Palayan

Capital of Nueva Ecija, Philippines

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Component city in Central Luzon, Philippines

Palayan

Component city

City of Palayan

(From top, left to right): Provincial Capitol of Nueva Ecija, City Center Welcome Sign, Road in Brgy. Imelda Valley, Palayan City Business Park

Flag

Seal

Motto(s):

Kilos Palayano, Aasenso Tayo
(Move for Progress, Palayanese)

Map of Nueva Ecija with Palayan highlighted

OpenStreetMap

Palayan

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 15°32′32″N 121°05′04″E﻿ / ﻿15.5422°N 121.0844°E﻿ / 15.5422; 121.0844
Country| Philippines
Region| Central Luzon
Province| Nueva Ecija
District|  3rd district
Foundation and cityhood| June 19, 1965
Barangays| 19 (see Barangays)
Government

[1]

• Type| Sangguniang Panlungsod
• Mayor| Viandrei Nicole J. Cuevas (NPC)
• Vice Mayor| Romaric S. Capinpin (NPC)
• Representative| Julius Cesar V. Vegara (PFP)
• City Council|

Members

*   * Romaric S. Capinpin
* Pacifico Rico C. Fajardo Jr.
* Edwin S. Pineda
* Julius M. Sta. Maria
* Rosalia C. Merez
* Larry M. Manapol
* Julius D. Bautista
* Antonio J. Malang Jr.
* Victorino L. Rullan
* Prince Joen S. Estavillo

• Electorate| 34,738 voters (2025)
Area

[2]

• Total

| 101.40 km2 (39.15 sq mi)
Elevation

| 173 m (568 ft)
Highest elevation

| 1,413 m (4,636 ft)
Lowest elevation

| 22 m (72 ft)
Population

(2024 census)[3]

• Total

| 47,883
• Density| 470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
• Households

| 11,193
Economy

• Income class| 5th city income class
• Poverty incidence|

12.64

% (2021)[4]
• Revenue| ₱ 677.3 million (2022)
• Assets| ₱ 1,612 million (2022)
• Expenditure| ₱ 478.9 million (2022)
• Liabilities| ₱ 227.2 million (2022)
Service provider

• Electricity| Nueva Ecija 2 Area 2 Electric Cooperative (NEECO 2 A2)
Time zone| UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code|

3132

PSGC|

034919000

IDD : area code | +63 (0)44
Native languages| Tagalog
Ilocano
Website| www.palayancity.gov.ph

Palayan, officially the City of Palayan (Filipino: Lungsod ng Palayan, Ilocano: Siudad ti Palayan), is a component city and capital of the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 45,383 people,[5] making it the least populated city in the Philippines.

Palayan was created on June 19, 1965, by the Congress of the Philippines and is one of seven planned cities in the Philippines (the other six being Manila, Baguio, Quezon City, Trece Martires, Koronadal and the Island Garden City of Samal).[6]

The new provincial capitol, convention center, and sports center of Nueva Ecija are located in the city.

Palayan City is 14 kilometers (8.7 mi) from Cabanatuan, 130 kilometers (81 mi) from Manila, and 102 kilometers (63 mi) from Baler.

## History

[edit]

This section may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. You can help. The talk page may contain suggestions. (July 2019)

|

On March 25, 1952, a special consultation meeting was conducted by Governor Leopoldo Diaz along with Congressman Jesus Ilagan, Board Members Dioscoro de Leon and Antonio Corpuz, Don Felipe Buencamino, and the municipal mayors of Nueva Ecija to discuss the transfer the provincial capital from Cabanatuan. As a result, the group unanimously agreed to establish the new capital on the site of the Government Stock Farm located within the municipalities of Laur and Bongabon. The municipalities of Gapan, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Guimba, Talavera, General Tinio, Baloc (Santo Domingo), and Muñoz were also considered as potential sites for the new capital.

In 1955, President Ramon Magsaysay declared a portion of the Government Stock Farm open for settlement pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 237.[7]

On June 19, 1965, the Congress of the Philippines enacted Republic Act No. 4475 creating Palayan City and designating it as the new capital of Nueva Ecija.[8] "Palayan" (rice paddy) was chosen as the name of the new provincial capital to reflect the moniker bestowed upon the province of Nueva Ecija as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines”. The city government was constituted on December 5, 1965, with then Governor Eduardo L. Joson acting as the city's ex-officio Mayor, while the Provincial Board constituted the first City Council. Under this administration, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) purchased a large tract of land at the city's parameters near Laur to house INC members from Hacienda Luisita due to conflicts arising from union disbandments.

