Day: September 24, 2021

Photo by Alex Moises on Flickr

Written by: Maine Dela Cruz

When we talk about Central Luzon, the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan frequently come into mind. These provinces often outperform the rest of the area, particularly the economy of Nueva Ecija. However, despite its lack of recognition, Nueva Ecija continues to significantly impact the economy of the region due to its crops production.

With a total land area of 5,751 square kilometers, the province has a total population of 2.3 million, according to the 2020 data from Philippine Statistics Authority.

How Nueva Ecija Came to Be

Nueva Ecija started as a military comandancia by Governor General Clavera in 1777, with Baler as its capital (now part of Aurora). The Spanish named it after Seville’s ancient town, Écija.

It used to be part of Pampanga. Its initial land area increased to practically the whole island of Luzon. From 1777 and 1917, Spanish authorities divided Nueva Ecija’s area to make room for the establishment of new provinces. The Province of Tayabas (now Aurora and Quezon), which includes the Polillo Islands, the provinces of Palanan (now Isabela), Cagayan, the province of Nueva Vizcaya, the territory that became part of the Province of Quirino in 1867, the province of Manila north of the province of Tondo in 1867, and the District of Morong (now Rizal) were among those formed from Nueva Ecija.

The Spanish government recognized Nueva Ecija as one of the two Spanish nations in the Pacific, along with Las Islas Filipinas. However, the King of Spain refused to recognize Nueva Ecija as a distinct kingdom from the Philippines in the 1840s due to poverty.

Important part of the history

Nueva Ecija was one of the first provinces to rise against Spanish authority in 1896 and proclaim independence in 1898. Instead of the poor, it was the elite, ruling class who spearheaded the 1896 revolt against Spain in the area. When armed conflict erupted in Nueva Ecija, municipal leaders and notable residents refused to cooperate with Spanish authorities. In the province, those recognized Filipino heroes were the aristocrats and colonial officials who showed their patriotism and affection for fellow Filipinos.

Now that you know the province’s history, let get to know Nueva Ecija’s significant contribution to the country’s economy.

What is the main product of Nueva Ecija? Let’s explore this question in the next section.

You can also check out these related articles:

• See the Beauty of Camarines Sur, Its Economy, and What It’s Known For
• Beyond Guimaras Mango: What is the Economy of Guimaras?
• Why is it good to invest in Iloilo City?

The Emergence of Nueva Ecija as the Rice Granary of the Philippines

In the latter part of the nineteenth century, the realization of Nueva Ecija’s potential as a rice seedbed resulted in the vast conversion of public property and the formation of agricultural estates in the province. The establishment of these estates heralded the advent of large-scale commercial agriculture centered on wet rice production. By the 1920s, Nueva Ecija had earned the nickname “The Rice Granary of the Philippines” or “The Rice Bowl of the Philippines,” which has remained the province’s moniker ever since.

End of the 1800s

Nueva Ecija was not always the Rice Granary of the Philippines. While rice farming was already a significant industry in the latter part of the 1800s, it would soon become the province’s primary industry.

Between 1870 and 1887, the province produced between 700,000 and 1,500,000 cavans per year and exported around 500,000 cavans to Manila in the 1880s. By that time, it had surpassed Pampanga’s exports, which had historically been the primary source of grain. Gapan and Aliaga produced the most rice, while Cabanatuan, Gapan, and San Isidro functioned as shipping hubs.

By the conclusion of the first decade, rice cultivation had established itself as the province’s primary industry, with the yield gradually increasing from 1,600,000 cavans in 1909 to 1,900,000 cavans in 1910 and 2,153,718 cavans in 1911. (Education Bureau) Already in 1911, the province was the third greatest rice producer in the Islands.

By 1920, Nueva Ecija had become the country’s leading rice-producing province, cementing its title as The Rice Granary of the Philippines. Nueva Ecija, in comparison to Pangasinan, had less farmed lands but greater productivity, average production per hectare, and total value that year.

Early Commonwealth Period

Between 1933 and 1937, annual rice output in the provinces varied between 42,219,600 and 55,015,730 cavans. Nueva Ecija generated between 16 and 20% of all cavans made annually.

Nueva Ecija produced 4,128,155 cavans of rice for the market in 1939 but consumed only 1,004,848 cavans. Thus, the province produced more than three times the amount of rice eaten. By the late 1930s, no other province in the Philippines had amassed as much surplus as Nueva Ecija.

