operation is an extension strategy in reaching farmers and extending assistance to achieve increased productivity, food sufficiency and job generation. This is initiated in support to the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Rice Program.
Being a hybrid community, some farmers now engaged in producing their own hybrid rice seeds by planting A x B (female parental line) for A x R (F1) seed production. This would produce readily available hybrid rice seeds for members and farmers in nearby municipalities.
Aside from hybrid rice enterprise, they also venture on fishery. Through the Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the cluster coop had dispersed fingerlings to initial 23 fishery cooperators who have backyard fishpond and rice-fish integrated farming.
Roxas is politically subdivided into 26 barangays.
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Roxas is compose of mainly municipal and baranggay roads. A 22 kilometer National Road known as the Maharlika Road(Cagayan Valley Road) extends northward to the adjacent municipality of Mallig and to the province of Cagayan. The southern par extends to the adjacent municipality of San Manuel and provides the link to the cities of Santiago City and Manila. Roxas also has one Provincial road from the center of the town extending eastward to the adjacent municipalities of Burgos, Gamu and Ilagan. Municipal road extend to westward linking the town to Paracelis in Mountain Province.
The national road of Roxas is characterized by four columns of concrete asphalt road making it the municipality with a widest road expansion. The Municipal roads are characterized by 2 columns of road with Side roads made up from bricks colored in maroon.It also have unique street lights specially on the part of the Poblacion, while the National Road have orange-colored street lights. Access roads to all the 26 barangays connects to the national highway making it a most important component in the development of the municipality.
The municipality of Roxas is powered by the Isabela Electric Cooperative (ISELCO) District II. There are two separate power lines that divide the town. The other one connected to Aurora comprises the Barangays of San Rafael and San Antonio, while the remaining Barangays are connected to the central power facility of Roxas or the so-called Ilagan Connection. ISELCO II has their office at the center of the town.
Out of the total 9,896 households, there are around 8,392 households or 84.05% have actual electrical connections. The remaining households uses kerosene, oil lamps and battery to light houses.
Roxas has one of the richest supply of water. Residents mostly use shallow and deep wells for reservoir, and usually pumps water through a pump-well system. Some also uses electical-power faucets and Level III water systems(large towers). The main irrigation system for the farmlands are dependent to the Siffu River and other Irrigation System managed by the National Irrigation Administration. The un-irrigated areas greatly depend on rainwater and pumped wells for its water supply.
The Telephone communication system of Roxas is located in Baranggay Vira. There are telephone units intends for commercial use offering domestic and international services. The leading telephone line of the municipality is Digi-Tel with an area code of (642).
During the year 2000, ABS-CBN is the only channel that can be received by the antenna TV. Clear reception of major television networks is only made through Cable TV such as Psalms cable and satellite receptors such as Sky Cable and Dream. Psalms Cable, Inc. is the only cable TV in the whole town which extends its coverage to some of Roxas's neighboring towns - Burgos and San Manuel. However, due to relay stations of GMA 7 in Tuguegarao City and Ilagan, the network is now transmitted through the antenna TV.
Due to widespread influence of GMA Network, they are set to build a GMA-7 Isabela station once Roxas will be declared formally as a city.
Roxas receives regular broadcasting from AM and FM radio stations from other towns like Tuguegarao City and Cauayan City (through relay stations). Several AM stations such as DZCV, Bombo Radyo, and DZRH are being aired in the town. Roxas has two FM Stations named WIN FM 107.5 "Nagimas sen" located in Facoma and WER ROCK 104.10 FM ,located in the uppermost floor of Power Mall.
Several cellphone receptors and towers can also be located within the vicinity of the town. Smart Communications Tower is located in Barangay Vira, same as to Globe Telecom while the Sun Cellular Tower is located in Barangay Munoz.
Internet Services is also prominent in the town and wireless broadband internet. Various Internet shops supply the town people with social connectivity. Wi-Fi areas are located at the Freedom Park and other private establishments.
In terms of transportation, Roxas has the most number of bus and jeepney terminals compared to any other town in the region. Bus companies such as Victory Liner., Northern Luzon Bus Corporation (NELBUSCO), AJA Transport, GV Florida Transport, Royal Eagle and Auto Bus have services bound to other parts of the provinces, Tarlac, Pampanga, Ilocos, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, and Manila. Transportation within the town is mainly by "tricycles", a type of auto rickshaw that uses a motorcycle with an attached cab. There are also many vans which are used as a means of transportation from Roxas to other parts of the province. Many buses also pass through via Roxas routing from Cagayan to Manila and baguio City. Some of these buses are Victory Liner, Ballesteros Bus Line Corporation(BBLC), Dagupan Bus Corporation Incorporated, DALIN, Lizardo Trans(GL), GMW Transportation, Maribel(a sister company of BBLC), Rosalinda and DOLBO Transportation.
