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Cagayan Valley is one of the regions in the Philippines that make travelers fall in love easily with the country's beauty.

With lots of breathtaking rolling hills and mountains and lowland in between, cool breeze of fresh air, blue seas, majestic waterfalls, evergreen forests, jaw-dropping caves, and many centuries-old historical landmarks, and electrifying festivals-Cagayan Valley Region is surely a one-stop destination for travelers looking for a magnificent view and unforgettable experience.

12 Must-Visit Cagayan Valley Tourist Spots

Whether you're looking for a chill travel experience or a thrilling adventure, Cagayan region won't disappoint. We've rounded up all the best Cagayan Valley tourist attractions below:

1. Racuh A Payaman - A Breathtaking Destination

2. Palaui Island - The Untouched Paradise

3. Tayid Lighthouse - A Famous Lighthouse in Batanes

4. Cape Engano Lighthouse - Built during Spanish colonial times

5. Crocodile Island - The island shaped like a croc

6. Callao Cave - A cave with a cathedral inside

7. Tuguegarao Cathedral - Biggest Spanish-style church in the province

8. Saint Matthias Church - For those who fancy old churches

9. Valugan Boulder Beach - A beach full of boulder rocks

10. Anguib Beach - Perfect for unwinding

11. Sinago Cove - Perfect for those who want to disconnect from the busy city life

12. Capisaan Cave - The fifth-longest cave system in the Philippines

What's inside this blog?

From the best tourist spot in Cagayan Valley and fun things to do to the best time to visit and more, this blog will guide you to have the best travel experience.

Cagayan Valley Provinces

The Cagayan Region is composed of five provinces: the island group of Batanes, the province of Cagayan and Isabela, and the generally mountainous provinces of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.

Cagayan Valley Tourist Spots

Here are the best Cagayan Valley tourist spots to add in your itinerary.

1. Racuh A Payaman

At Racuh A Payaman, also known as Marlboro Hills, there are rolling hills and knolls everywhere, surrounded by a carpet of the greenest grass you'll ever see, that you'll notice even the tiniest grass is swaying as Batanes wind blows. You could almost imagine being in the 1965 film Sound of Music and hear Julie Andrews sing "the hills are alive..." So, if we're to describe Racuh A Payaman in Batanes in one word, it'd be magical.

From this Batanes tourist spot, you can also see Mt. Iraya, Diura Beach, Tayid Lighthouse, and the Pacific Ocean. All in one place. Racuh A Payaman is definitely one of the most breathtaking tourist spots in the Philippines so don't miss it.
Related article: 12 Batanes Tourist Spots You Can't Say No To
2. Palaui Island

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Palaui Island Cagayan without a doubt is the most popular Cagayan attraction because of its glorious beauty. It boasts white sands and blue-green waters rich in marine life. What's great about Palaui Island Cagayan is that it is untouched. No wonder it's listed by CNN as one of the top 10 beaches in the world.

3. Tayid Lighthouse

Of all the lighthouses in Batanes, Tayid Lighthouse is the most beautiful. Unlike other lighthouses, Tayid has a hexagonal tower deck. Once up there, you'll get to see a great view of the Diura Fishing Village, Mt. Iraya, and the Pacific Ocean. Originally built to guide the local fishermen, Tayid Lighthouse now doubles as a popular Batanes tourist spot.

4. Cape Engano Lighthouse

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

The Cape Engaño Lighthouse is located on topmost of a summit mountain in the stunning island of Palaui Cagayan Luzon. Built in 1892 during the Spanish Colonial era, the lighthouse is considered an admired National Traditional Treasure. Aside from being a tourist spot, it also worked as a guide for boats and ships. Upon reaching the top of Cape Engano Lighthouse, the remarkable outlook of Hermanas Islands, Babuyan Island, and the Pacific Ocean will surprise you.

5. Crocodile Island

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Also known as Manidad Island, Crocodile Island is a great place to unwind in Cagayan Valley Region 2. It was named such because of its shape similar to a crocodile. This Sta Ana Cagayan Valley island is a rock formation that vanishes during high tide and there are no trees.

6. Callao Cave

Photo source: (Left) Wikimedia Commons | (Right) Wikimedia Commons

Callao Cave in Tuguegarao City Cagayan Valley is one of the most popular and beautiful attractions because of its unique features like the seven-chambered cave with stunning limestone rock formations reminiscent of a cathedral dome. One of the chambers in this Tuguegarao tourist spot contains a stone altar illuminated by a natural skylight. There's also the cave where millions of bats dwell, a cave that hosts numerous red-billed hornbills, and a cave that houses the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat.