Present Times: The Volume of Palay Production in Central Luzon Region

According to the latest data from Philippine Statistics Authority, Central Luzon was able to produce a total of 1,516,967 metric tons of palay in the fourth quarter of 2020. It fell by 0.5 percent from the same quarter last year. Despite the decline, Central Luzon surpassed all other areas in palay output in the fourth quarter of 2020, accounting for 20.5 percent of the country’s total production.

The declines in palay output in Aurora (33.2 percent), Bataan (1.7 percent), Bulacan (6.6 percent), and Zambales (8.3 percent) contributed to the region’s overall palay production falling by 0.5 percent, or 8,254 metric tons, in the fourth quarter of 2020. On the other hand, Nueva Ecija (1.7 percent ), Pampanga (0.9 percent ), and Tarlac all reported greater palay output (8.3 percent ).

Research and Development

Aside from farming, the people of Nueva Ecija also dedicate themselves to research for the development of agriculture not only in the province but also in the country. Yes, the province is not only the Rice Granary of the Philippines but also the country’s agriculture research and development center.

In Nueva Ecija, you can find the city of Muñoz, officially the Science City of Muñoz. The Science City is home to agricultural research and technology institutes dedicated to the generation of expertise and technological advances for rural development, productivity, and food security.

In Science City, you can find the Philippine Rice Research Institute which holdstop experiments on farming. The Central Luzon State University (CLSU) teaches students the value of agriculture by offering courses on agricultural engineering, biology, fisheries, teacher education, and veterinary medicine. It is one of the foremost research-oriented universities in the country that’s internationally recognized. It also houses the Agricultural Museum that promotes Philippine agriculture. You may also find here the Philippine Carabao Center. This institution is solely dedicated to breeding and crossing carabao based on high-yield Murrah buffalo in the Philippines for milk, meat, hide, and draft.

What Are the Main Crops in Nueva Ecija?

Aside from being the Rice Granary of the Philippines, Nueva Ecija is also one of the top producers of other high-value crops in the country. Here are the main crops in Nueva Ecija:

1. Rice

As the Rice Granary of the Philippines, the economy of Nueva Ecija contributed to half (51.4%) of the region’s total palay production in the last quarter of 2020, whereas Tarlac and Bulacan posted 18.6 percent share and 10.7 percent share, respectively. The remaining 19.3 percent can be attributed to the provinces of Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, and Aurora.

2. Corn

The latest data shows that Nueva Ecija contributed more than half of the increase in the total corn production in the region in the first quarter of 2021 compared to that of the same quarter in 2020. And Central Luzon recorded an increase of 7,255 metric tons in its total corn production.

3. Onion

Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, is recognized as the “onion capital” of the Philippines. Meanwhile, San Jose, Nueva Ecija is also recognized as a leading producer of onions in the country.

In 2019, Nueva Ecija accounted for 56.0 percent of the country’s land area dedicated to onion farming. Additionally, it contributed to Nueva Ecija 61.1 percent of the 222,082 metric tons produced by the country in general.

4. Garlic

When it comes to garlic production, Nueva Ecija covered 9.2 percent of the country’s total land area for garlic farming in 2019. In the same year, it contributed to 3.83 percent of the country’s total garlic production at 7,256 metric tons.

5. Calamansi (Philippine Lime)

The province of Nueva Ecija also produced the most calamansi in Central Luzon. In 2014, around 18 municipalities were practicing calamansi cultivation. San Leonardo, Cabanatuan City, Palayan City, Cabiao, and Pearanda were among the province’s top growers. There were 756, 136 trees planted in all.  684, 615 have already produced fruit in the province. In the province, 1,481 farmers cultivate the fruit. A total of 1,200 hectares of land are devoted to calamansi growing and production. 

6. Mango

In 2018, Ilocos Region topped the mango-producing regions, contributing 55.6 percent to the national total production. Central Luzon ranked second with 18.2 percent with Nueva Ecija as one of its top-producing provinces.

7. Banana

Nueva Ecija also produces bananas, particularly in San Jose City.

8. Coconut

Another major crop in the province is coconut. In 2019, Nueva Ecija was one of the provinces with the highest coconut yield at 79.19 kgs. for every bearing tree.

