Population to double in 31 years

Cagayan Valley Region which covered the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, recorded a total population of 2,813,159 persons in the 2000 Census of Population and Housing (Census 2000). This was up by 277,124 persons as compared to the 1995 Census of Population (POPCEN). For the period 1995 to 2000, the annual population growth rate for Cagayan Valley was 2.25 percent, higher than that of the 1990 to 1995 period (1.51 percent). If the current annual population growth rate of the region continues, the population is expected to double in 31 years, increasing on the average, by almost 63 thousand persons a year or about seven persons per hour.

The number of households increased to 554,491 as compared to 509,574 households in 1995. The average household size recorded in Census 2000 was 5.07 persons, higher than the 1995 figure of 4.96 persons and slightly higher than the national average of five persons.

Median age was 21 years

Cagayan Valley Region had a median age of 21 years. This meant that in 2000, half of the population were below 21 years old. In 1995, the median age was 20 years.

Cagayan, Isabela and Quirino had a median age of 20 years, lower than the median age of Nueva Vizcaya and Batanes with 21 years and 22 years, respectively.

Sex ratio was recorded at 105

In Census 2000, the recorded sex ratio was 105 males for every 100 females, higher than the 104 sex ratio recorded in 1995.

Dependency ratio was 72

The proportion of young dependents (0 to 14 years) was 37.7 percent, while the proportion of old dependents (65 years and over) accounted for 4.1 percent of the regional population. The proportion of economically active population (15 to 64 years) made up 58.2 percent of the total population.

The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 71.77. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years, there were about 72 dependents (65 young dependents and seven old dependents).

Majority were Roman Catholics

Majority (76.15 percent) of the population of Cagayan Valley Region were Roman Catholics. Evangelicals (4.24 percent) and Aglipayans (3.66 percent), followed. About 15.65 percent belonged to other religious affiliations.

Majority of the population with disability were men

There were about 36,195 persons or 1.29 percent of the total population reported to have some types of disability.

Among those with disability, the sex ratio was 103 males for every 100 females.

Low vision was the most common type of disability, accounting for 33.38 percent of all persons with disability. Majority with this type of disability were women (56.35 percent).

Oral defect was the second most common type of disability (8.62 percent). Partial blindness (7.29 percent) and mental retardation (6.70 percent) followed.

About 92 percent were literate

The proportion of household population 10 years old and over in Cagayan Valley Region who were able to read and write a simple message was 91.75 percent. There were more literate women (92.08 percent) than men (91.43 percent).

Batanes (97.39 percent) had the highest literacy rate among the five provinces in Cagayan Valley. Isabela (92.06 percent) and Quirino (91.51 percent), followed.

Ever-married women in Cagayan Valley on the average, had three children

The average number of children ever born in Cagayan Valley was three. On the other hand, 11 percent of ever-married women had no child.

Median age at first marriage was 20 years

Cagayan Valley had a median age at first marriage of 20 years. This meant that half of the ever-married women 15 to 49 years old got married below 20 years old.

Most of the overseas workers were females

Cagayan Valley registered a total of 44,630 overseas workers in Census 2000 as compared to 32,256 overseas workers recorded in 1995 Census of Population. Seven out of ten (70.51 percent) of these overseas workers were females. One in five overseas workers were in the age group of 25 to 29 years.

The overseas workers in Cagayan Valley, had a median age of 30 years. This meant that half of the overseas workers were below 30 years old. Female overseas workers had a median age of 30 years, younger than their male counterparts (32 years).

Electricity was the main source of lighting

Majority (63.12 percent) of the households used electricity for lighting and 33.94 percent used kerosene. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was utilized for lighting by 1.04 percent of the total households.

Batanes (84.12 percent) had the highest proportion of households using electricity as their main source of lighting. On the other hand, Quirino (46.40 percent) had the highest proportion of households who used kerosene.

One out of four households depended on shared, tubed/piped deep well for potable water

The main sources of water supply for drinking and/or cooking of households were shared, tubed/piped deep well (26.20 percent); tubed/piped shallow well (18.09 percent); spring, lake, river, rain, etc. (4.57 percent).

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was the main source of fuel for cooking

In 2000, close to one in two households used liquefied petroleum gas (46.74 percent) as fuel for cooking. A large proportion still used wood (45.11 percent) and only 1.75 percent used electricity for cooking.

About 34 percent used water sealed, other depository used exclusively by the households

The proportion of households with water sealed, other depository used exclusively by the households was 34.49 percent. About 27 percent had water sealed, sewer/septic tank, used exclusively by the households. Households which did not have any toilet facility accounted for 2.08 percent.

Burning was the usual manner of garbage disposal

Proper disposal of garbage lead to a good environment and good health. About 66 percent of the households in Cagayan Valley disposed their garbage through burning; 11.14 percent, dumping in individual pit; and 9.91 percent, picked-up by a garbage truck.

In all provinces in Cagayan Valley except in Batanes, burning was the usual manner of disposing garbage. In Batanes, feeding to animals (79.85 percent) was the usual way of garbage disposal.

Majority of the households owned/amortized their housing units

Majority (86.42 percent) of the households owned/amortized their houses. Those who occupied their housing units for free with consent of the owner comprised 8.61 percent, while 2.71 percent rented their housing units.

Table 1. Total Population Distribution by Province: Cagayan Valley, 2000