Quirino
Quirino is a province of the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley Region (Region II) of Luzon. The province covers roughly 2,323.47 square kilometers and is composed of 6 municipalities with a total of 132 barangays. The capital of the province is Cabarroguis. The province was named after former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino, and it is known for its mountainous terrain, caves, waterfalls, and eco-tourism sites.
HISTORY
Quirino is a province of the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley Region (Region II) of Luzon. The area was originally inhabited by indigenous groups, particularly the Bugkalot (Ilongot) people, long before Spanish colonization. During the Spanish and American periods, the region was part of Nueva Vizcaya and was relatively remote, with limited development due to its mountainous terrain. On June 18, 1966, Republic Act No. 4734 created the sub-province of Quirino, named after President Elpidio Quirino, initially consisting of the municipalities of Diffun, Saguday, and Aglipay. Additional municipalities were later established, including Cabarroguis in 1967, Maddela in 1969, and Nagtipunan in 1972. Quirino became an independent province on September 10, 1971, under Republic Act No. 6394, with Cabarroguis as its capital. Since then, the province has gradually developed its economy, focusing on agriculture, eco-tourism, and preservation of its natural resources and cultural heritage.
QUICK FACTS | |
| Population Census (2024) | 210,841 |
| Land Area (2015) | 2,319.66 km² |
| No. of households | 49,546 |
| Average Household Size | 4.11 |
| Registered Voters | 184,696 |
| Major Landmarks | Governor's Rapids |
| Coastal Access | no |
| Economic Zone estimated elevation above sea level | 506 meters |
Map
Quirino Province is located in the Cagayan Valley Region (Region II) in the southeastern part of Luzon Island, bordered by Nueva Vizcaya to the west and north, Isabela to the north and east, and Aurora to the south.
MUNICIPALITIES POPULATION DATA
Quirino has 6 municipalities and 132 barangays.
| name | type | barangay_count | population_2020 | population_2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aglipay | Municipality | 25 | 28092 | 29156 |
| Cabarroguis | Municipality, Capital | 17 | 33122 | 34376 |
| Diffun | Municipality | 38 | 60416 | 62684 |
| Maddela | Municipality | 32 | 40723 | 42256 |
| Nagtipunan | Municipality | 16 | 24131 | 25046 |
| Saguday | Municipality | 4 | 16357 | 16973 |
DEMOGRAPHICS
Population by Age Group
Based on the 2020 Census, the largest age group is 10-14, with 21,204 individuals, followed closely by those aged 5-9 years (20,609) and 15-19 years (19,772). In contrast, the smallest population is found in 75-79, with only 1,684 individuals.
| age | population_2020 |
|---|---|
| 5-9 | 20609 |
| 10-14 | 21204 |
| 15-19 | 19772 |
| 75-79 | 1684 |
Population by Gender
In 2020, the population was composed of approximately 51.82% males and 48.18% females, indicating a higher number of males than females.
ECONOMY
Agricultural Production Trends (2018–2023)
From 2018 to 2023, crop production in Quirino ranged from 5,036 metric tons in 2019 to 7,213 metric tons in 2023, showing an overall increasing trend. Livestock production was highest in 2021 with 828 metric tons, but dropped to 535 metric tons in 2023. Poultry production gradually increased from 440 metric tons in 2018 to 597 metric tons in 2023. Meanwhile, fisheries production remained the smallest contributor, fluctuating slightly but rising from 86 metric tons in 2018 to 117 metric tons in 2023.
| title | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Crops | 6912 | 7213 |
| Livestock | 623 | 535 |
| Poultry | 561 | 597 |
| Fisheries | 110 | 117 |