Quirino, officially the Municipality of Quirino, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 25,023 people. Quirino is a primarily agricultural town situated in the Mallig Plains region. The town is known for its sprawling flat lands used for growing crops such as palay or rice, peanut, corn, tobacco and vegetables. It is bounded to the north by Delfin Albano, Mallig to the northwest, Roxas to the southwest, Burgos and Gamu to the south and Ilagan City to the east.

Etymology

Quirino was named in honor of Elpidio Quirino, the president.

History

Quirino was established by virtue of Republic Act No. 4901, dated June 17, 1967. It is located in the Mallig Plains in Western Isabela and has a total land area of 126.20 square kilometers. Agriculture is the primary industry for the local inhabitants.

Geography

Barangays

Quirino is politically subdivided into 21 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Quirino, Isabela, was 25,023 people, with a density of undefined PD/km2.

Economy

Cabaruan Solar-Powered Pump Irrigation Project

On June 10, 2024, Marcos Jr. launched in Cabaruan, Quirino the Philippines' largest Solar-powered Pump Irrigation Project (SPIP). NIA Administrator, Eduardo “Eddie” G. Guillen, Speaker Martin Romualdez, Tonypet Albano, Governor Rodolfo Albano III and Quirino Mayor Edward D. Juan witnessed the historic event. The PHP 65.77 million National Irrigation Administration's solar will water for free 350 hectares paddy fields of around 237 farmers, since Isabela is dubbed as the "Rice Granary of the North". Magat River. Under the Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA MARIIS, Ramon, Isabela), 1,056 solar panels fuel its 2 submersible pumps with output discharge capacity of 12,800 gallons per minute.

Government

Local government

As a municipality in the Province of Isabela, government officials in the provincial level are voted by the electorates of the town. The provincial government have political jurisdiction over local transactions of the municipal government. The municipality of Quirino is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years. Barangays are also headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. The barangays have SK federation which represents the barangay, headed by SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.

Elected officials

Congress representation

Quirino, belonging to the fifth legislative district of the province of Isabela, currently represented by Hon. Faustino Michael Carlos T. Dy III.

Education

The Schools Division of Isabela governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region. The office governs the public and private elementary and public and private high schools throughout the municipality.