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About
the Area
Region
I or better known as "Ilocandia" lies
in the northwestern coast of the island of Luzon.
It is composed of the provinces of Ilocos Norte,
Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan, occupying
a total land area of 12,840 square kilometers.
People living in the region are the Ilocanos
and Pangasinenses.
Forestland constitutes 34% percent of the region's
total land area. The region has abundant non-metallic
materials for agricultural and industrial use
and known as the number one producer of the
commercial tobacco crop and is the third largest
producer of mango for export. It has vast fishing
grounds and has a large potential for fishpond
cultivation. The natural beauty of the region
is a tourist attraction (photo above is from
the famous city of Vigan, a World Heritage site,
in Ilocos Sur).
Region
II or "Cagayan Valley" is found in
the northernmost part of Luzon. The region is
composed of five provinces namely: Batanes,
Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino
covering a total land area of 2,683,758 hectares,
64% of which is forestland. The country's largest
river basin, the Cagayan River Basin, is found
in the region, comprising an area of 25 ,469
square kilometers. The main source of livelihood
in the region is agricultural and it is the
second largest producer of tobacco. Among the
major crops produced are palay, corn, sugarcane,
banana and coconut. The region is reported to
have metallic reserves such as copper, gold,
iron, manganese, and nickel and non-metallic
mineral reserves such as clay, limestone, perlite,
rock aggregates, shale and sulfur.
The
Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) lies at the
northern tip of the island of Luzon. It is composed
of five provinces: Abra, Benguet, Mt. Province,
Ifugao and Kalinga-Apayao. Forestland covers
most of its lands, mainly suitable for pasture,
tree farm or forest. Most of the country's mineral
reserves and production, particularly of gold
and copper are found in the region. Abra River
in the region is one of the major river basins
of the country. Production is basically agricultural.
Although it has one of the smallest land area
for crop production, the region produces most
of the vegetable needs of the country. The region
has a rich cultural heritage, home to ten ethno-linguistic
groups namely: Isneg, Itneg, Kalinga, Bontok,
Kankanai, Ifugao, Ibaloy, Kallahan and Gaddang.
Rice Terraces which is one of the wonders of
the World is found in this region.
Water
Supply Development
Area I has a total of
295 cities and municipalities falling within
LWUA's jurisdiction, 129 of which have already
formed water districts (see
list below) leaving
166 towns and municipalities yet to form their
own water districts.
Recipients
of LWUA Loan Assistance Program in the Area
in 2004: Candon,
P193.045 million; Urdaneta, P152.876 million;
Bugallon, P31.353 million; Ramon, P22.443 million;
Gonzaga, P22.423 million; Metro Lingayen, P18.503
million; Maddela, P17.106 million; Binmaley,
P16.510; Urbiztondo, P16.401; Ifugao, P14.224;
Basista, P11.219; Roxas, P10.954 million; Sanchez
Mira, P10.208 million; Sta. Ana, P9.353 million;
Cabagan, P6.151 million; Lal-lo, P3.150 million;
Balungao, P3.150 million; San Quintin, P2.236
million; and Cabarroquis, P0.847 million.
Godfather
Water Districts
Acknowledged
leaders in Area I are: Ilocos Norte Water District
in Ilocos Norte; Metro Vigan Water District
in Ilocos Sur; Metro La Union Water District
in La Union; Dagupan City Water District, San
Carlos City Water District and Urdaneta Water
District in Pangasinan; Tuguegarao Water District
in Region I and the Metro Bangued Water District
in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR).
Water
districts in Area 1 are active members of the
following water district associations:
Pan-Ilocos
Water District Association (PIWADA)
which covers Region
I and the Cordillera Autonomous Region
Cagayan
Valley Association of Water Districts (CAVAWAD)
which covers Region
II
Eastern
Pangasinan Association of Water Districts
(EPAWAD) which
covers 9 water districts from the 6th district
of Pangasinan
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