Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija

Zaragoza
Municipality
Municipality of Zaragoza
Downtown
Flag Seal
Map of Nueva Ecija with Zaragoza highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Zaragoza Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°26′57″N120°47′36″E / 15.4492°N 120.7933°E / 15.4492; 120.7933
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon
Province	Nueva Ecija
District	1st district
Named after	Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
Barangays	19 (see Barangays)
Government   [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
•  Mayor	Lovella DG. Belmonte-Espiritu
•  Vice Mayor	Edwin A. Buendia
•  Representative	Mikaela Angela B. Suansing
Area [2]
• Total	72.02 km2 (27.81 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (70 ft)
Highest elevation	34 m (112 ft)
Lowest elevation	14 m (46 ft)
Population  (2024 census) [3]
• Total	55,657
• Density	770/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
•  Households	13,352
Economy
•  Income class	3rd municipal income class
•  Poverty incidence	11.24 % (2021) [4]
•  Revenue	₱ 240.2 million (2022)
•  Assets	₱ 692.9 million (2022)
•  Expenditure	₱ 36.41 million (2022)
•  Liabilities	₱ 173.7 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Tarlac 2 Electric Cooperative (TARELCO 2)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	3110
PSGC	0304932000
IDD  :  area code	+63 (0)44
Native languages	Tagalog Ilocano

Zaragoza, officially the Municipality of Zaragoza (Tagalog : Bayan ng Zaragoza, Ilocano: Ili ti Zaragoza), is a municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 53,090 people. ^[5] The municipality derived its name from the Zaragoza in Aragon, Spain.

History

Founded in 1878, Zaragoza was born from Barrio San Vicente upon the recommendation of Don Francisco to Governor Cillos. Zaragoza was a barrio of Aliaga, which was a town of Pampanga; the first settlers were Ilocanos and Igorots. Later, Municipal President Cirilo Acosta moved the town hall building to the present site where the Post Office and COMELEC extension offices are located. Mayor Pascual Linsangan completed the building. Mayor Francisco Ramirez added the Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall, with Plaza stage, fountain and fenced the site in 1971. Then Mayor Lydia Pagaduan improved the Town Hall in 2010. ^[6]

Incidents

On February 17, 2003, Police filed arson and grave threats cases against a local New People's Army (NPA) leader Ka Adrian, team leader of the NPA’s Sandatahang Yunit Propaganda, and 5 other members of the Tarlac Provincial Party Committee with the Zaragoza Municipal Trial Court for the January 2003 attack on the Globe Telecom cell-site. ^[7]

On April 11, 2012, 3 bodies of family members, Pastor Fernandito de Guzman, his wife Rosalinda and 21-year-old son Norie were discovered in Barangay Mayamot, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday morning. De Guzman was abducted by 3 armed men allegedly being National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents. ^[8]

On May 19, 2012, retired police and former municipal councilor, Napoleon Paraton, 48, was gunned down by 2 armed men at Barangay Santo Rosario Old, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija. ^{[9] [10]}

July 30, 2012, the 64-kilometer Central Luzon Expressway (CLEx), from the Hacienda Luisita interchange of the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) in Tarlac City to San Jose City in Nueva Ecija will be built in 2 phases. It will benefit Zaragoza for it will pass through parts of Tarlac City and La Paz town in Tarlac to Zaragoza, inter alia. ^[11]

On Saturday, December 23, 2012, Nila Mactal, 62, the high school principal of Zaragoza National High School in Zaragoza town was shot and killed by a lone gunman at her Aliaga, Nueva Ecija house. ^{[12] [13] [14]}

On June 10, 2018, a month before his 44th birthday, Fr Richmond Nilo, 43, a Catholic priest who was serving as parish priest of the St Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, was shot and killed in the Nuestra Senora de las Nieve chapel in Barangay Mayamot.

Geography

Zaragoza is located at the southern edge of Nueva Ecija bordering the town of La Paz, Tarlac which, due to its proximity, is more closely economically coherent with each other. The newly opened Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) ends up in La Paz where it connects to the Santa Rosa-Tarlac Road passing through Zaragoza and Santa Rosa going to Cabanatuan and on to the Pan-Philippine Highway to Tuguegarao, Cagayan.

