Roxas, Isabela

Roxas
Municipality
Seal
Nickname(s): The Commercial Center of the Mallig Plains Region
Motto: "Roxas, Mahal ko... Mahal mo"
Map of Isabela showing the location of Roxas
Roxas Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 17°07′N 121°37′E / 17.12°N 121.62°E / 17.12; 121.62Coordinates: 17°07′N 121°37′E / 17.12°N 121.62°E / 17.12; 121.62
Country	Philippines
Region	Cagayan Valley (Region II)
Province	Isabela
District	5th District of Isabela
Founded	July 1, 1948
Barangays	26
Government[1]
• Mayor	Dok Totep Calderon
• Vice Mayor	Servando Soriano
• Electorate	33,539 voters (2016 election)
Area [2]
• Total	184.80 km2 (71.35 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
• Total	61,773
• Density	330/km2 (870/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	3320
PSGC	023126000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)78
Income class	1st municipal income class
Revenue	₱ 155,402,498.20 (2016)[4]
Poverty incidence	15.62 (2012)[5]
Website	roxasisabela.gov.ph

Roxas is a 1st class municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 61,773 people.^[3]

The municipality is the center of business and commerce in the Mallig Plains Region.

History

Early settlers were the Kalingas who originated from adjacent places in Mountain Province and some part of Kalinga-Apayao. Despite occasional clashes with Kalingas, Ilocano people settled in this area of the province, and increased their number with an influx from Ilocanos from Central Plains of Luzon and Ilocos Region.

The place used to be called Bindang (Bayani), and was part of the La Provincia del Valle de Cagayan (present day area of Cagayan to Nueva Vizcaya). 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 was dissolved as Barrio Vira under the municipality of Gamu, Isabela.^[6]

In 1938, the area of Mallig Plains was set aside by the National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA) under Settlement No. 2 due to the construction of another National Highway project of President Manuel L. Quezon that passes through the area. But World War II interrupted the implementation of the highway so it remains uncemented for many years. After the war, provincial leaders saw the potential of Barrio Vira as an independent town.

On July 1, 1948 President Elpidio Quirino established Executive Order 136 creating Barrio Vira as an independent municipality named "Roxas" to honor his predecessor Manuel A. Roxas who just died a few months back. It was then inaugurated on July 4, 1948, and Rafael Lintao became its first mayor.

In 1952, the barrios of Holy Friday, San Jose (East), and San Jose (West) were transferred to the newly created town of Mallig.^[7] In 1957, the barrios of Callang, Eden, Babanuang, Cabaritan, Sta. Cruz, Malalinta, Mararigue, Calaocan, and Caraniogan were separated to form the municipality of Callang, now San Manuel.^[8] In the same year, the barrio of Basilio was renamed to San Jose.^[9]

Geography

The municipality of Roxas is one of the 34 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 north-east 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.

The road traversing the municipality of Roxas is the Maharlika Highway or better known as Cagayan Valley Road, connecting to other towns in Isabela particularly the adjacent towns of Gamu, Quirino, Mallig and San Manuel. 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 square kilometres (71.35 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.

Topography

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 parts 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.^[10] 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 supplying the rice fields with irrigation.

The center of the town is relatively low relief of flatlands, while the south-western and north-western part having moderately sloping areas comprising the foothills of Mountain Province.

Climate

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 like any other parts of the country. 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 27 °C, but it can reach as low as 17 °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.^[11] The data was gathered using weather station RPLC, 310 feet (94 m) above Roxas, Isabela.

Climate data for Roxas, Isabela
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	29 (84)	30 (86)	32 (90)	35 (95)	35 (95)	35 (95)	34 (93)	33 (91)	32 (90)	31 (88)	30 (86)	28 (82)	32 (89.6)
Average low °C (°F)	19 (66)	20 (68)	21 (70)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	22 (72)	21 (70)	20 (68)	21.8 (71.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	31.2 (1.228)	23 (0.91)	27.7 (1.091)	28.1 (1.106)	113.5 (4.469)	141.4 (5.567)	176.4 (6.945)	236.6 (9.315)	224.9 (8.854)	247.7 (9.752)	222.9 (8.776)	178 (7.01)	1,651.4 (65.023)
Average rainy days	10	6	5	5	13	12	15	15	15	17	16	15	144
Source: World Weather Online[12]

Barangays

Roxas is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Below is the breakdown of its population as of August 1, 2015.^[13][14] Highlighted are the Poblacions.

Demographics

Population census of Roxas
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1948	14,864	—
1960	17,959	+1.59%
1970	22,997	+2.50%
1975	28,696	+4.54%
1980	33,045	+2.86%
1990	40,230	+1.99%
1995	45,187	+2.20%
2000	48,929	+1.72%
2007	53,461	+1.23%
2010	57,699	+2.82%
2015	61,773	+1.31%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][15][16][17]

In the 2015 census, the population of Roxas, Isabela, was 61,773 people,^[3] with a density of 330 inhabitants per square kilometre or 850 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Agriculture

The existence of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) System in the municipality that provides water supply services in irrigating farmlands makes the locality a prime agricultural community. The presence of these services makes the agricultural workers the highest in number. The agricultural productivity of Roxas is high, reaching as much as 95 percent cultivation rates in rice and corn. Surplus production of rice and corn are being exported to other places. Other crops are vegetables, tobacco and root crops in which production is just sufficient for local consumption. Likewise, the production of meat including pork and poultry is just sufficient but the supply of fish of other kinds aside from the harvest of inland fishpond owners within the locality is dependent on the arrival of supply coming from other places.

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 of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

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.

Trades and business

Since December 2007 until present, Roxas is the most progressive town in Mallig Plains Region. It has the most number of banks such as Banco de Oro, Chinabank, Philippine National Bank, Landbank of the Philippines, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company, EastWest Bank, Banco Agricola, Inc., Mallig Plains Rural Bank and other non-major banks. There are also 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 Marketplace, Roxas has the largest market in the Mallig Plains Region due to its continuous expansion after its 1987 construction. It offers a variety of products that is enough to provide the needs of the residents. Also, settlers from San Manuel, Quirino, Burgos, Mallig, Isabela, Quezon as far as Paracelis of Mountain Province are having their commodities from Roxas.

It also has two locally famous malls. The first mall is GEMS Shopping Center built in 2003, is a two-level shopping center offering variety of goods and supplies. The second, Power Mall (the first to install an escalator in the town) which was a four-level mall with an underground floor opened in 2008. It featured a bookstore, department store, beauty shops, arcade games and the very first Jollibee of Mallig Plains Region. Due to the unsuccessful fate of Power Mall, it was closed in late 2011 and was reopened as Puregold - Roxas on August 13, 2012. The store is the second PureGold in Isabela.^[18] Also, the SM Savemore also built one establishment in Roxas in the old lot of former district hospital and the present area of Bagsakan Center.^[19] XentroMall Roxas was also built enclosing the SaveMore Supermarket, with franchises of famous Mang Inasal, Pandayan Bookshop, Handyman, and Robinsons Appliances.^[20] Also, a second stand-alone store of Jollibee is line-up for construction, alongside McDonald's. The town has also a franchise of the famous Cebu fast-food chain, Chic Boy opened in 2012.

There are two major hotels: Bethany Hotel and Forrest Hotel and Restaurant and five resorts in the municipality.

Infrastructure

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 then 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. The latter was further reimproved by the incumbent Mayor, Benedict Calderon in 2011.

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), numerous 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 in Rizal.