9. Vegetables

The province’s land also made it possible to produce a variety of vegetables. That is why it is also a driver of the economy of Nueva Ecija. Some of its primary vegetables include tomatoes, which covered 9.6 percent of the country’s total tomato farming land area in 2019. Additionally, the province’s eggplant farms covered 7.8% of the country’s total land area for eggplant farming in the same year.

San Jose: Nueva Ecija’s Fast-Growing City

A 3rd class component city in the province of Nueva Ecija, the city of San Jose is officially known as the City of San Jose. In fact, approximately 150,917 people live there, according to the 2020 census. And the city is one of the contributors to the economy of Nueva Ecija.

Businesses in San Jose

San Jose City in Nueva Ecija is one of the suburban cities with rising investment possibilities. San Jose, being one of the cities that comprise Nueva Ecija, called the “Rice Bowl of the Philippines,” is well-known for its agricultural sector and agricultural-related commercial operations to both domestic and foreign investors. This, along with certain large-scale infrastructure projects, has transformed San Jose City into a highly attractive investment destination.

Manufacturing Companies in San Jose

Indeed, San Jose, being a gateway to Cagayan Valley and Pangasinan Province, has the potential to develop into an agro-industrial hub. Certainly, such could be a potential contributor to the economy of Nueva Ecija. Some of the city’s local manufacturing companies include EA Estrella Grains Corporation, F.V. Dysico Ricemill & Trading, Joseph Ricemill Corp., BBGM Ricemill And Enterprises Corporation, and Agromaktechnologies Inc.

Other Businesses

Other businesses also thrive in the city. Shopping malls like Wallmart San Jose, SM San Jose, Magic Mall, and Vista Mall provide residents with a great variety of stores and shopping opportunities.

The city also exhibits the potential for other businesses such as fertilizer, furniture, jewellery, and other consumer items. Investors are also urged to develop a modern cold storage facility or a food terminal and processing plant.

Streamtech, Ready to Power the Rice Granary of the Philippines!

One of the newest internet providers in the Philippines, Streamtech Fiber Internet, caters to a lot of towns and municipalities in Central Luzon region, including San Jose, Nueva Ecija. It provides residents and offices across the city with reliable and fast internet connections at budget-friendly prices.

Truly, with the services of Streamtech, households in San Jose can enjoy video calling, gaming, and other activities on the internet without lagging and worry. 

Aside from providing clients with unlimited fiber internet, it also empowers users with their favorite television channels. This is through our partnership with Planet Cable. Plus, we also offer packages to elevate your home connection.

Additionally, its Extendifi WiFi Extender allows people to enjoy the power of Streamtech’s connection no matter where they are. Connect with our team today to experience the power of Streamtech.

Visit the official Facebook Page of Streamtech if you have questions or for more details.

Photo by Cheeze Keyk on Flickr

Written by: Aiya Rodjel

Camarines Sur, or in short, CamSur, is a province located in the Bicol Peninsula in Luzon, Philippines. Its capital city is Pili, while other major cities include the lone chartered city, Naga city, and the component city, Iriga City. Camarines Sur is the largest province among the six provinces located in the Bicol region in terms of population and land area. And the liberated Camarines Sur is one of the provinces slowly adapting digital technology. It has accepted providers of fast internet connection, just like its neighboring provinces of Camarines Norte, Quezon, and Albay.

In this article, we’ll talk about the province’s population and land area, as well as how people travel to the region. We’ll also delve into the famous food offerings, products, and tourist destinations CamSur has to offer in order to give people an idea of how valuable investing in the province can be.

Camarines Sur Province in a Nutshell

Camarines Sur province is located in the central part of the Bicol region, the southeastern part of Luzon Island. In the north of the province lies Quezon and Camarines Norte, San Miguel Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. On the south side, you can find Albay. In the east lies Lagonoy gulf, and on the west is Ragay Gulf.

With a population of over 2 million and a landmass of about 5,500 km2 (2,100 sq mi), Camarines Sur is the largest and most populated province in the Bicol Region. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) consensus of 2000, the forecast for the province’s population is 3 million by 2040. As per the Philippine Statistics Authority, the province accounts for 29.87% of Bicol, and about 1.75% of the entire land area of the Philipines.

Where most of the people live

Most of Camarines Sur’s people live in Naga City, which is the largest commercial center and city in the province. The rest are in the component city, Iriga City, and its other municipalities.

In terms of culture, most inhabitants of the island province are Bicolano. However, some Negrito or Agta tribes still live in the mountain areas. Tagalog speakers dwell near the border of Quezon province.

Camarines Sur along with Camarines Norte used to belong to a single province. However, during the Spanish regime, there was a division of the province. The current CamSur or Tierra del Camarines (named after the province’s many kamalig or nipa huts) became part of a larger Partido de Camarines. This would give the common local name of the Caramoan Peninsula.

In time, there was a split of the Partido de Camarines. The name of its rejoin was the Ambos Camarines. During the American occupation, the there was once again a division. Naga City, previously called Nueva Caceres during the Spanish era) used to be the capital of the province. However, the provincial capital was moved to Pili, a city named after pili nut, which is located in the southeast of the province. To this day, Pili city remains the capital of the island province.

The Languages of Camarines Sur

There are two main Bicol languages in CamSur: Central Bikol and Rinconada Bikol. Central Bikol is the most widely used variety of Bicol. This particular language is native to the Naga metro area, northwest Camarines Sur, and Partido. It is widely recognized within the whole Camarines Sur and Bicol Region.

Rinconada Bikol is used mainly in the Rinconada area to the southeast, and at the provincial capital at Pili. To the untrained ear, this may sound like a blend of Tagalog dialects, Aklanon and Waray. However, it has its own unique alphabet system. It also has particular sounds that are not found in most Philippine languages.

The Negrito tribes used to have their own languages. However, they’ve learned to adapt to the languages of their neighboring areas. Tagalog is widely used as well, but usually with a distinct Bikolano accent.

You can also check out these related articles:

• Why is it good to invest in Iloilo City?
• Why Nueva Ecija is the Rice Granary of the Philippines
• Beyond Guimaras Mango: What is the Economy of Guimaras?

Traveling to CamSur, Camarines Norte, and the rest of the Bicol Region

The Camarines Sur Province and the rest of the Bicol region can be accessed via plane, bus, car, and train. If you’re coming from Metro Manila, major airline companies have two flights to the province per day. The flight would take you about 45 minutes, and you’d have to pass through Pili City before heading to your destination.

Major bus terminals in Metro Manila offer transportation to Camarines Sur. There are a number of bus lines that offer bus rides to Naga City as well as several smaller towns within the province. From within the Bicol region, there are buses that pass through Sorsogon, Legazpi, Tabaco, and Matnog.

If you’re planning to go on a road trip, you can head to Camarines Sur by taking the Maharlika Highway and the Andaya Highway. Also, if you’re coming from Albay, you can take the scenic Sagñay-Tiwi Road. If you’re coming from Lucena, you can pass through the Quezon-Bicol Expressway, which links to San Fernando, CamSur.

The South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) is currently under renovation. Upon completion of the project, driving from Metro Manila to Camarines Sur would take about six to nine hours.

If you’re coming from Albay, you can travel by train to Camarines Sur. The train from Legazpi to Naga City is available on weekdays.

Sightseeing in Camarines Sur

From religious sites to popular water parks, there are a lot of tourist activities in Camarines Sur. Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie looking for some thrill or someone interested in a relaxing, picturesque escape, the province has a lot of diverse offerings to check out.

Camarines Sur is home to a lot of religious and historical establishments carefully conserved to this day. The Basilica of Our Lady of Penafrancia showcases a beautiful wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, which was originally from Salamanca, Spain.

If you’re an adventure seeker, the world-class CamSur Water Park is a must-visit attraction not only in the region but within the Philippines. The first established watersports complex in the Philippines and in Asia, it is frequented by international riders. Aside from waterboarding and waterskiing, you can engage in water activities such as swimming and biking.

If your goal is to explore the wonderful sights the region has to offer, you can go island hopping in the Caramoan Islands. Here, you’ll get to explore many white-sand beaches, gorgeous coral reefs, eat fresh seafood, and many more. Like the rest of the country, Camarines Sur is very tropical. While you can explore Camarines Sur and its three lakes throughout the year, heading to the province in the summertime would be ideal.

Eating Bicolano Style

Bicolanos are known for their very spicy taste palate. If you look to spice it up, the region has a lot of hot dishes for you to sample, and even try to learn.

The most famous Bicolano dish is called Bicol Express. Comfort food made of coconut milk/coconut cream, peppers, shrimp paste, meat, and other spices, this spicy food is well known not only within the region but across the whole country. While traditionally made of pork, other regions have adapted the recipe and used other meat and non-meat options to make it more diverse.

Coconut milk is present in a lot of other Bicolano food. Another favorite dish, laing, contains this as the main ingredient. As you can probably guess, this is often made spicy. In fact, Bicolanos like to relish their dishes with chili peppers and other spices. Unlike other regions in the nation, people in Camarines Sur love it hot all the time.

If you’re in the mood for something more exotic, Naga City offers a dish called Kinalas. A noodle soup dish made of scraped meat from a pig or cow’s head and its other parts, it also has thick deep-brown sauce from a pig or cow’s brain and spices. Because of its quirky ingredients, a lot of people see it as a challenge to eat this particular dish. It is also popular in Pili city and other areas of Bicol.

The economy of Camarines Sur

The majority of CamSur thrives on agriculture. In fact, 29 out of the 35 towns in the province mostly make their living through farming and fishing. They usually engage in producing rice, corn, feed meal, coconut, livestock, and sugar. Because the region is surrounded by fresh bodies of water, they also sell freshwater fish.

Entrepreneurs engage in trading often venture out to neighboring provinces. This is because local demand is can be limited since most families come from humble means. The local handicraft industry is quite formidable, but the demand lies in other regions and of course, the rest of the Philippines.

Tourism, primarily because of the town of Caramoan and Mount Isarog, also generate a lot of jobs and income for the province. The advancement of the Camsur Water Park is perfectly balanced out by the quiet towns of the north.

In recent years, CamSur has seen growth in urbanization. Thus, the construction industry has been thriving because of public infrastructure. Mining and quarrying have been contributing to CamSur’s economic growth as well. In essence, while agriculture and fishery still dominate the livelihood of most households, there are a lot of opportunities for urban development.

Camarines Sur Products

Whether you’re traveling or looking for business partners in Camarines Sur, there are a lot of interesting and unique products for you to choose from. The most famous product in CamSur, as well as the rest of the region, is caramelized pili nuts. As you can probably guess, it’s so popular the province’s capital is named after pili nuts.

Aside from your basic nuts, they’ve also elevated the famous ingredient into tarts, honey glazed pili nuts, Mazapan de pili, chocolate bars with pili, and more. Whether you’re visiting a secluded town or exploring areas in the north, you can surely find vendors that sell pili nut products.

The Bicolano love for all things spicy has literally permeated their liquor. If you’re looking for a unique beverage, you should try if you can take the hotness of their Sili beer. This novelty beverage will surely spark interesting conversations.

If you’re coming home to little ones, consider buying CamSur’s upcycled plush toys. Inspired by enchanted creatures, their folklore-inspired toys are the cute versions of the told horror story figures by locals.

CamSur’s local handicraft is very formidable. That’s why you should consider purchasing native bags from local manufacturers. The materials used for their bags are usually Abaca and Bangkuan grass. However, they give their products a sophisticated upgrade by adding embellishments of traditional embroidery and crocheting. These native bags are elegant accessories as you visit the beaches the regions of the Philippines have to offer.

Businesses in Naga City

Basically, Naga City and other towns have a tri-economy or three-base economy: commerce, industry, and agriculture. Because Naga City essentially functions as the main center of the Bicol region, the majority of the other products of Bicol are brought to Naga City.

Four major industries thrive in Camarines Sur. There are a lot of local players that manufacture jewelry. There are also local businesses that make their living through gifts, toys, and housewares. The processing of coconut and pineapple is also quite popular in the nearby regions.

Prior to the pandemic, CamSur, as well as the rest of the region, bested the other 17 regions of the Philippines in terms of economic growth. As per the Philippine Statistics Authority, it exceeded the growth rate posted by the capital as well as the national average.

Invest in the Basics: Reliable and High-Speed Internet Connection

Given that the growth of CamSur surpasses the national average, there is good reason to believe that it would be wise to invest in CamSur, especially the two cities, Naga and Iriga. When it comes to planting new businesses, it’s important you invest in the basics. Among the basic components of building your business in CamSur is a strong and reliable unlimited fiber internet connection.

We at Streamtech provide you with high-speed fiber internet at an affordable price. We see the growth in CamSur, which is why we’ve made our services available in the key city of Naga. Visit our official Facebook Page to know more about our offerings today.