7. Tuguegarao Cathedral

Facade of the Tuguegarao Cathedral, one of the Cagayan Valley destinations. Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Tuguegarao Cathedral, also known as St. Peter's Cathedral is one of the historical Cagayan Valley destinations. It seats the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao City Cagayan Valley and is considered the biggest Spanish-style church in the province. This Tuguegarao tourist spot's wide compound is a good spot for reflection or meditation.

8. Saint Matthias Church

Facade of Saint Matthias Church in Isabela, Cagayan Islands. Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Located in Isabela, Saint Matthias Church is a great destination to visit if you fancy old churches. Its walls are made entirely of bricks, its facade is picture-perfect and once you're inside Saint Matthias Church, you'll feel like you are traveling back to the Spanish colonial time. This tourist spot in Cagayan Valley is definitely a must visit.

9. Valugan Boulder Beach

Crashing waves at Valugan Boulder Beach in Batanes, Cagayan Valley Philippines

It is believed that the boulders were washed ashore during a volcanic eruption on the island centuries ago. Once you get there, you'll notice that there are a lot of rock formations made out of the boulders on the beach. You, too, can make one! But what really makes Valugan Boulder Beach a beautiful destination is that you can hear the music of its rolling stones as they are pushed by endless waves. The rhythm matches the strong winds that blow.

10. Anguib Beach

Another tourist attraction in Cagayan Valley you shouldn't miss is the Anguib Beach in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. It features cream-colored sands with stunning blue waters perfect for swimming. Anguib Beach will let you forget all about your stress brought by the busy city life.

11. Sinago Cove

When you want to make the most of your Cagayan trip, make sure to plot Sinago Cove on your Sta Ana Cagayan map. Sinago Cove faces the Pacific Ocean and the view of the cove is quite similar to Thailand's James Bond Island and Vietnam's Halong Bay. The Cagayan province tourist spot has less to no signal so it's really perfect if you want to disconnect from the city life for a while.

12. Capisaan Cave

Capisaan Cave is the fifth-longest cave system in the Philippines extending to two barangays in Nueva Vizcaya namely Capisaan and Alayan.

Here you can find a 4.2 km underground river and chambers and tunnels where visitors can see stalagmites, stalactites, speleothems, and other rock formations. Capisaan Cave has small holes and steep areas you need a lot of courage and patience to discover it all the way through.

Things to do in Cagayan Valley Region

Whether you're exploring Pamplona Cagayan Valley or the Tuguegarao postal code, you will never run out of things to do in Cagayan Valley municipalities.

1. Hiking

A mountain in Cagayan Philippines. Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Cagayan Valley Region 2 is abundant in hills and mountains that are high enough to see a sea of clouds. With this, the region surely is a great spot for hiking. Some of the best mountains to hike in Cagayan Valley Philippines are Mt. Iraya, Mt. Guiwan, and Mt. Cagua among others.

2. Swimming

The province of Cagayan Valley has a lot of stunning beaches and islands perfect for those who love the sun, sand, and sea. From the white sand Morong Beach in Batanes, Anguib Beach in Santa Ana to Gonzaga Beach, Cagayan could be the next summer destination.

3. Visiting lighthouses

A lighthouse in Batanes, Region 2 Philippines

One cool thing you'll find in Cagayan Valley provinces is various lighthouses. Just in Batanes, there are lots of lighthouses that don't just serve as guides to fishermen but also tourist spots. Some of the most famous are the Basco Lighthouse, Tayid Lighthouse, Sabtang Lighthouse, and Cape Engano Lighthouse.

4. Appreciating nature's beauty

Goats, cows, carabaos walking free in Batanes, Cagayan Valley Philippines

Nature-lovers will surely love Cagayan Valley Region 2 because of its breathtaking mountains and rolling hills. Here you'll be mesmerized by the wonders of nature making you think whether you're still in the Philippines or not.

5. Attending festivals

Locals in Batanes, Cagayan Valley Philippines. Photo credits to The Girl Behind the Pen

If you want to discover the culture of Cagayan Valley or party with the population of Cagayan Valley, this province never disappoints, providing all sorts of fun especially through their amazing festivals. Among the ones you must experience are the Batanes Day in Batanes, Pavvurulun Afi Festival in Tuguegarao, and Bambanti Festival and Baka Festival in Isabela.