Palayan city hall

In 1969, Mayor Elpidio Cucio and Vice Mayor Felipe Bautista, initially appointed to their respective offices, were among the first elected local officials of the city, along with Councilors Flor Agustin, Tranquilino dela Cruz, Antonio Pascual, Federico Dacanay, Luis Lacalle, and Thomas Lumawig. The city also hosted the National Boy Scout Jamboree which was attended by thousands of local and foreign scouts at the time.

In August 1969, the city was enlarged by virtue of Republic Act No. 6052, authored by then Congressman Angel Concepcion (Nueva Ecija 2nd), which provided for the inclusion of the Military Reservation in Laur and the Fort Magsaysay cantonment area located in Santa Rosa.[9]

In 1972, by virtue of Proclamation No. 893, a portion of the Government Stock Farm was allocated for the displaced population of Pantabangan following the construction of the Pantabangan Dam. The resettlement site was eventually converted into Barangay Marcos Village.

In 1983, the training ground of the Philippine Army was transferred from Fort Bonifacio in Metro Manila to Fort Ramon Magsaysay. This paved the way for the development of the reservation area into a training complex to serve the army's training requirements.

In 1993, the Asianwide Green Scouts Movement was founded during the first Philippines-Japan Bilateral Ecology Work Camp held in the city. The event also led to the establishment of the projects Kawayang Buhay and the Asian Ecology Forest which is supported by the Asian Friendship Society.

In 1995, Barangay Popolon, formerly a barangay of Bongabon, was annexed into the city by virtue of Republic Act No. 8030. This was ratified in a plebiscite held on October 1, 1995.[10] Moreover, Bagong Buhay, one of the three resettlement areas in the city, was converted to a regular barangay after a plebiscite on November 26, 1995.

The new provincial capitol building of Nueva Ecija was completed in 2002, solidifying the city's status as both the de facto and de jure capital of the province. The old provincial capitol is located on Burgos Avenue, Cabanatuan, and is still utilized by the provincial government.

## Geography

[edit]

### Barangays

[edit]

Palayan City is politically subdivided into 20 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

* Atate
* Aulo
* Bagong Buhay
* Bo. Militar (Fort Magsaysay)
* Caballero (Poblacion)
* Caimito (Poblacion)
* Doña Josefa
* Ganaderia (Poblacion)
* Imelda Valley I
* Imelda Valley II
* Langka
* Malate (Poblacion)
* Maligaya
* Manacnac
* Mapaet
* Marcos Village
* Popolon (Pagas)
* Santolan (Poblacion)
* Sapang Buho
* Singalat

### Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Palayan City, Nueva Ecija

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 29
(84)  | 30
(86)  | 31
(88)  | 33
(91)  | 33
(91)  | 31
(88)  | 30
(86)  | 29
(84)  | 29
(84)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 29
(84)  | 30
(87)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 19
(66)  | 19
(66)  | 20
(68)  | 22
(72)  | 23
(73)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 23
(73)  | 22
(72)  | 21
(70)  | 20
(68)  | 22
(71)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 36
(1.4)  | 34
(1.3)  | 36
(1.4)  | 41
(1.6)  | 202
(8.0)  | 282
(11.1)  | 418
(16.5)  | 393
(15.5)  | 340
(13.4)  | 237
(9.3)  | 99
(3.9)  | 90
(3.5)  | 2,208
(86.9)
Average rainy days  | 2.5  | 3.0  | 4.1  | 6.3  | 15.8  | 19.4  | 22.5  | 21.6  | 20.1  | 17.5  | 9.6  | 4.0  | 146.4
Source: Meteoblue[11]

## Demographics

[edit]

Population census of PalayanYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1970 | 8,382| —
1975 | 12,140| +7.71%
1980 | 14,959| +4.26%
1990 | 20,393| +3.15%
1995 | 26,851| +5.29%
2000 | 31,253| +3.31%
2007 | 32,790| +0.66%
2010 | 37,219| +4.72%
2015 | 41,041| +1.88%
2020 | 45,383| +2.14%
2024 | 47,883| +1.30%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16]

## Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Palayan

2000
37.26

2003
23.22

2006
15.40

2009
16.00

2012
16.94

2015
14.49

2018
5.83

2021
12.64

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]

## Sister cities

[edit]