In January 2011, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 02 Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia personally handed a check amounting to P7 million pesos on January 4, 2011 to the LGU-Roxas for the construction of 100 core shelter units.^[21] On December 28, 2011, the Local Government Unit of Roxas avails 1,000,000.00 thru the Local Government Support Fund, wherein the said amount was used to purchase lot in Baranggay San Placido.^[22] The said lot was utilized for the Core Shelter and Resettlement Program for the 100 less privilege families and those affected by typhoon Juan.^[21] In 2013, incumbent Mayor Benedict Calderon launched the Core Shelter Assistance Program in the area now called, "Sitio Benito" wherein the awarding of certificate of acceptance to the indigent families was held.^[21] The Local Government Unit in partnership with the Department of Agriculture also launched the Green House Project in the CSAP area wherein beneficiaries were tasked to plant high value crops.^[21]

Roxas Astrodome

For over six years of construction, the 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 consists of three-level seating with 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.

Road

Roxas is composed 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 City. 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. The Municipal roads are characterized by two columns of road with Side roads made up from bricks colored in maroon. It also has 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, a most important component in the development of the municipality.

Protective Services

The Philippine National Police (PNP), 2nd District Mobile Force Company, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) maintain the peace and order situation in the municipality. They are being augmented by the barangay tanods of the 26 barangays. The Roxas Philippine National Police (PNP) is composed of 30 policemen. The ratio is one policeman is to 1,381 persons, which is better than the national standard of 1:1,000. In terms of facilities and equipment, the police station is equipped with 14 radio transceivers and three service vehicles. The municipality has two fire trucks with complete accessories being manned by fifteen fire fighters.

Water and electricity

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 its 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.

On the water supply, Roxas has one of the richest. Residents mostly use shallow and deep wells for reservoir, and usually pumps water through a pump-well system. Some also use electrical-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.

Telephone and multimedia services

The telephone communication system of Roxas is located in Barangay 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). 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 Rizal and WER 104.10 FM "Radyo104", located in the uppermost floor of Forrest Hotel. 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 but wireless broadband internet is not accessible due to the absence of 3G in the area.

Transportation

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, Ilocos, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan 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.

Routes

Means of Transportation		Route
Bus	Victory Liner	Roxas to Manila Tuguegarao City to Manila via Roxas Roxas to Dagupan
	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 Roxas to Santiago City
	Ballesteros Bus Lines	Tuguegarao City to Manila via Roxas
	NorthStar Lines	Tuguegarao City to Manila via Roxas Ballesteros, Cagayan to Manila via Roxas
	Nelbusco	Roxas to Manila Roxas to Santiago City
Public Utility Jeepney		Roxas to Ilagan City via Gamu, Roxas to Quezon Roxas to Cauayan City Roxas to Santiago City Roxas to Tabuk City
Passenger Van		Roxas to Tuguegarao City Roxas to Santiago City

Healthcare

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, the only government 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.

Hospital/clinic

Major Hospitals Manuel A. Roxas District Hospital (MARDH) Soller General Hospital Dumlao Medical Clinic Yumena Medical & Surgical Clinic Dayos Medical Center Health City Medical Center of Isabela, Inc (Under construction)

Specialized Clinics Sambilay Maternity Surgical and Medical Clinic Purugganan Children's Clinic Capuccino EENT Clinic Garcia Dental Clinic Antonio-Miranda CLinic Rillon-Tabil Specialists Clinic Dr. Karen Alibutod Pediatrics Clinic Sumajit-Salamida Clinic

Local government

Politics has been one of the local prominent issues. Benedict C. Calderon became the mayor of Roxas, defeating Dr. Harry G. Soller who had been the mayor of Roxas for three years. In the 2010 election, first automated election in Philippine History, incumbent Mayor Harry Soller lost to former Mayor Benedict Calderon with about 2000 votes. The incumbent Mayor of the town is Dok Totep Calderon who ran unopposed during the 2016 Philippine National Election.^[23]

List of Mayors:

• Rafael Lintao (1948-1955)
• David Matusalem (1956-1967)
• Teofilo Bailon (1968-1970)
• Epifanio Abad (1970-1971)
• Inocencio Uy (1972-1986)
• Benito Calderon (1986-1998)
• Harry Soller (2007-2010)
• Benedict Calderon (1998-2007 and 2011–2016)
• Jonathan Jose Calderon (2016–present)

Official seal

The seal, a symbolic devise in the form of circle which symbolizes cohesive interactions of the town’s people. United as one group professing common tie and pursuing a common goal. This circular figure is circumscribed by a gear-like figure in bright green with black shadings which symbolizes the twenty-six (26) barangays and the unprecedented economic advancement of the municipality; a vital factor in the attainment of its economic status as the trading center of the Mallig Plains Region. Inscribed on the upper half of the narrow space formed by the outer and the inner circles in red are words "BAYAN NG ROXAS" punctuated by a period on the left and other period on the right; and the lower portion of the narrow space are inscribed the words "LALAWIGAN NG ISABELA" all in words red, this narrow space has a green as background. Inscribed in the smaller circle is the shield derived from the provincial seal of Isabela, where the municipality is located and in the middle of the shield is a bold letter "R" in white with black shadings for Roxas, the name of the municipality. Other inscriptions are on the upper most portions and on halfway below represents the irrigation canal, which are represented by a bold wave lines in sky blue. On the left side of the bold letter "R" is rice plant and on the right is a tobacco plant bold in green, the primary product of the municipality; and on the lower portion, a Vira plant in green after which the former barrio of the municipality of Gamu, now "ROXAS" got its name.^[24]

Education

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 municipality. Roxas East Central School is the largest and most popular elementary school in the town. There are also Day Care Centers each barangay and various specialized learning centers namely 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.

Elementary Schools
School	Location	Type
Roxas East Central School	Rizal	Public
Roxas West Central School	Muñoz West
Marcos Elementary School	Marcos
Sinamar Elementary School	Sinamar
San Francisco Elementary School	San Placido
Nuesa Elementary School	Sotero Nuesa
Bantug-Lintao Elementary School	Bantug
Simimbaan Elementary School	Simimbaan
San Rafael Elementary School	San Rafael
San Antonio Elementary School	San Antonio
Matusalem Elementary School	Matusalem
San Pedro-Villa Concepcion Elementary School	Villa Concepcion
Doña Concha Elementary School	Doña Concha
Imbiao Elementary School	Imbiao
Anao Elementary School	Anao
Quiling Elementary School	Quiling
Luna-Rang-Ayan Elementary School	Luna
San Jose Elementary School	San Jose
Lanting Elementary School	Lanting
Lucban Elementary School	Lucban
Marlbury Bush Montessori School	Rizal	Private
La Salette of Roxas	Vira
Casa Del Nino Montessori School	San Rafael
Shalom Learning Center	Munoz
Little Angels Learning Center Inc.	Munoz
Image Maker Learning Center	Bantug

High schools
School	Location	Type
ISU Laboratory High School	Rang-Ayan	Public (University)
Roxas National High School	Bantug	Public
	Matusalem
Lanting Region National High School	Lanting
Monico Rarama National High School	San Pedro
Muñoz National High School	Muñoz
Casa del Niño Montessori School	San Rafael	Private
La Salette of Roxas	Vira

Colleges and Universities
School	Location	Type
Isabela Colleges of Science & Technology	Rizal	College
Isabela State University	Rang-Ayan	Public University
	Matusalem
University of La Salette-Roxas Campus	Vira	Private University

Festivities

A yearly celebration of Pagay Festival(Palay Festival) held every July 4.^[25] 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 agricultural bounty of Roxas, being one of the town that produces large stocks of rice.^[26] 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.^[27] 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.^[28] 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.

Places of interest

Destination	Location	Year of Completion	Description
Barangay Park	Vira, Roxas, Isabela	2010	26 Nipa Huts[29]
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[30]	Vira, Roxas, Isabela	2000	Themed Park
Borubor Falls	Sinamar, Roxas, Isabela	Nature Wonder	Falls
Roxas Astrodome	Rizal, 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

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Roxas, Isabela.

• Municipality of Roxas
• Municipal Profile at the National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines
• Roxas at the Isabela Government Website
• Local Governance Performance Management System
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Roxas, Isabela