The development vision of the province is to become the “Prime Agro-Industrial and Eco-Tourism Destination in the North”
Quirino Province lies in the southeastern portion of Cagayan Valley (Region II), approximately between 15° 54.8’ to 16° 38.6’ N latitude and 121° 00’ to 122° 02’ E longitude. It is situated within the Upper Cagayan River Basin bounded by Isabela on the north, Aurora on the east and southeast and Nueva Vizcaya on the west and southwest. The province occupies an aggregate land area of 305,718 hectares (3,057.18 sq. km.) which is approximately 11.4 percent of the regional area and 1.02 percent of the total land area of the country.
Bountifully endowed with vast natural resources and development potentials, from its rich soil, widespread forests and grasslands, exquisitely carved mountain gorges, undiscovered pristine caves, renowned rivers and waterfalls, and teeming with a highly creative and skilled workforce, the Province of Quirino is positioned to become the “Prime Agro-Industrial Hub and Eco-tourism Destination of the North.”.
Quirino is geographically characterized as a landlocked and mountainous province. It is located at the southeastern portion of Region 2, bounded by the province of Isabela in the north, the province of Aurora in the east and the province of Nueva Vizcaya in the south and west. The Sierra Madre Mountain range provides a natural barrier on the eastern and southeastern border, while the Mamparang range shields the western part of the province. The province’s center is approximately 49.5 km from Santiago City, 163.4 km from Tuguegarao City, and 376.5 km from Manila.
| Land Area (has.): | 305,718 |
| Number of Municipalities: | 6 |
| Number of Barangays: | 132 |
| Number of Congressional Districts: | 1 |
| Capital Town: | Cabarroguis |
| Population (2020 Census): | 203,828 |
| Total No. of Households (2020 Census): | 49,546 |
| Labor Force: | 119,000 |
| Employment Rate: | 91.5% |
The climate of Quirino is tropical, according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system (www.climate-data.org). It receives a significant amount of rainfall throughout the year, even during the driest months. Having a tropical climate, it experiences a longer wet season and is affected by monsoon winds, locally known as “hanging habagat” (southwest monsoon) and “hanging amihan”(northeast monsoon). The hanging habagat brings rains to the province from June to October. The highest amount of rainfall is experienced during the months of July and August. The annual average rainfall within the province ranges from less than 1,500 mm to over 2,100 mm (PDPFP 2011-2030).
Quirino Province is composed of 6 municipalities and 132 barangays.
It has a total population of 203,828, and households numbering 49,546. Based on the latest Labor Force Survey of 2015, it has a total labor force of 119,000 and an employment rate of 91.5 percent.
In the province, around 41 languages are spoken at home. They are as follows: (source: 2010 census)
Adasen
Agta
Ayangan
Bago
Balatok
Bikol/Bicol
Bisaya/Binisaya
Bontok
Bugkalot/Ilongot
Chinese
Dibaben
Gubatnon
Hanunuo
Henanga
Higaonon
Hiligaynon Ilonggo
Ibaloi/Ibaloy
Ibanag
Ifugao
Ilianen
Ilocano
Iranon/Iranun/Iraynon
Isinai
Isoroken
Itawis
Itneg/Tingguian
Kalanguya
Kalinga
Kankanaey
Maranao
Obu-Manuvu/Ubo-Manobo
Palawani
Panay-Bukidnon
Pangasinan/Panggalato
Tagalog
Tagbanua/Calamian
Tausug
Tuwali
Waray
Yapayaoa
Yogad
The youngest province in Cagayan Valley, Quirino consists of only six (6) municipalities namely Cabarroguis (the capital), Diffun, Saguday, Aglipay, Maddela and Nagtipunan. During its creation as a province in 1970, Quirino had an estimated population of 49,767. On Census Year 2000, after thirty (30) years of existence, its population had swelled to 147,100, which marked a 2.50% annual growth rate.
Quirino acquired its juridical personality as a sub-province following the division of the Province of Nueva Vizcaya on June 18, 1966 as mandated by Republic Act No. 4734. It was named in honor of Elpidio A. Quirino, who served as the sixth President of the Philippines. The municipalities of Diffun, Maddela, Saguday and Aglipay made up the newly born sub-province which made Hon. Jose B. Aquino as its first elected Lieutenant Governor in the 1967 general elections.
On June 21, 1969, three years after its birth as a sub- province, R.A. No. 5554 was enacted. Amending R.A. No. 4734, this law created the Municipality of Cabarroguis from portions of the municipalities of Diffun, Saguday and Aglipay. This law was introduced and sponsored by then Congressmen Floro S. Crisologo and Melanio T. Singson.
Finally, R.A. 6394 was passed on September 10, 1971. An amendment of R.A. No. 5554, this act separated the sub-province of Quirino from its mother province of Nueva Vizcaya and constituted it into a regular province. Hon. Leonardo B. Perez, a Congressman at that time who would later become Senator, Chairman of the Commission on Elections while serving as Political Affairs Minister, and Hon. Benjamin B. Perez, also a Congressman at that time who would become the Assemblyman for Region II at the Interim Batasang Pambansa (IBP), worked for the passage of R.A. No. 6394.
Of note, a portion of Quirino was formerly part of the province of Isabela which was recovered and restored to the province of Nueva Vizcaya through the efforts of the late Congressman Leon Cabarroguis after whom the provincial capital was named.
The Province of Quirino is endowed with natural resources as it lies along the Sierra Madre Biodiversity Corridor and the headwaters of the Cagayan River, the longest river system in the country. The Cagayan River is the major source of irrigation water for the province, as well as the downstream provinces. The Addalam River, the main tributary of the Cagayan River, is, in turn, the main source of water for the National Irrigation Administration-Addalam River Irrigation System (NIA-ARIS) which irrigates the lowland areas of Quirino that are situated in the northeastern part and the southeastern part of Isabela province.
The Cagayan and Addalam Rivers are also the main sources of sand and gravel in the province of Quirino. These are primarily used as construction materials for building houses, roads and other concrete facilities. These two (2) river systems, thus, provide the province with additional revenue generated from the collection of sand and gravel by more than 20 private operators. Other rivers that can be tapped as potential sources of irrigation water are the Ganano and Dumadata Rivers.
a. Access and reliability to infrastructure and utilities
i. Road Network
Quirino is a landlocked and mountainous province. It lies at the southeastern portion of Cagayan Valley (Region II), bounded by the province of Isabela in the north, the province of Aurora in the east, and the province of Nueva Vizcaya in the south and west. Given the general physical characteristics of the province, the major mode of transportation for going in and out of the province is land travel.
Two national roads, considered as the gateways to Quirino, connect the province to other provinces of the region which is vital to its development. These gateways link Quirino to Cagayan Valley’s growth centers as well as to the National Capital Region. They are the:
Cordon – Diffun – Maddela – Aurora Road; and
Santiago – Baluarte – Isabela/Quirino Boundary – Junction Mangandingay Roads.
Six other alternate routes are open to traffic and these are:
Jct. Abbag-Nagtipunan-Nueva Vizcaya Road;
Jct. Victoria-Aglipay-Maddela-Kasibu Road;
Jct. Dalemdem-Pinaripad-Palacian bypass Maddela-Aurora Road;
Echague-Jones-Maddela Road;
EchaguePanang-San Bernabe-Villa Norte Road; and
Jct. Balligui-Dumabato Norte Road.
These national roads provide access to essential services such as health (Quirino Provincial Hospital in Cabarroguis and District Hospitals in Diffun, Maddela), security (Philippine National Police Provincial Headquarters at San Leonardo, Aglipay, Quirino), education (Quirino State College in Diffun and Quirino Polytechnic College and Cagayan Valley College of Quirino in Cabarroguis) and housing (Oriental Vista Village in Gamis, Saguday, Quirino). These roads also link Quirinians to most of the provincial offices, including the Philippine National Red Cross, Provincial Social Welfare Development Office, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Provincial Engineering Office and Economic Enterprise Office. National offices such as the National Food Authority, Bureau of Internal Revenue, National Statistics Office, Department Of Labor and Employment and Department of Public Works and Highways are also reachable through these roads.
At present, the local road system of the province consists of provincial and municipal roads with a total length of 275.845 kilometers. These local roads complement the national roads that go through the province, enabling the populace to access key government services and resources like irrigation, education and health.
ii. Electricity
iii. Digital connectivity
Network Providers Present: Globe, Smart, PLDT, Converge
*** Network Operation Center for wireless connectivity by the Quirino Provincial Capitol
b. Ease of access to nearest
i. Airports
Nearest Airports:
Cauayan City Airport (an hour and a half) from Cabarroguis
Tuguegarao City Airport (three hours and 30 mins) from Cabarroguis
c. Available skilled and trainable human resources
One of the best resources of Quirino is its people. Living off the land is indeed hard work and yet Quirinians are able to produce more than their sufficient share from such a small land area. Since the livelihood of most families is still agriculture-based, the province’s farmers have organized themselves for better support and cooperation.
These farmers’ organizations are open to the integration of new technologies and methods into their farming practices. The provincial government has also established comprehensive programs, such as projects under the Special Projects Unit (SPU) and Q-LiFE (Quirino Livelihood for Everyone), to help increase the farmers’ productivity and income.