* Tagaytay
* Virac, Catanduanes
* Tayabas, Quezon

## Gallery

[edit]

Fort Magsaysay

Panorama of the Palayan City business park

## References

[edit]

1. ^ City of Palayan |  (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. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
5. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
6. ^ "Palayan City History | Tourist Spots, Language and Festivals | Philippines Cities". Retrieved April 3, 2020.
7. ^ "Proclamation No. 237, s. 1955". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on June 19, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
8. ^ "Republic Act No. 4475". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
9. ^ "Republic Act No. 6052". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
10. ^ "Republic Act No. 8030". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Archived from the original on June 14, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
11. ^ "Palayan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
12. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
13. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
14. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
15. ^ 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.
16. ^ "Province of Nueva Ecija". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
17. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
18. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
19. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
20. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
21. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
22. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
23. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
24. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Palayan.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Palayan.

* Official website
* Philippine Standard Geographic Code
* Philippine Census Information
* Local Governance Performance Management System Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine

Preceded by

Cabanatuan

|  Capital of Nueva Ecija
1965–present  | Incumbent

|
|

Places adjacent to Palayan

|  | Gen. Mamerto Natividad | Bongabon

|
|

|  |
Cabanatuan |

Palayan

| Laur
|  |
Santa Rosa | Laur |

Articles Related to Palayan

* v
* t
* e

Province of Nueva Ecija

Palayan (capital)
Cabanatuan (largest city)

Municipalities|

* Aliaga
* Bongabon
* Cabiao
* Carranglan
* Cuyapo
* Gabaldon
* General Mamerto Natividad
* General Tinio
* Guimba
* Jaen
* Laur
* Licab
* Llanera
* Lupao
* Nampicuan
* Pantabangan
* Peñaranda
* Quezon
* Rizal
* San Antonio
* San Isidro
* San Leonardo
* Santa Rosa
* Santo Domingo
* Talavera
* Talugtug
* Zaragoza

Component cities|

* Cabanatuan
* Gapan
* Muñoz
* Palayan
* San Jose

* v
* t
* e

Central Luzon (Region III)

Regional center|

* San Fernando

Provinces|

* Aurora
* Bataan
* Bulacan
* Nueva Ecija
* Pampanga
* Tarlac
* Zambales

Highly urbanized cities|

* Angeles
* Olongapo

Component cities|

* Balanga
* Baliwag
* Cabanatuan
* Gapan
* Mabalacat
* Malolos
* Meycauayan
* Muñoz
* Palayan
* San Fernando
* San Jose
* San Jose del Monte
* Tarlac City

Provincial capitals|

* Balanga
* Baler
* Iba
* Malolos
* Palayan
* San Fernando
* Tarlac City

Municipalities|

* Abucay
* Aliaga
* Anao
* Angat
* Apalit
* Arayat
* Bacolor
* Bagac
* Balagtas
* Baler
* Bamban
* Bocaue
* Bongabon
* Botolan
* Bulacan
* Bustos
* Cabangan
* Cabiao
* Calumpit
* Camiling
* Candaba
* Candelaria
* Capas
* Carranglan
* Casiguran
* Castillejos
* Concepcion
* Cuyapo
* Dilasag
* Dinalungan
* Dinalupihan
* Dingalan
* Dipaculao
* Doña Remedios Trinidad
* Floridablanca
* Gabaldon
* General Mamerto Natividad
* General Tinio
* Gerona
* Guagua
* Guiguinto
* Guimba
* Hagonoy
* Hermosa
* Iba
* Jaen
* La Paz
* Laur
* Licab
* Limay
* Llanera
* Lubao
* Lupao
* Macabebe
* Magalang
* Maria Aurora
* Marilao
* Mariveles
* Masantol
* Masinloc
* Mayantoc
* Mexico
* Minalin
* Moncada
* Morong
* Nampicuan
* Norzagaray
* Obando
* Orani
* Orion
* Palauig
* Pandi
* Paniqui
* Pantabangan
* Paombong
* Peñaranda
* Pilar
* Plaridel
* Porac
* Pulilan
* Pura
* Quezon
* Ramos
* Rizal
* Samal
* San Antonio (Nueva Ecija)
* San Antonio (Zambales)
* San Clemente
* San Felipe
* San Ildefonso
* San Isidro
* San Jose (Tarlac)
* San Leonardo
* San Luis (Aurora)
* San Luis (Pampanga)
* San Manuel
* San Marcelino
* San Miguel
* San Narciso
* San Rafael
* San Simon
* Santa Ana
* Santa Cruz
* Santa Ignacia
* Santa Maria
* Santa Rita
* Santa Rosa
* Santo Domingo
* Santo Tomas
* Sasmuan
* Subic
* Talavera
* Talugtug
* Victoria
* Zaragoza

Luzon, Republic of the Philippines

* v
* t
* e

List of cities in the Philippines

Highly urbanized
cities|

* Angeles City
* Bacolod
* Baguio
* Butuan
* Cagayan de Oro
* Caloocan
* Cebu City
* Davao City
* General Santos
* Iligan
* Iloilo City
* Lapu-Lapu City
* Las Piñas
* Lucena
* Makati
* Malabon
* Mandaluyong
* Mandaue
* Manila
* Marikina
* Muntinlupa
* Navotas
* Olongapo
* Parañaque
* Pasay
* Pasig
* Puerto Princesa
* Quezon City
* San Juan
* Tacloban
* Taguig
* Valenzuela
* Zamboanga City

Independent
component cities|

* Cotabato City
* Dagupan
* Naga, Camarines Sur
* Ormoc
* Santiago

Component cities|

* Alaminos
* Antipolo
* Bacoor
* Bago
* Bais
* Balanga
* Baliwag
* Batac
* Batangas City
* Bayawan
* Baybay
* Bayugan
* Biñan
* Bislig
* Bogo
* Borongan
* Cabadbaran
* Cabanatuan
* Cabuyao
* Cadiz
* Calaca
* Calamba
* Calapan
* Calbayog
* Candon
* Canlaon
* Carcar
* Carmona
* Catbalogan
* Cauayan
* Cavite City
* Danao
* Dapitan
* Dasmariñas
* Digos
* Dipolog
* Dumaguete
* El Salvador
* Escalante
* Gapan
* General Trias
* Gingoog
* Guihulngan
* Himamaylan
* Ilagan
* Imus
* Iriga
* Isabela
* Kabankalan
* Kidapawan
* Koronadal
* La Carlota
* Lamitan
* Laoag
* Legazpi
* Ligao
* Lipa
* Maasin
* Mabalacat
* Malaybalay
* Malolos
* Marawi
* Masbate City
* Mati
* Meycauayan
* Muñoz
* Naga, Cebu
* Oroquieta
* Ozamiz
* Pagadian
* Palayan
* Panabo
* Passi
* Roxas
* Sagay
* Samal
* San Carlos, Negros Occidental
* San Carlos, Pangasinan
* San Fernando, La Union
* San Fernando, Pampanga
* San Jose, Nueva Ecija
* San Jose del Monte
* San Pablo
* San Pedro
* Santa Rosa
* Santo Tomas
* Silay
* Sipalay
* Sorsogon City
* Surigao City
* Tabaco
* Tabuk
* Tacurong
* Tagaytay
* Tagbilaran
* Tagum
* Talisay, Cebu
* Talisay, Negros Occidental
* Tanauan
* Tandag
* Tangub
* Tanjay
* Tarlac City
* Tayabas
* Toledo
* Trece Martires
* Tuguegarao
* Urdaneta
* Valencia
* Victorias
* Vigan

* v
* t
* e

Provincial capital cities and municipalities of the Philippines

Luzon

* Abra: Bangued
* Albay: Legazpi
* Apayao: Kabugao / Luna1
* Aurora: Baler
* Bataan: Balanga
* Batanes: Basco
* Batangas: Batangas City
* Benguet: La Trinidad
* Bulacan: Malolos
* Cagayan: Tuguegarao
* Camarines Norte: Daet
* Camarines Sur: Pili
* Catanduanes: Virac
* Cavite: Imus / Trece Martires1
* Ifugao: Lagawe
* Ilocos Norte: Laoag
* Ilocos Sur: Vigan
* Isabela: Ilagan
* Kalinga: Tabuk
* La Union: San Fernando
* Laguna: Santa Cruz
* Marinduque: Boac
* Masbate: Masbate City
* Mountain Province: Bontoc
* Nueva Ecija: Palayan
* Nueva Vizcaya: Bayombong
* Occidental Mindoro: Mamburao
* Oriental Mindoro: Calapan
* Palawan: Puerto Princesa
* Pampanga: San Fernando
* Pangasinan: Lingayen
* Quezon: Lucena
* