Santiago City | uapsauls

The City of Santiago is an independent city located in the southwestern part of Isabela in north Luzon island of the Philippines. It is surrounded by four provinces (Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Quirino and Isabela) and is the gateway to the vast lands of Cagayan, Isabela and Quirino. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 132,804.

Santiago is situated 326 kilometers north of Metro Manila. The city sits on a vast area of predominantly flat and fertile land in the Cagayan Valley, surrounded by the Caraballo Mountains to the south, the Great Sierra Madre to the east and the Cordillera Mountain Range to the west.

History

The origin of Santiago City can be drawn from the first native settlement discovered by the early Spanish missionaries at the bank of the old Carig River (now Diadi River) from which its original name, Carig, was derived. The early inhabitants were the Gaddangs and the Ibanags. When theSpanish settled in, the city was named Pueblo of Santiago Apostol de Carig, with Santiago as the Spanish name of Saint James the Apostle. In the early 1950s, the Municipal President Vicente Carreon changed the name to simply Santiago. Santiago remained a municipality for 84 years.

Santiago was originally a part of the province Cagayan (comprising the whole Cagayan Valley region), which was reorganized as a political subdivision in 1583 with Nueva Segovia as its capital. On May 1, 1856, when the Province of Isabela was carved out by a Royal Decree, Santiago was among the towns relinquished to the newly created province. The first five barrios after the Cadastral survey in 1927 were Patul, Batal, Nabbuan, Buenavista and Dubinan.

It was said that there were only about three Filipino-owned sari-sari stores in Santiago in 1917. The settlers acquired most of their merchandise and other provisions from Chinese traders in Echague, the landing zone for products intended for Santiago and other towns, owing to its proximity to the Cagayan River.

It was when the Villa-Verde Trail was opened when things were set in motion. It facilitated the entry of immigrants from various provinces in Luzonto the Cagayan Valley and Santiago absorbed a sizable share of these travelers. The new route served as an impetus for growth and introduced new technologies and business opportunities.

Santiago survived through world wars, although badly damaged, and from then on developed to become the leading commercial and industrial city in Cagayan Valley.

In 1942, occupied by the Japanese forces entered in the town of Santiago.

In 1945, founded to the liberation in the town of Santiago province of Isabela beginning the Filipino soldiers of the 1st, 2nd, 11th, 12th, 13th and 15th Infantry Division and the USAFIP-NL 11th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, the 1st Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary and the recognized guerrilla fighter unit against the Japanese Imperial forces under defeated during World War II.

On December 17, 1993, the bill converting Santiago into an independent component city was approved by the Lower House. On the following year, the Senate Committee on Local Government approved another public hearing dated February 23, 1994.

On May 5, 1994, by virtue or Republic Act 7720 signed by His Excellency, President Fidel V. Ramos, Santiago was pronounced as an independent component city, the first in the Cagayan Valley Region. This made Santiago, self-governing and autonomous city from the rule of the provincial governor. Republic Act 8528 repealed this statute transforming it back to a component city. It was not until December 29, 1999, when theSupreme Court contested the validity of the latter decision and favored Santiago to be once again an independent component city.

Geography

The total land area the city is 80% flat or nearly level land in the portions of northwestern, eastern and western parts of the city. While adjacent areas have gently undulating and moderately rolling areas, and the remaining areas constitutes steeply undulating and rolling lands. The Balintocatoc Hills is the highest point in the city.

The geographic coordinate of the city lies between 16º35’00” to 16º47’30” north latitude and 121º25’00” to 121º37’00” east longitude.

Economy

Santiago City is Cagayan Valley's pioneer city. Its cityhood motivated other towns to grasp for more progress and to uplift the people's standard of living. Santiago City has highly equipped facilities in health, education and security making it a first choice in terms of settlement.

Home of several business enterprises, banking institutions, educational entities, as well as manufacturing companies, the City of Santiago is considered the Commercial and Industrial Center of Cagayan Valley.

Robinsons Land Corporation has recently launched Robinsons Place Santiago as its pioneer mall in Cagayan Valley.Vista Land and Lifescapes, Inc. entered Cagayan Valley by building Camella Isabela. It has recently launched another project named as Camella Santiago. The head-office of Grupo Marilens, the largest homegrown corporation in the region, is in Santiago City. Three of the biggest TV networks in the country (i.e.ABS-CBN, GMA7, TV5)stationed their regional networks in the city. San Miguel Corp., Pepsi Cola, Purefoods, Digitel and PLDT also operate in the city while different car companies abound(i.e. Mitsubishi, Toyota, Nissan, Isuzu, Hyundai, KIA, Ford, other car companies as well as Yamaha and Honda Motors). The National Food Authority competes with local traders to stabilize prices.

Santiago City houses some of the biggest hospitals in the region. The University of La Salette Hospital is said to be the biggest having a capacity of at least 350 bed. De Vera's Medical Center, Callang General Hospital and Cagayan Valley Sanitarium are also equally equipped private hospitals. The Santiago City Emergency Hospital and Flores Hospital are now considered Medical Centers.

Notable school institutions located in the city are the University of La Salette and Northeastern College, one of the oldest schools in the region. The Southern Isabela College of Arts and Trades is the biggest vocational school operating in the city.

Despite rapid industrialization, agriculture is still the untoppled source of livelihood. The main crops are rice, corn, high value fruits and vegetables. The city is where imposing grain stations can be found. Rice mills abound. It is the pivotal place for crops where harvests from Ifugao, Kalinga, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and parts of Isabela are transported either to Nueva Ecija, Bulacan,Pangasinan or Batangas. In addition to the city's product is muscovado sugar which the local government has been promoting for export.

Barangays

Santiago City is politically subdivided into 37 barangays.

Abra
Ambalatungan
Balintocatoc
Baluarte
Bannawag Norte
Batal
Buenavista (Urban)
Cabulay
Calao East (Pob.)
Calao West (Pob.)
Calaocan (Urban)
Villa Gonzaga
Centro East (Pob.)

Centro West (Pob.)
Divisoria
Dubinan East (Pob.)
Dubinan West (Urban)
Luna
Mabini (Pob.)
Malvar (Pob.)
Nabbuan
Naggasican
Patul
Plaridel (Urban)
Rizal (Urban)

Rosario (Urban)
Sagana
Salvador
San Andres (Urban)
San Isidro
San Jose
Sinili
Sinsayon (Urban)
Santa Rosa
Victory Norte (Pob.)
Victory Sur (Urban)
Villasis (Pob.)

Government

The city is governed by a mayor-council system. There are 10 City Councilors. The council is the official government body of the city, it is also known as SANGUNIANG PANGLUNGSOD. Council agenda is presided by the City Vice Mayor. No native was ever elected mayor of Santiago since the Philippine became a Commonwealth and Republic.

During the Miranda Flagship, the city Government adopted the parental AxR Hybrid rice seed production as its flagship program for agriculture, which produces the offspring F1 Hybrid rice seed. This rice variety makes phenomenal yield of 249 per ha. doubling the income of Santiago City farmers per cropping, and is expected to bring Santiago City over 2 billion in income and also additional taxes of 17 million and the national government of 33 million per year.

After the previous leadership, The Navarro Administration added more life in culture and strengthen the livelihood of the people. The Navarros' spearheaded a unique program for farmers in planting on mid-summer and harvest by early September side-by-side in focusing on high-value fruits.

List of the current elected officials

Congressman Giorgidi B. Aggabao (4th District of Isabela and Santiago City)
Mayor Joseph Salvador Tan
Vice-Mayor Marcelino Cabucana, Jr.

Sangguniang Panglungsod Members

Coun. Arlene Alvarez
Coun. Celine Abaya-Siquian
Coun. Pandong Lugod
Coun. Vinchy Aggabao
Coun. Aysen Marrero
Coun. Kathrina Sable

Coun. Nicky Bautista
Coun. Hex Alvarez
Coun. Andong Dirige
Coun. Brenda Ragsac-Luna

Culture

The City celebrates Pattaradday Festival or dubbed as Santiago Day. Pattaradday is an Ibanag word which means unity. It celebrates the unity of the ethno-linguistic groups that have merged in the city to make it the melting pot of culture of Region II and contributed to the city’s progress and development-unity in action. it is celebrated every May 1- May 6 the founding anniversary of Santiago.

In 2007, The City was given a Presidential Award for the Most Child-Friendly City under the leadership of former Mayor Navarro.

Transportation

Serving as a bridge to the region's provincial network, numerous bus terminals are present in the city. These include, Victory Liner, Nelbusco, Florida, Baliwag Transit, North Star Bus, Dagupan Bus, REM Liner,Auto Bus among others. By air via Cauayan City airport

The Santiago City Integrated Terminal has also been established to cater for public vehicles that operate from nearby provinces and localities to the city.