6. Caving

A cave in Cagayan islands. Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Cagayan Valley destinations aren't just about hills and mountains but the province is also famous for their stunning caves. If you love adventure, go spelunking at Callao Cave and Capisaan Cave.

7. Food tripping in Cagayan

What better way to grasp the culture of Cagayan Valley than living like a local? Start with the products of Cagayan Valley that will make your tummy satisfied. Try the Pancit Batil Patung in Tuguegarao City, the Chicharabao (carabao chicharon), Carabao Milk Candy, and Luñis in Batanes.

Best time to Visit Cagayan Valley

For Batanes, the best time to visit the province is during the dry season which is from March to May. But if you want to attend their festival, go there in June.

For Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino, it's also great to visit during summer. While for Tuguegarao City, temperatures feel hot for most of the year with a fair chance of precipitation since it's the warmest place in the country. If you don't want to experience its hottest, avoid traveling to Tuguegarao zip code in May, June, and July.

Cagayan Valley Region Weather

Cagayan Region is composed of five provinces with different topographies, hence different weathers. Of all the Cagayan Valley provinces, Batanes has the coolest weather since it's located at the northernmost of the Philippines. While for others, it's usually warm all year round except for typhoon season in the latter part of the year.

Map of Cagayan Valley Region 2

The Cagayan Valley Region lies within the northeastern tip of the Philippines. Check out this Cagayan map to be guided.

How to Get to Cagayan Valley

From Manila to Cagayan Valley and Cagayan Valley to Manila, you can take a plane or bus depending on your destination. Available flights from Manila are bound for Isabela, Tuguegarao and Batanes. Travel time is just one hour. Upon reaching the airport, you can then ride a van to reach the Cagayan Valley municipalities.

To reach other Cagayan points of interest, you can take a bus from Pasay, Cubao, or Manila going to Isabela, Cagayan, or Tuguegarao. Travel time is around 8 to 10 hours depending on your destination.

Tips When traveling to Cagayan Valley

1. The weather in Region 2 Philippines is usually hot so make sure to wear comfortable clothes.

2. Wear sunscreen when visiting Cagayan Valley destinations.

3. Bring sun and rain protection such as a folding umbrella or hooded jacket so you won't get hassled when exploring Cagayan Valley destinations.

4. If traveling on mountains in Cagayan, make sure to follow your guide to avoid getting lost or any unwanted situation.

5. Engage with locals. The Cagayan locals are very friendly.

Cagayan Valley Tourism Guidelines 2021 | COVID-19 Updates

If you're planning to visit in Cagayan Province, Batanes, or any other provinces in Region 2, here are the travel guidelines for Cagayan Valley region.

Cagayan Province: Not open for tourists. Source: Cagayan Tourism Office

Batanes: Open to residents only. Must fill out the Basco Airport Health Declaration Form. Batanes is currently closed for tourists. For LSI (Locally Stranded Individual), Negative RT-PCR Test is optional. For the latest updates, check Batanes Government Office

Isabela: Open to residents only.

Nueva Vizcaya: Open to residents only.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cagayan Valley

Q: What is Cagayan known for?
A: Cagayan region is known for its breathtaking rolling hills, high mountains, great beaches, and amazing caves.

Q: Why is it called Cagayan Valley?
A: Cagayan Valley description is river. Its name was derived from the Ilocano word "karayan" or river referring to the Rio Grande de Cagayan. The early Spanish settlers also called it "Rio Ibanag".

Q: Where is Cagayan Province located?
A: Cagayan province is located in Cagayan Valley, also known as Region 2, in the Philippines. We hope we answered your question if where is Cagayan located.

Q: What is Tuguegarao known for?
A: Tuguegarao is known for its hot climate. In fact, it's considered as the warmest city in the Philippines.

Q: Where to go in Cagayan Valley?
A: Whether you're looking for a chill travel experience or a thrilling adventure, Cagayan region won't disappoint. We've rounded up all the best tourist attractions below:

Racuh A Payaman

Palaui Island

Tayid Lighthouse

Cape Engano Lighthouse

Crocodile Island

Callao Cave

Tuguegarao Cathedral

Saint Matthias Church

Valugan Boulder Beach

Anguib Beach

Sinago Cove

Capisaan Cave

Q: What to do in Cagayan?
A: Here are some of the most fun activities to try in Cagayan:

Q: Can foreigners travel to Cagayan Valley?
A: Foreign nationals, including those coming from the US, are still not allowed to travel to the Philippines especially for leisure purposes. To know if you're eligible to travel, read this blog.

Q: Is Tuguegarao open for tourists?
A: As of writing, Tuguegarao has required a travel pass and a health certificate from those entering the city.
For more Philippine travel updates, read this blog: Disclaimer: ZEN Rooms claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on ZEN Rooms, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer. Latest Philippines Tourism News: PH Includes Austria in Travel Ban Due to Threat of New COVID-19 Variant
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Cagayan Valley Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting

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Cagayan Valley is one of the regions in the Philippines that make travelers fall in love easily with the country's beauty. With lots of breathtaking rolling hills and mountains and lowland in between, cool breeze of fresh air, blue seas, majestic waterfalls, evergreen forests, jaw-dropping caves, and many centuries-old historical landmarks, and electrifying festivals-Cagayan Valley Region is surely a one-stop destination for travelers looking for a magnificent view and unforgettable experience.

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Cagayan Valley, which lies within the northeastern tip of the Philippines, has a total land area of 2,683,762 square km making it the fourth largest region in the country, and is well known for its wealth in economic activity and agricultural products such as rice, corn, sugarcane, banana, coconut, and tobacco as its major crops.

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Regional profile of Cagayan Valley in Department of Agrarian Reform

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20 Things to See and Do:

in addition to its agricultural and economic wealth, Cagayan Valley also offers a lot of activities and locations for tourists who wish to unwind and recharge themselves. Tourist spots include:

1. Palaui Islands
2. Northern Sierra Madre National Park
3. Callao Cave
4. Pinacanauan River
5. Baggao’s Blue Waterfalls and Caves
6. St. Peter’s Cathedral
7. Calvary Hills
8. San Vicente Mangrove Forests
9. Anguib Beach
10. Millions of Bat Assembly
11. Taggat Lagoon
12. Bagsang Falls
13. Atulu Pottery Village
14. Nassiping Church Ruins
15. Zinagu Cove
16. Our Lady of Piat Basilica
17. Calayan Island
18. Duba Cave
19.  Kalimudinan Falls
20. Malaueg Church

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Top 20 Cagayan Valley Tourist Spots and Things to Do

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Here is your comprehensive list of Cagayan valley tourist spots. These are the best eco-cultural places to visit in Cagayan Valley.

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Top 20 Cagayan Valley Tourist Spots and Things to Do

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What they're known for

Cagayan Valley is known for its rice, corn, peanut, beans, and fruits making it the top producer of corn in the Philippines. Aside from these, Cagayan also produces coffee, cacao, coconut, pineapple, peanut, mango, root crops, banana, citrus, rice and corn processing, waste processing of rice hull and corn husk, bamboo, and furniture.

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Last November 2020, Cagayan was hit with the devastating impact of Super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoon Ulysses, which were classified as tropical typhoons respectively, submerging the two regions in two-story-high waters in the Isabela and Cagayan regions. The people of the regions complained that the Magat Dam was the cause of the flooding, but the dam was not the cause of the flooding, but it was the act of illegally mining magnetite, spearheaded by President Rodrigo Duterte. And the appeals of the provincial board of Cagayan to stop the mining due to its adverse environmental effects was not heard, thus exacerbating the flood caused by the typhoons.

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Building back better in Cagayan Valley - BusinessWorld Online

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LAST November, the Cagayan Valley region in northeastern Luzon bore the brunt of Super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoon Ulysses, which were classified as category-5 and category-4 tropical cyclones, respectively.

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Building back better in Cagayan Valley

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In line with the calamity that occurred in Cagayan and Isabela regions, SDG number 13 is the developmental goal that must be addressed immediately. Addressing and forming solutions and different programs that tackle the impact of climate change does not only alleviate typhoons in the Cagayan, but help us avoid different calamities such as landslides, and tsunamis. And it may also aid the entirety of the Philippines by creating different solutions and programs that tackle the root of climate change.

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Goal 13 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs

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Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

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Goal 16 | PEACE, JUSTICE, AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS

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As mentioned in the article linked above, the pleas and appeal of the provincial board of Cagayan was heard by deaf ears, causing the worsening of the consequences experienced by the people. This UN SDG must also be prioritized along with SDG No. 13, as it will improve not only the Cagayan society, but also its agricultural, and economic growth by prioritizing the citizens' needs and calls for help.

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Goal 16 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs

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Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

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The Department of Science and Technology introduced the first-ever Smarter City Belt, that will take place in Luzon island, which will include, of course, Cagayan Valley in its journey to economic and agricultural growth. The project aids Luzon's cities' and municipalities' synergy and collaboration by collecting their products to create a much more advanced and simplified product that has one goal or purpose. This project with propel Luzon into a brighter and wealthier future that allows its people to thrive in the wealth and collaboration of the products and services sold. But along with this advancement, comes a negative that we must address. In the sudden advancement of the Luzon island, it is without a doubt, possible that those cities and municipalities that are isolated or choose to live in isolation will not be able to progress with the urban areas. Isolated areas such as tribal and indigenous locations will be left behind.

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The Philippines' first Smarter City Belt Project is rising in Cagayan Valley spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

DOST Region II (DOST-RII), led by its director Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, introduced on March 23, 2021, the first-ever Smarter City Belt Project in the Philippines as an undertaking that aims to spur economic growth in the northern region of Luzon island.

DOST says the project is expected to nurture synergies and collaborations between and among cities and municipalities, pulling their resources toward a common goal that is seen to lead to smarter outcomes.

Declaring that the engine of economic growth is innovation, the DOST explains that the project is indeed ambitious but nonetheless a very crucial move if the country is to join the ranks of other fast-developing countries towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

"Achieving this would not be easy, but it is possible. If we all work together in nurturing Cagayan Valley, it is achievable to make every city in the region a smarter city," Dir. Mabborang said during his opening remarks and presentation of the Smarter City Belt concept.

Smarter City Belt is a collaborative project that aims to make cities in the region future-ready. This can be done by using the latest technologies and innovations from DOST, the R&D outputs of the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and those from the Higher Education Institutes (HEIs).

Furthermore, the project will also address challenges in the region through the use of science, technology, and innovation (STI) to enhance opportunities relating to sustainable development.

During the launch, DOST Secretary Professor Fortunato T. de la Peña in his keynote speech, congratulated DOST II for its vision of creating smarter cities in Cagayan Valley and for taking the lead on this endeavor.

The science chief stressed the resonating benefits the project will give in providing more employment opportunities in the region. "May our smarter cities be for the benefit of the majority, especially our workers who help sustain Cagayan Valley. May our services and leadership be for the region and its people," Secretary de la Peña said.

Moreover, City Mayors Jefferson P. Soriano of Tuguegarao and Joseph Tan of Santiago presented their Smart City solutions, plans, and initiatives in implementing the said project. They also expressed their gratitude to the DOST and other partner agencies for their support to achieve the Smarter City goals and objectives.

As the prime model of Smarter City in the Philippines, Mayor Bernard Dy of Cauayan City, Isabela also presented their experiences and journey as well as their accomplishments since they initially implemented the Smarter City project.

"We are on the right track to improve the life of our citizens. Smarter City is a lifestyle of the cities as well as the citizens," Mayor Dy said.

DOST II awarded PHP 1 million to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tuguegarao City as its "seed" fund for the implementation of the project, especially for its Smarter Health initiatives. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between DOST, Cagayan State University, and the University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao to seal the partnership.

The Smarter City Belt Project in Region II is composed of Cauayan City in Isabela, the first smarter city in the region together with three other chartered cities in the region, namely: Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, Santiago City, and Ilagan City in Isabela, and emerging growth centers in the towns of Bayombong and Solano in Nueva Vizcaya, Maddela, Cabarroguis and Diffun in Quirino, Lallo, and Sta. Ana in Cagayan, and Basco in Batanes Islands.

Other stakeholders who are giving their full support to this project are the following: DOST- Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development Executive Director, Dr. Enrico Paringit, who vowed continued support for the Smarter City Belt project; Chairperson of the Smarter Cities Network, Singapore, Kok-chin Tay, 4th District Representative of Isabela, Alyssa Sheena Tan, and 3rd District Representative of Cagayan, Joseph Lara.

The presidents of the SUCs and HEIs in the region were also putting their stake in the project by giving their undivided support.

DOST Region II pioneered the OneStorePH online shop for Philippine products as a business solution amidst the coronavirus outbreak and led the development of Emergency Ready-to-Eat food packs.
Good News Pilipinas is celebrating its 15th Anniversary in 2021 by giving away prizes! Subscribe to our Good News Pilipinas! TV YouTube channel and enter the raffle by sending us an email to editor@goodnewspilipinas.com

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Philippines' 1st Smarter City Belt to rise in Cagayan Valley

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The Philippines' first Smarter City Belt Project is rising in Cagayan Valley spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). DOST Region II (DOST-RII), led by its director Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, introduced on March 23, 2021, the first-ever Smarter City Belt Project in the Philippines as an undertaking that aims to spur economic growth in the northern region of Luzon island.