History

The area of what is now the province of Quirino was part of the range of Ilongot tribesmen who hunted and practiced upland agriculture. The region was left largely unexplored during most of the Spanish Era. Towards the end of the 19^th century, the comandancia of Binatangan was created to administed the headwaters of the Cagayan River. This outpost was attached to Isabela.

In 1908, due to a reorganization and delineation of boundaries between the provinces, the region of Binatangan was ceded to the province of Nueva Vizcaya. Towards the mid-20^th century, Ilocano migrants settled in the fertile lowlands that was referred to as Nueva Vizcaya’s fraction of the Cagayan Valley plains, while Ifugao and Igorot migrants settled in communities in the hills.

In 1966, the four plains municipalities and the upriver hinterlands of the Cagayan and the Diduyan Rivers were constituted into a sub-province of Nueva Vizcaya through Republic Act No. 4734, and named after the late Philippine President Elpidio Quirino. The town and capital of Quirino, Cabarroguis, was created through Republic Act No. 5554, in 1969. Finally, on September 10, 1971, Quirino was established as a separate province through Republic Act No. 6394. In 1973, the province was inaugurated.

People, Culture and the Arts

The Ilocanos form the majority of the people living in the province and are concentrated in the lowland plains in Quirino’s north and northeast. The Ilongots today occupy the hinterlands and along the upper reaches of the Cagayan River. Ifugaos are evenly distributed in all municipalities of Quirino and there are also Kankanaey and Ibaloi populations within the province. The Agtas live in the mountains of the Sierra Madre Range.

The Ilongots are hunters and slash and burn farmers living around the headwaters of the Cagayan River who have a strong pride in their ethnic identity. They were formerly feared because of their penchant for hunting heads but they have since abandoned the practice. Men do most of the hunting while the women plant rootcrops, rice, tobacco and bananas in small cleared fields. The Ilongots have little contact with lowland peoples except when occasionally trading dried deer meat. They are simply clothed in g-strings and wrap skirts but are fond of coiled wire bracelets and fancy jewelry.

The Bugkalot ethnic community, an Ilongot tribal village of formerly fierce headhunters living in the upper reaches of Nagtipunan, has constant interaction with the lowlanders of Quirino and is one of the few communities that can be reached readily. Ilongot communities are widely scattered and generally small units of from 50 to 70 members. Fewer than 5000 Ilongots are believed to live in the mountain fastness of Quirino.

Trade and Investments

Quirino’s varied and extensive territory, which lies in the headwater region of Cagayan Valley is virtually untapped and unexplored. Quirino’s 3,057 square kilometers covers lowland plains, river valleys and mountains that offer a range of economic possibilities. The relatively small agricultural land is very productive and grows a variety of crops. About 80% of Quirino is classified as timberland. Quirino also possesses large mineral deposits of gold, copper, limestone, silver, iron, coal, guano, marble and phosphate. A hundred thousand hardworking, artistically skilled and highly trainable labor force is a major economic resource.

The province is easily accessible by land. The national road leading to the province from Metro Manila and other peripheral roads leading to nearby areas are concreted. Bus companies and public utility vehicles provide regular commuter service to and from Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela as well as to Manila. The province also has sufficient supply of power provided by the Magat hydroelectric power plant, and water supplied by pumps, springs, shallow and deep wells. Irrigation requirements are met by the four tributaries of the Upper Cagayan River. There are direct dialing telephone service and telegram stations in Cabarroguis and pay phone service in Diffun, which provide communications access to the province.

Quirino is a major surplus producer of rice and corn, coffee and peanuts and is the leading producer of bananas in Region II. Livestock production is also another activity that has gained popularity in the province. While most of its produce is brought to Metro Manila and other provinces, a substantial portion is now being used as raw material for its fast growing food processing industry. Quirino is now slowly gaining the reputation of the producer of high quality banana chips, peanuts, processed meat and vinegar. Food processing remains a promising area for further development.

Another primary potential of the province is in its vast forest resources. With proper forest management and protection practices, its forest resources can support the thriving wood-based, rattan-based and paper industries. The province currently protects 116,938 hectares of timberland and confines forest resource extraction to 50,900 hectares. The abundance of wood-based raw materials can support an expansion of manufacturing activities such as furniture making, builder woodworks, rattan baskets and novelty items, and hand-made paper.

Tourism is a little explored potential industry in a ruggedly beautiful province such as Quirino. Subterranean caves, challenging rock face cliffs and white water rapids have attracted a growing number of nature challenge sports enthusiasts. The tourism industry is rudimentary and investing in better tourist facilities and support services is potentially rewarding.

Development Initiative Highlights: