Roxas, Isabela

Roxas is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 48,929 people in 9,896 households.

It is currently one of the fast-growing towns in Isabela. It is the center of business and commerce in the Mallig Region. It is envisioned to be a city in the next few years.

Transportation

In terms of transportation, Roxas has the most number of bus and jeepney terminals compared to any other town in the region. Bus companies such as Victory Liner, Inc., Northern Luzon Bus Corporation (NELBUSCO), AJA Transport, Inc. Incorporated, have services bound to other parts of the province, Tarlac, Pampanga, Ilocos, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, and Manila. Transportation within the town is mainly by tricycles, which are basically motorcycles with cabs attached to them.

Business

As of December 2007, Roxas is the most progressive town in Mallig Region. It has the most number of banks - Equitable PCI Bank (BDO), Philippine National Bank, Landbank of the Philippines, Banco Agricola, Inc., Mallig Plains Rural Bank and other non-major banks. It also has two locally famous malls - PowerMall (the first to install an escalator in the region), and GEMS Shopping Center.

Healthcare

It is considered as the center of health services in Mallig Region. It has numerous primary, secondary, and tertiary hospitals. Major hospitals include Manuel A. Roxas District Hospital (MARDH), Soller Medical Clinic, Dumlao Hospital, and Dayos Hospital. It also houses some specialization clinics, such as Sambilay Maternity and Medical Clinic, Purugganan Children's Clinic and Capuccino EENT Clinic. Dental clinics and skin clinics are also available. Moreover, health centers are also available in barangays outside the town proper.

Politics

Politics has been one of the local prominent issues. Dr. Harry G. Soller is presently the mayor of Roxas, defeating Benito Calderon who had been the mayor of Roxas for three terms. During the elections, political upheavals concerned the local residents since Dr. Soller won by a margin of just 200 votes. The current representative is Atty. Edwin C. Uy, who is in his third term. He won against Benedict Calderon, the son of Benito Calderon, and was also the incumbent mayor of Roxas that time. Congressman Edwin Uy is rumored to run for governor in 2010.

Education

Public and private schools serve the people of Roxas and other neighboring towns. It has a number of public elementary schools, three public high schools, namely Roxas National High School, Lanting National High School and Munoz National High School. A Marian institution, La Salette of Roxas, provide the private school education. It has a primary school, a high school, and a college.

Barangays

Roxas is politically subdivided into 26 barangays.

* Anao * Imbiao * Lanting * Lucban * Marcos * Masigun * Rizal (Pob.) * Vira (Pob.) * Bantug (Pob.) * Luna (Pob.) * Quiling * Rang-ayan * San Antonio

* San Jose * San Pedro * San Placido * San Rafael * Simimbaan * Sinamar * Sotero Nuesa * Villa Concepcion * Matusalem * Muñoz East * Muñoz West * Doña Concha * San Luis

Trivia

- Roxas was named after the late President Manual A. Roxas

- It celebrates its town day (Roxas Day) the same with the American Independence Day which is every 4th of July.

- Its current mayor is Dr. Harry G. Soller, who owns the Soller Medical Clinic.

External links

* [http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/default.asp Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
* [http://www.t-macs.com/kiso/local/ 2000 Philippine Census Information]
* [http://elgu2.ncc.gov.ph/roxas-isabela/ Municipality of Roxas]