Isabela's Ilagan now a component city

ILAGAN, Isabela – It’s now official: This capital town is now a component city of the province.

           

More than 95 percent of the total votes cast in last Saturday’s plebiscite affirmed Ilagan’s cityhood bid. 

Based on the official results, the pro-cityhood votes totaled 51,947 or 96.14 percent of the total votes cast versus the anti-cityhood votes of 2,086 or 3.86 percent. Ilagan has 83,470 registered voters.

           

In 1998, the townsfolk overwhelmingly rejected Ilagan’s first cityhood attempt in a plebiscite as they feared increases in taxes and prices of prime commodities.

           

“I convey my profound gratitude to the Almighty and the Ilagueños for making the once-elusive dream a reality. We will further endeavor to make Ilagan the cradle of economic prosperity,” said Mayor Josemarie Diaz, who himself made history as the first mayor of Ilagan City.

           

Ilagan, one of the country’s biggest towns in terms of land area, is now the third city of Isabela after Santiago and Cauayan and the fourth in Cagayan Valley after Tuguegarao, the capital of Cagayan.–Charlie Lagasca,