| Means of Transportation | Route | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Victory Liner | Roxas to Manila Tuguegarao City to Manila via Roxas |
| Dagupan Bus | Tuguegarao City to Manila via Roxas | |
| Auto Bus | Roxas to Manila | |
| AJA Transport | Roxas to Manila | |
| GV Florida Transport | Roxas to Manila Tuguegarao City to Manila via Roxas |
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| Ballesteros Bus Lines | Tuguegarao City to Manila via Roxas | |
| NorthStar Lines | Tuguegarao City to Manila via Roxas Ballesteros, Cagayan to Manila via Roxas |
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| Nelbusco | Roxas to Manila Roxas to Santiago City |
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| Public Utility Jeepney | Roxas to Tumauini, Roxas to Gamu, Roxas to Burgos, Roxas to Ilagan, Roxas to Quezon Roxas to Cauayan City Roxas to Santiago City |
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| Passenger Van | Roxas to Tuguegarao City, Roxas to Cauayan City, Roxas to Santiago City |
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Since December 2007 up to date, Roxas is the most progressive town in Mallig Region. It has the most number of banks such as Banco de Oro, Philippine National Bank, Landbank of the Philippines, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company, Banco Agricola, Inc., Mallig Plains Rural Bank and other non-major banks.
There are 3 major grocery stores in the area, Midtown Grocery, 619 Grocery and Talavera Mart. Also, countless mini-grocery stores are available in the marketplace. Pharmacy stores are also prominent in the town same as computer shops and bake shops. The market place of Roxas is an organized area by which dry goods, wet market, toy stores and commercial stores are separated from each other.
In terms of Market place, Roxas has the largest market in the Mallig Plains Region. It offers a variety of products that is enough to provide the needs of the residents. Also, settlers from San Manuel, Quirino, Burgos and as far as Paracelis of Mountain Province are having their commodities from Roxas.
The Roxas Public Market was built in 1987.
It also has two locally famous malls - Power Mall (the first to install an escalator in the town) which is a 4 level mall with an underground floor. The mall was opened in 2008 and features a bookstore, department store, beauty shops, arcade games and the very first Jollibee of Mallig Plains Region. The second mall is GEMS Shopping Center built in 2003, is a 2 level shopping center offering clothes and school supplies.
There is only one major hotel in the town and is located beside the Roxas Municipal Park. The Bethany Garden Hotel is a five level hotel that offers suites for visitors, gym and restaurants.
Roxas is primarily considered as the center of health services in Mallig Region. It has numerous primary, secondary, and tertiary hospitals. Major hospitals are usually located inside the town proper while the Manuel A. Roxas District Hospital which is the only public hospital is located in Barangay San Antonio. It also houses some specialization clinics like dental clinics and skin clinics. Moreover, health centers are also available in each barangays outside the town proper.
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Over the past two years, when Dr. Harry G. Soller took the helms of government as its Municipal Mayor, Roxas has seen an unprecedented pace in its infrastructure development. The local government, in cooperation with Governor Grace Padaca and Congressman Edwin Uy, has concreted 20 kilometers of roads, more or less, in the town proper as well as in the barangays. As of March 2010, at least 10 kilometers of roads are programmed to be concreted. Moreover, Roxas' public places, and parks have been greatly improved. New Parks include the Barangay Park, which features 26 nipa huts put up by each of the barangays of Roxas; the Roxas Municipal Park and Freedom Stage, which features a clean comfort room, a Pasalubong Center, a Center Gazeebo with a beautifully designed fountain, and other park amenities; the Forest Park in front of the municipal hall; the Binibining Roxas Park; the Rizal Park; and the newly improved Children's Park.
Other infrastructure projects include the renovation of the municipal hall, the construction of a new module in the public market, the new vegetable trading post (Bagsakan Center), numeorus flood control projects, road widening projects, and many others.
Also, a future Grand Terminal for bus, jeepneys and public utility vans is at plan and will have its location at the former Hospital.
For over 6 years of construction, the official Sports and Entertainment Recreation building of Roxas has been completed but is still subject for future furnishing and renovation. The Roxas Astrodome is located at the back of Roxas Municipal Hall. It consist of 3 levels of seating with a capacity of 5,000 to 6,000 people. This houses different events which include Isabela Got Talent, a talent competition participated by contenders around Isabela and many more entertainment events.
Politics has been one of the local prominent issues. Benedict C. Calderon is presently the mayor of Roxas, defeating Dr. Harry G. Soller who had been the mayor of Roxas for 3 years. The current representative is Anna S. Go, who is in her first term. She won against Edgar Uy.
In these 2010 election, first automated election in Philippine History, incumbent Mayor Harry Soller lost to former Mayor Benedict Calderon with more or less 2000 votes. On the other hand, 3 termer 2nd district Congressman Edwin Uy lost to 2 termer Congressman Rodolfo "Rodito" Albano III of the 1st district with a margin of more than 80,000 votes in the vice gubernatorial race. Brother of Cong. Edwin Uy, Edgar Uy also a citizen of Roxas lost to Congressional race to 2nd district Board Member Ana Go with a margin of more or less 4000 votes. DY-ALBANO tandem wiped out Padaca-Uy tandem.