Zaragoza is bounded by the municipalities of San Antonio and Jaen to the south, Santa Rosa to its east, Aliaga and Licab to the north and La Paz, Tarlac is located west. It is 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Cabanatuan, 39 kilometres (24 mi) from Palayan, and 123 kilometres (76 mi) from Manila.

Barangays

Zaragoza is politically subdivided into 19 barangays, as shown below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Batitang
• Carmen
• Concepcion
• Del Pilar
• General Luna
• H. Romero
• Macarse
• Manaol
• Mayamot
• Pantoc
• San Vicente (Poblacion)
• San Isidro
• San Rafael
• Santa Cruz
• Santa Lucia Old
• Santa Lucia Young
• Santo Rosario Old (Valdez matanda)
• Santo Rosario Young (Valdez bata)
• Valeriana

Climate

Climate data for Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	28 (82)	30 (86)	31 (88)	33 (91)	33 (91)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (86)	30 (86)	29 (84)	30 (86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	20 (68)	20 (68)	20 (68)	22 (72)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	22 (72)	21 (70)	22 (72)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	4 (0.2)	4 (0.2)	5 (0.2)	11 (0.4)	66 (2.6)	99 (3.9)	127 (5.0)	113 (4.4)	99 (3.9)	84 (3.3)	35 (1.4)	14 (0.6)	661 (26.1)
Average rainy days	2.2	1.9	3.2	5.3	16.1	20.8	23.5	22.8	22.2	16.5	8.9	3.5	146.9
Source: Meteoblue [15]

Demographics

Population census of Zaragoza

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 4,025 —     1918 6,074 +2.78% 1939 9,292 +2.05% 1948 14,088 +4.73% 1960 15,191 +0.63% 1970 19,596 +2.58% 1975 21,598 +1.97% 1980 24,418 +2.48%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 28,743 +1.64% 1995 33,826 +3.10% 2000 37,645 +2.32% 2007 40,355 +0.96% 2010 44,124 +3.30% 2015 49,387 +2.17% 2020 53,090 +1.53% 2024 55,657 +1.14%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Economy

Poverty incidence of Zaragoza

10 20 30 40 50 2000 41.09 2003 24.30 2006 20.20 2009 19.31 2012 18.24 2015 13.20 2018 3.82 2021 11.24 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]

Zaragoza is an agricultural municipality in Nueva Ecija. It is located in Western part of Nueva Ecija bounded with the municipality of La Paz in Tarlac. The main economic resource of the people of Zaragoza is mainly agricultural and rice production. Duck-raising is also a notable industry. The town's public market is also the main center of commerce for a number of barangays in the neighbouring towns.

Status of economic performance boost rapidly due to commercialization and services. More investors and businesses opened that provide their constituent an opportunity to generate jobs. Zaragoza is also the center for financing and banking purposes; basic needed not only for their community, but also to their neighboring towns of Licab, Aliaga and Quezon in Nueva Ecija and La Paz in Tarlac province.

Transportation

Zaragoza has many bus companies operating provincial and regional routes. Much of the town's population rely on public transportation such as tricycles and jeeps to get around. The jeepney was patterned after U.S. Army jeeps and have been in use since the years immediately following World War II.

Jeepney operators serve routes within the province with some reaching as far to Tarlac City. Tricycle operators serve local routes and sometimes to the nearby towns of Aliaga and San Antonio.

Intercity and interprovincial buses from Manila serve the city, and are usually operated by Baliwag Transit, Inc., Five Star, Victory Liner, ES Transport Inc., and Pangasinan Solid North.

Expressway and Toll Roads

Zaragoza is accessible via the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX), which directly connects the town to the national expressway network. The main access roads to Zaragoza include the Santa Rosa–Tarlac Road, Zaragoza-Aliaga Road, Zaragoza-San Antonio Road, and Carmen-Cabanatuan Road.