Total Labor Force: 119,000
Literacy Rate: 98.1%
d. Access to raw materials suppliers
e. Access to huge and urban markets (distance from key markets and population)
i. Cagayan Valley Region
ii. Central Luzon
iii. Cordillera
iv. East Asian Export Market
f. Competitive Cost of Doing Business
DIFFUN
| Cost of Electricity of Commercial Users | 9.33/kWh |
| Cost of Water of Commercial Users | 54.95/cu.m |
| Price of Diesel as of December 31, 2021 | |
| Daily Minimum Wage Rate
Agricultural Plantation Non-plantation Non-agricultural Establishments with more than 10 workers Establishments with 10 workers or below |
345.00 345.00
370.00 345.00 |
| Cost of Land in a Central Business District | 625.00/sqm |
| Cost of Rent of the Largest Commercial Space in the Locality | 70.00/sqm/mo |
AGLIPAY
| Cost of Electricity of Commercial Users | 11.04/kWh |
| Cost of Water of Commercial Users | 40.00/cu.m |
| Price of Diesel as of December 31, 2021 | |
| Daily Minimum Wage Rate
Agricultural Plantation Non-plantation Non-agricultural Establishments with more than 10 workers Establishments with 10 workers or below |
345.00 345.00
370.00 345.00 |
| Cost of Land in a Central Business District | 250.00/sqm |
| Cost of Rent of the Largest Commercial Space in the Locality | 35.00/sqm/mo |
SAGUDAY
| Cost of Electricity of Commercial Users | 8.60/kWh |
| Cost of Water of Commercial Users | 10.00/cu.m |
| Price of Diesel as of December 31, 2021 | 46.75 |
| Daily Minimum Wage Rate
Agricultural Plantation Non-plantation Non-agricultural Establishments with more than 10 workers Establishments with 10 workers or below |
345.00 345.00
370.00 345.00 |
| Cost of Land in a Central Business District | 1,000.00/sqm |
| Cost of Rent of the Largest Commercial Space in the Locality | 400.00/sqm/mo |
CABARROGUIS
| Cost of Electricity of Commercial Users | 9.33/kWh |
| Cost of Water of Commercial Users | 30.00/cu.m |
| Price of Diesel as of December 31, 2021 | 48.65 |
| Daily Minimum Wage Rate
Agricultural Plantation Non-plantation Non-agricultural Establishments with more than 10 workers Establishments with 10 workers or below |
345.00 345.00
370.00 345.00 |
| Cost of Land in a Central Business District | 450.00/sqm |
| Cost of Rent of the Largest Commercial Space in the Locality | 450.00/sqm/mo |
MADELLA
| Cost of Electricity of Commercial Users | 8.57/kWh |
| Cost of Water of Commercial Users | 35.00/cu.m |
| Price of Diesel as of December 31, 2021 | 39.55 |
| Daily Minimum Wage Rate
Agricultural Plantation Non-plantation Non-agricultural Establishments with more than 10 workers Establishments with 10 workers or below |
345.00 345.00
370.00 345.00 |
| Cost of Land in a Central Business District | 25,000.00/sqm |
| Cost of Rent of the Largest Commercial Space in the Locality | 200.00/sqm/mo |
NAGTIPUNAN
| Cost of Electricity of Commercial Users | |
| Cost of Water of Commercial Users | |
| Price of Diesel as of December 31, 2021 | 43.45 |
| Daily Minimum Wage Rate
Agricultural Plantation Non-plantation Non-agricultural Establishments with more than 10 workers Establishments with 10 workers or below |
345.00 345.00
370.00 345.00 |
| Cost of Land in a Central Business District | 240.00/sqm |
| Cost of Rent of the Largest Commercial Space in the Locality | 150.00/sqm/mo |
g. Quality of Life and Leisure
h. Good governance
i. Consistency in and continuity of political and economic policies
ii. Ease of Doing Business
iii. Available Fiscal and Non-fiscal incentives (national and local) Quirino’s Investment and Incentive Code
A major Quirino attraction as far as investors are concerned is its provincial government, an enlightened, forward-thinking leadership that is 100% pro-business. Determined to drive the province forward and enable it to achieve its full potential, it has promulgated the “Quirino Investment and Incentive Code” which seeks, among others, to encourage investments “that would optimize local human, physical and natural resources in the province within the context of sustainable development.”
This code identifies preferred areas of investment that include agriculture and fishery-based enterprises (such as the production, processing and trading of the province’s high-value crops); forest-based enterprise (including wood-carving which taps Quirino’s big community of expert wood-carvers); gifts, toys and holiday decors (led, of course, by the production and trading of the province’s famous fossilized flowers); and tourism facilities and services (which cover the development and promotion of the province’s tourist destinations as well as the putting up of “Pasalubong Centers” or souvenir shops that sell Quirino’s indigenous products).
To encourage investors to put up businesses in the province, the code also offers incentives to registered enterprises in addition to the perks already provided by various Philippine laws. These are:
Free use of available and/or buildings owned by the provincial government for a period of two years;
Exemption from the payment of the basic provincial real property tax for a period of two years;
Exemption from the payment of tax on the transfer of real property ownership for a period of two years;
Exemption from the payment of the franchise tax for a period of two years; and
Exemption from the payment of amusement tax on admission for a period of two years.
Public-Private Partnerships
To further encourage investments in Quirino and hasten its development, notably in the area of infrastructure, the provincial government is also open to public-private partnerships (PPPs). In this regard, it enacted the “Quirino Province Integrated PPP Code” in September 2020. This code specifies the various PPP modes, 16 in all, that the provincial government is willing to enter into in accordance with Philippine laws. It also lists down the province’s preferred PPP projects.
These include the following:
Power plants
Highways
Airports
Railways and other transport systems
Hydropower projects
Renewable energy projects
Water supply and sewerage systems
Irrigation systems
Industrial estates/townships
Tourism projects
Housing projects
Public markets
Education and health facilities
Commercial centers
Information technology networks and database infrastructure
As can be seen in this list, infrastructure development is a priority PPP area for the provincial government of Quirino. In line with its development goal of improving the province’s connectivity and logistics, the building of roads and, eventually, of an airport is especially encouraged. Landlocked and mountainous, Quirino can only be accessed at present by land through a network of national and provincial roads that crisscross the entire province. In addition to building more highways to make the province even more accessible, more farm-to-market roads also need to be constructed so the province’s products can be transported faster and at lower costs.
Another network vital to Quirino are irrigation systems. Currently, the upper canal of the Magat Multipurpose Dam is the prime source of irrigation for arable land, such as the ones in the valleys of Diffun, and Saguday. In addition to this dam, there are other irrigation facilities in the province, such as the Ganano River Dam, Addalam Irrigation System and over 60 small communal irrigation systems scattered across the province. However, additional irrigation systems are still needed if the province is to achieve its development goal of increasing and diversifying its agricultural output.
In addition to the presence of the major telecommunication networks and internet service providers, Quirino also maintains a Geographical Information System (GIS) which can generate an accurate information database of the province’s land area for the use of investors, researchers and others. However, it needs to be upgraded and improved so it could provide more updated data regarding land conditions.
All these programs to attract investors are designed to complement the provincial government’s various development projects that are being implemented to achieve its mission of making Quirino, by the year 2030, “a First World province with a high level human development index living within a balanced ecology, nurturing a vibrant eco-tourism and advanced agro industry under a unified leadership.”
a. Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry
i. Livestock production
ii. High Value Crops production (fruits, vegetables and root crops)
iii. Aquaculture production (e.g. fresh water eel and tilapia)
iv. Horticulture production
v. Industrial Tree Plantation
vi. Bamboo Plantation
vii. Nurseries, hatcheries, post-harvest facilities, and other support services on agriculture, fishery, and forestry
b. Manufacture of industrial goods and processing of agricultural, fishery and forest products
c. Tourism
Given Quirino’s many tourist attractions, tourism-related ventures are still the province’s big-ticket investment items. Set to promote itself as an emerging tourist destination, the province still does not have enough of the usual amenities, including such primary tourism enterprises as hotels, lodges, inns and restaurants. Even the already established tourism sites like the Governor’s Rapids, Diffun Eco Park and the Quirino Watersports Complex located in the provincial capitol compound in Cabarroguis can still be developed further to offer more attractions and accommodate more visitors while protecting the environment. Meanwhile, the province’s leading hotels can be upgraded in ratings, from three-star to four-star. All of these are prime investment opportunities.
The Provincial Tourism Office is also gearing to aggressively promote Quirino as a health and wellness tourist destination. With its virgin forests, pristine rivers and breathtaking landscapes, the province should be a very attractive destination for people who, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are now more health conscious and who are now more determined to maintain their wellbeing. Health and wellness will, thus, be another offering from Quirino’s “Basket of Happiness” – and another promising investment area for businessmen.
i. Accommodation facilities
ii. Transport facilities
iii. Retirement Villages with health and medical facilities
iv. Agro-Tourism
v. Tourism-related facilities and attractions (e.g. restaurants, amusement centers and theme parks, golf course, spa)
d. Strategic Services
i. Creative Industries
ii. ICT-BPM
iii. Alternative/Renewable Energy
iv. Industrial Waste Treatment
v. Water Treatment, Distribution and Supply
vi. Telecommunication
vii. Mass Housing
viii. Health Care, Disaster Risk Management Services
ix. Climate Change Related Projects
x. Logistics (warehousing, trucking, trading centers)
For inquiries on how to put up a business in Quirino or for more information regarding investment opportunities, please contact us:
Provincial Planning and Development Office: +63917-498-9421
Provincial Economic Enterprise Office: +63917-302-4101
DTI-Quirino: +63917-856-4899