Public and private schools serve the people of Roxas and other neighboring towns. It has a number of public elementary schools, three public high schools, namely Roxas National High School, Lanting National High School and Munoz National High School,the same through with the Monico Rarama National High School. A Marian institution, La Salette of Roxas, provide the private school education. It has a primary school, a high school, and a college. La Salette of Roxas is considered as the highest standard of Education in the whole town. Some public elementary schools, Bantug-Lintao Elementary School, San Rafael Elementary School, Roxas West Central School and Roxas East Central School (the largest) are among the most popular elementary schools in the town. There are also Day Care Centers each barangay and Roxas United Methodist Church Kindergarten School and Isabela Christian Learning Center for nursery education. There are four private elementary schools, the Casa Del Niño Montessori School, Marlbury Bush Montessori School, Shalom Learning and La Salette of Roxas-Elementary Department. There are also Colleges and Universities in the town namely University of La Salette - Roxas Campus a branch of University of La Salette - Santiago City and Isabela State University.
Here are the complete list of schools within the vicinity of Roxas.
| School | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|
| ISU Roxas Campus | Rang-Ayan | Public |
| Roxas East Central School | Rizal | Public |
| Roxas West Central School | Muñoz West | Public |
| Marcos Elementary School | Marcos | Public |
| Sinamar Elementary School | Sinamar | Public |
| San Francisco Elementary School | San Placido | Public |
| Nuesa Elementary School | Sotero Nuesa | Public |
| Bantug-Lintao Elementary School | Bantug | Public |
| Simimbaan Elementary School | Simimbaan | Public |
| San Rafael Elementary School | San Rafael | Public |
| San Antonio Elementary School | San Antonio | Public |
| Matusalem Elementary School | Matusalem | Public |
| San Pedro-Villa Concepcion Elementary School | Villa Concepcion | Public |
| Doña Concha Elementary School | Doña Concha | Public |
| Imbiao Elementary School | Imbiao | Public |
| Anao Elementary School | Anao | Public |
| Quiling Elementary School | Quiling | Public |
| Luna-Rang-Ayan Elementary School | Luna | Public |
| San Jose Elementary School | San Jose | Public |
| Lanting Elementary School | Lanting | Public |
| Lucban Elementary School | Lucban | Public |
| Marlbury Bush Montessori School | Rizal | Private |
| La Salette of Roxas | Vira | Private |
| Cas Del Nino Montessori School | San Rafael | Private |
| School | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Roxas National High School | Bantug | Public |
| Lanting National High School | Lanting | Public |
| Monico Rarama National High School | San Pedro | Public |
| Muñoz National High School | Muñoz | Public |
| La Salette of Roxas | Vira | Private |
| School | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Isabela State University | Rang-Ayan | University |
| University of La Salette-Roxas Campus | Vira | University |
A yearly celebration of Pagay Festival(Palay Festival) held every July 4.[8] The Festival was popularly known as the Araw ng Roxas Celebration but it was declared formally as Pagay Festival during the reign of Mayor Benedict Calderon. It is celebrated because of the rich agriculultural bounty of Roxas, being one of the town that produces large stocks of rice. The festival features a Parade comprises mostly by Politicians and participating schools from different parts of Roxas, kuliglig contest and cooking of the biggest rice cake that was also featured in the national television.[9] Major events include a Street Dance Competition from different schools and Palarong Bayan.
Due to a conflict in the name of the festival, by which the town of Alicia, Isabela celebrates the same.[10] It was changed to Binnadangan Festival by former Mayor Harry Soller. The Binnadangan comes from an Ilocano word meaning Bayanihan and was also derived from the former name of the town during the 1600s. The festival ends with a long Pyromusical.
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| Destination | Location | Year of Completion | Description |
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| Barangay Park | Vira, Roxas, Isabela | 2010 | 26 Nipa Huts[11] |
| Roxas Municipal Park | Centro, Roxas, Isabela | 2010 | Memorial Park of Manuel A. Roxas, Freedom Stage, Pasalubong Center and Fountain |
| Forest Park | Vira, Roxas, Isabela | 2010 | Themed Park |
| Children's Park[12] | Vira, Roxas, Isabela | 2000 | Themed Park |
| Borubor Falls | Sinamar, Roxas, Isabela | Nature Wonder | Falls |
| Roxas Astrodome | Vira, Roxas, Isabela | 2010 | Coliseum |
| Our Lady of La Salette Church | Vira, Roxas, Isabela | 1970(Renovated 2011) | Church |
| Hadassah Resort | Munoz, Roxas, Isabela | 2001 | Resort |
| Lado Del Rio Resort | Riverside, San Placido, Roxas, Isabela | 2011 | Resort |
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| Paracelis, Mountain Province | Mallig, Isabela | Quirino, Isabela | ||
| Paracelis, Mountain Province | Quirino, Isabela Burgos, Isabela |
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| Roxas, Isabela | ||||
| Alfonso Lista, Ifugao | San Manuel, Isabela | Burgos, Isabela |