Tumauini , officially the Municipality of Tumauini (; ; ), is a municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.
Etymology The name of Tumauini originated from the name of the big trees found in the Poblacion called "Mauini". It is said that when some Spaniards wanted to know the name of the trees, they asked a native, saying, " 'Como se llama el grande lenia? Sabes tu?'" The native, not knowing what the Spaniards said, picked the last word he heard and answered "Tumauini".
History Tumauini was officially established as a Spanish mission in 1704, with civil administration frequently shifting between the neighboring towns of Cabagan and Ilagan. It became a town in its own right on 10 May 1751.
In 1952, the barrios of Barucbuc, Siempre Viva, Bimmonton, Pasurgong, Manga, and Settlement No. 1 were transferred to the newly created town of Mallig.
In 1957, the barrios of San Antonio, San Juan, Ragan Sur, Ragan Norte, Ragan Almacen, San Jose (Bulo), San Patricio, Quibal, San Andres (Lattu), Calinawan Sur, Bayabo, Santor, Santo Rosario, Andarayan, Aneg, San Isidro, Mawi, San Roque, Carmencita, Aga, Villa Pareda, Villaluz, San Pedro, Concepcion, Sammabario and San Nicolas and the sitios of Turod, Paco, Calamagui and Kim-malabasa, were separated from the municipality of Tumauini to form the town of Magsaysay.
Notably, Camp Samal used to be a guerrilla camp during World War II, and SAMAL derives from SA, meaning Sadornas, and MAL from Malana.
Geography Tumauini is located in the northern portion of the province of Isabela. Its land area is or 5.62% of the total land area of Isabela. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Cabagan; on the east by the municipality of Divilacan, on the south by the City of Ilagan, the capital of Isabela; and on the west by the Cagayan River and the municipality of Delfin Albano.
Tumauini is situated from the provincial capital Ilagan, and from the country's capital city of Manila.
Barangays Tumauini has politically subdivided into 46 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
Four of the barangays compose the center of the town, whereas the other 42 are in the outlying areas. Some of them are even several kilometers away from the center of the municipality. The most populous are San Pedro, Antagan I, and Lanna.
Annafunan Antagan I Antagan II Arcon Balug Banig Bantug Barangay District 1 (Poblacion) Barangay District 2 (Poblacion) Barangay District 3 (Poblacion) Barangay District 4 (Poblacion) Bayabo East Caligayan Camasi Carpentero Compania Cumabao Fermeldy (Hacienda San Francisco) Fugu Abajo Fugu Norte Fugu Sur Lalauanan Lanna Lapogan Lingaling (Poblacion) Liwanag Malamag East Malamag West Maligaya (Poblacion) Minanga Moldero Namnama Paragu Pilitan San Mateo San Pedro San Vicente Santa Santa Catalina Santa Visitación (Maggayu) Santo Niño Sinippil Sisim Abajo Sisim Alto Tunggui Ugad
Climate
Demographics
In the 2024 census, the population of Tumauini was 77,153 people, with a density of .
Economy
Over the past years, the town's economy has dramatically shifted from stagnant to a fast-moving basis. Aside from agriculture being the main backbone of the town's economy, commerce and trade also became the second economic-based income of the town and its residents with the opening of numerous business establishments, hotels, and financial institutions that generated many opportunities and more employment for its residents.
Retail industry In 2015, the retail giant SM Prime established its first Savemore Market branch along the National Highway in the town. This was closely followed by the opening of the first Puregold Price Club store, a popular retail chain, in the same year. Two years later, in 2017, the well-known multinational fast-food chain Jollibee opened its first branch in the area, providing residents with a wider variety of dining options. The opening of Jollibee was just the beginning, as more fast-food chains like McDonald's and Mang Inasal have plans to establish branches in the town's first mall, Xentro Mall.
On June 28, 2021, the municipal government inaugurated the newly built Tumauini Public Market. The multi-million modern market complex is composed of eight buildings located along the National Highway and serves as the major trading hub of the town and nearby municipalities.
Banking and finance services Banking institutions like BDO Unibank, Development Bank of the Philippines, Producers Bank, FICO Bank, and other smaller financial institutions put up their branches in the town which is a good indication that the town is gearing towards rapid commercialization. As of 31 December 2021, Tumauini has a total of 10 banks with a total volume of bank deposits of Php 1.5 billion.
Government
Local government
As a municipality in the province of Isabela, government officials at the provincial and municipal levels are elected by the town. The provincial government has political jurisdiction over most local transactions of the municipal government.
The Municipality of Tumauini 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 municipal councilors are elected directly in polls held every three years.
Barangays are also headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. The barangays have an SK federation, which represents the barangay, headed by the SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.
Elected officials
+ Members of the Tumauini Municipal Council(2022–2025) Position Name of official District Representative (1st Legislative District, Isabela) Rep. Antonio T. Albano Municipal Mayor Venus T. Bautista Municipal Vice Mayor Christopher B. Uy Municipal Councilors Sharina Lu B. Medrano Roberto R. Guiyab Lluigi Anthonel L. Gardon Romeo B. Ugaddan Marvin Francis De Alban Rogelio C. Dammog Jr. Ferdinand Taccad Rostum B. Binalay
Congress representation Tumauini, belonging to the first legislative district of the province of Isabela, is currently represented by Antonio T. Albano.
Government facilities On June 28, 2021, the municipal government inaugurated the new Tumauini Municipal Hall along National Highway in Barangay San Pedro. The newly built multi-million peso structure is designed to accommodate government functions, delivery of basic services for the people, and as a facility for various civic and cultural activities.
On May 10, 2023, the municipal government inaugurated the new Tumauini Legislative Building and Tumauini Municipal Police Station. These newly built modern facilities were erected to accommodate legislative functions for the members and staff of the municipal council and give a bigger office space for the Philippine National Police to help them perform their duties and responsibilities in maintaining the peace and order within the town's territorial boundaries.
On February 23, 2024, the newly completed multi-million infrastructure projects in Tumauini were inaugurated. The government facilities include the P225 million worth Rudy B. Albano Astrodome and the P16 million worth legislative building of the Local Government. Unit of Tumauini. The newly built astrodome is the largest of its kind in the Cagayan Valley Region, with an area of 4,140 square meters, with 14 layers of concrete bleachers located beside the municipal hall along Maharlika Highway in Barangay San Pedro.
Judiciary On August 29, 2025, the Philippine Congress enacted Republic Act No. 12245, establishing a Regional Trial Court (RTC) in the municipality of Tumauini under the Second Judicial Region. The branch is intended to address the increasing volume of cases in the province and to improve access to judicial services for residents of northern Isabela.
Healthcare Tumauini has its own Rural Health Unit (RHU) located in barangay Lingaling that caters mostly to residents from far-flung areas of the town who opt to avail the services provided by the Municipal Health Office (MHO). Tumauini Community Hospital (TCH) is a government owned and operated Level-I hospital that was originally authorized to cater at least 15-bed maximum capacity. The facility also serves as the primary health care facility of the town and neighboring municipalities. On October 7, 2022, the Municipal Government of Tumauini inaugurated the town's first Animal Bite Center located inside the Tumauini Community Hospital.
The St. Matthias Medical Center of Isabela, Inc. is a privately owned Level-II hospital located along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Lalauanan. On March 8, 2024, the hospital officially had its soft launch to cater to a wide range of healthcare services, which include Ancillary and Diagnostic services, Clinical services, and Outpatient services.
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. two school district offices govern both public and private elementary and high schools throughout the municipality, namely: Tumauini North District, and Tumauini South District.
Primary and elementary schools
Advance Montessori Education Center of Isabela Antagan 1st Elementary School - Main Antagan 1st Elementary School - Sitio Magoli Annex Antagan 2nd Elementary School Arcon-Maligaya Elementary School Balug Elementary School Bantug Elementary School Caligayan Elementary School Camasi Elementary School Come and See Christian School Dalayya Elementary School Divisoria Elementary School Dy-Abra Elementary School Fugu Abajo Elementary School Fugu Elementary School Lalauanan-Sto. Niño Elementary School Lanna Elementary School Liwanag Elementary School Malamag Elementary School Manuel R. Moldero Sr. Elementary School Namnama Elementary School Pallacot Elementary School Paragu Elementary School Pilitan Elementary School San Mateo Elementary School San Vicente Elementary School Santa Elementary School Sisim-Minanga Elementary School Sta. Catalina Elementary School Tumauini Adventist Elementary Tumauini Baptist School Tumauini North Central School Tumauini South Central School Tumauini United Methodist Christian School Tumauini West Central School Ugad Elementary School
Secondary schools
Advance Montessori Education Center of Isabela Antagan National High School Bayabo East Integrated School Josefina Albano National High School Lalauanan National High School Lanna National High School Lapogan Integrated School Regional Science High School for Region II Fermeldy National High School School of Saint Matthias Tumauini National High School
Higher educational institution HGBaquiran College
Tourism The town's historical landmarks include the Tumauini Church. Built-in the 1780s by the Dominicans, the church has an unusual cylindrical bell tower made of bricks. Also in the town is the Camp Samal Resort and Leisure Park, which is known as a semi-Tagaytay because of its high location, where one can view the entire town in the west, south, and north, and the Cordillera Sierra Madre in the east.
In April 2022, the Tumauini Watershed Natural Park was inaugurated in the town of Tumauini as a sustainable entrepreneurial business that sits within the said protected area.
San Matias Parish Church