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Pursuant to the Local government in the Philippines, ^{[29] [30]} the political seat of the municipal government is located at the Municipal Town Hall. In the History of the Philippines (1521–1898), the Gobernadorcillo is the Chief Executive who holds office in the Presidencia. During the American rule (1898–1946) (History of the Philippines (1898-1946)), the elected Mayor and local officials, including the appointed ones hold office at the Municipal Town Hall. The legislative and executive departments are vested in the Sangguniang Bayan (Session Hall) and Municipal Trial Court, located in the Town Hall.

Zaragoza's incumbent Mayor is Lovella "Lally" Belmonte-Espiritu and the Vice Mayor Edwin A. Buendia ^[31]

Tourism

Zaragoza's main attractions are: the Welcome arch, the scenic rice fields, the Town Hall, the Monument of Zaragoza Heroes, Don Cirilo B. Acosta Elementary School and the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church, initially constructed in 1849.

St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church

St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church

The 1849 St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cabanatuan (Dioecesis of Cabanatuanensi, Suffragan of Lingayen-Dagupan, comprising 16 towns of Southern Nueva Ecija, Cabanatuan, Palayan City and Gapan; Titular: St. Nicholas of Tolentine, September 10; Most Reverend Sofronio A. Bancud, SSS, DD, located at Poblacion, Zaragoza, 3110 Nueva Ecija; Titular: St. Vincent Ferrer, Feast is April 5).

Its Parish Priest is Fr. Nezelle O. Lirio. ^{[32] [33]} Priests in Residence include Rev. Fr. Joseph B. Azarcon (School Director)Feast, The Feast day is April 5. ^{[34] [35]}

On December 30, 2000, the renovated and rehabilitated Church facade, belfry, baptismal font, vestry, Rectory, Room of the Saints by were blessed by Bishop Sofio Guinto Balce † (11 Nov 1990 Succeeded - 25 Jun 2004 Died).

Saint Vincent Ferrer (23 January 1350 – 5 April 1419) was a Valencian Dominican friar, who gained acclaim as a missionary and a logician. He is honored as a saint of the Catholic Church.

Gallery

• 
  Town Hall
• 
  Zaragoza Central School
• 
  Junction, Crossing
• 
  Public market

Panorama of rice fields

References

1.   Municipality of Zaragoza | (DILG)
2. "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN   0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
4. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
6. File:ZaragozaNuevaEcijajf2254 10.JPG
7. "Six rebels charged for attack on Nueva Ecija cellsite | Nation, News, the Philippine Star | philstar.com". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
8. "Family shot dead in Nueva Ecija". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
9. "Ex-police pinatay habang nagbibisikleta - Remate". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
10. Elona, Jamie. "Suspected gun-for-hire arrested in Nueva Ecija". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
11. Roque, Anselmo. "New expressway to benefit Nueva Ecija motorists". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
12. "A family reunion | Opinion, News, the Philippine Star | philstar.com". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 2017-03-02. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
13. Roque, Anselmo. "Purisima tells policemen: Knock on doors, ask why 530,000 guns not licensed". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
14. "Official Website of Department of the Interior and Local Government - Kagawaran ng Interyor at Pamahalaang Lokal - Central Luzon Office - DILG R-3 Top Management Reviews First Semester Performance for 2012". Archived from the original on 2015-04-11. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
15. "Zaragoza: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
16. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
17. Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
18. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
19. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
20. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
21. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
22. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
23. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
24. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
25. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
26. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
27. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
28. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
29. "Philippines : Gov.Ph : About the Philippines". www.gov.ph. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
30. Firm, Joselito Guianan Chan, Managing Partner, Chan Robles and Associates Law. "THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES - CHAN ROBLES VIRTUAL LAW LIBRARY". www.chanrobles.com.
31. "2013 Candidates in Zaragoza | List of Candidates for Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija | Know Your Candidates". Archived from the original on 2016-08-16. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
32. "St. Vincent Ferrer at 3110 Nueva Ecija, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija Philippines". www.thecatholicdirectory.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
33. "Vicariate of St. Rose of Lima | Unto Greater Service : The official Website of the Diocese of Cabanatuan". www.dioceseofcabanatuan.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
34. http://www.claretianpublications.com/index.php/diocese/20-diocese-of-cabanatuan%5B%5D
35. http://www.dioceseofcabanatuan.com/st-vincent%5B%5D

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine