Alcala, Cagayan
Alcala | |
|---|---|
| Municipality of Alcala | |
|
Seal | |
Map of Cagayan with Alcala highlighted | |
Interactive map of Alcala | |
Alcala Location within the Philippines | |
| Coordinates: 17°54′11″N 121°39′20″E / 17.9031°N 121.6556°E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Cagayan Valley |
| Province | Cagayan |
| District | 1st district |
| Barangays | 25 (see Barangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Cristina I. Antonio |
| • Vice Mayor | Joy C. Duruin |
| • Representative | Ramon C. Nolasco Jr. |
| • Electorate | 24,362 voters (2025) |
| Area | |
• Total | 187.20 km2 (72.28 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 36 m (118 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 219 m (719 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[3] | |
• Total | 41,468 |
| • Density | 221.52/km2 (573.73/sq mi) |
| • Households | 9,993 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 3rd municipal income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 12.61 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 246.3 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 524.9 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 185.2 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 43.01 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Cagayan 1 Electric Cooperative (CAGELCO 1) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 3507 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)78 |
| Native languages | Ibanag Ilocano Tagalog |
Alcala, officially the Municipality of Alcala, is a municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 41,468 people.
Alcala is the birthplace of Senator Melecio Arranz, who represented the 1st Senatorial District of the Philippines. The municipality is also home to the Saint Philomene Church, noted as the widest church in the Cagayan Valley.
History
The Ibanag people, an indigenous group, were the first settlers of what is now Alcala. They originally called the area Fulay, meaning “red,” in reference to the distinctive color of its soil. After two centuries of Spanish rule, Fulay was formally established as a township on 20 July 1789. It was later renamed Alcala in 1843 in honor of Governor General Francisco Paula de Alcala.
Geography
Alcala is located 39.01 kilometers (24.24 miles) from the provincial capital, Tuguegarao, and 524.16 kilometers (325.70 miles) from the national capital, Manila.
Barangays
Alcala is politically subdivided into 25 barangays. Each barangay is composed of puroks, and some also include sitios.
Climate
| Climate data for Alcala, Cagayan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 24 (75) |
25 (77) |
28 (82) |
30 (86) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
30 (86) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
28 (82) |
26 (79) |
24 (75) |
28 (82) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20 (68) |
20 (68) |
21 (70) |
22 (72) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
23 (73) |
23 (73) |
21 (70) |
23 (72) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 150 (5.9) |
106 (4.2) |
84 (3.3) |
48 (1.9) |
103 (4.1) |
115 (4.5) |
134 (5.3) |
156 (6.1) |
136 (5.4) |
240 (9.4) |
246 (9.7) |
300 (11.8) |
1,818 (71.6) |
| Average rainy days | 19 | 14.3 | 12.8 | 10.8 | 17.7 | 18.9 | 21.5 | 23.3 | 22.1 | 20.4 | 20.3 | 22.2 | 223.3 |
| Source: Meteoblue[5] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
Population census of Alcala | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[6][7][8][9][10] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
According to the 2024 census, Alcala had a population of 41,468, with a population density of 220 inhabitants per square kilometer (570 per square mile).
Economy
Poverty incidence of Alcala
45.27
28.97
22.30
21.81
18.88
13.58
14.66
12.61
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]
Alcala Milk Candy is a famous product of this municipality.
Government
Local government
Alcala is part of the first legislative district of Cagayan. In accordance with the Local Government Code of the Philippines, the municipality is governed by a mayor, who serves as the local chief executive, and a municipal council, which acts as its legislative body. The mayor, vice mayor, and municipal councilors are elected directly by the people in elections held every three years.
Elected officials
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Congressman | Ramon C. Nolasco Jr. |
| Mayor | Cristina I. Antonio |
| Vice-Mayor | Denden Sumabat |
| Councilors | Ener Castillo |
| Basio Vergara | |
| Jojo Castillo | |
| Seb Manuel | |
| Bingbong Mendoza | |
| Ilarde Ventula | |
| Joy Duruin | |
| Elvie Zamora |
Education
The Schools Division of Cagayan oversees the public education system in Alcala. Its office functions as a field office of the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Cagayan Valley region. Within the municipality, the Alcala Schools East District Office administers both public and private elementary and high schools.
Primary and elementary schools
- Agani Elementary School
- Alcala East Central School
- Alcala Rural School
- Angkiray Elementary School
- Arana-ar Elementary School
- Baculod Elementary School
- Baybayog Elementary School
- Calantac Elementary School
- Carallangan Elementary School
- Dalaoig Elementary School
- Dalaoig Elementary School - Catarauan Annex
- Damurog Elementary School
- Jurisdiccion Elementary School
- Maraburab Elementary School
- Masin Elementary School
- Piggatan Elementary School
- Pinopoc Elementary School
- Pussian Elementary School
- San Esteban Elementary School
- Tamban Elementary School
- Tupang Elementary School
Secondary schools
- Baybayog National High School
- Lyceum of Alcala
- St. Philomene of Alcala
- Afusing National Highschool
- Alcala Rural School
Notable personalities
- Alvaro Antonio – A former politician from Alcala, Cagayan, recognized for his contributions to local governance and public service.
- Melecio Arranz – A former senator from Alcala, Cagayan, who represented the 1st Senatorial District of the Philippines and played a significant role in the country’s legislative history.
References
- ^ Municipality of Alcala | (DILG)
- ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Alcala, Cagayan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region II (Cagayan Valley)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region II (Cagayan Valley)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region II (Cagayan Valley)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
- ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
- ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
- ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
- ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
- ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
- ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "2019 National and Local Elections" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved March 10, 2022.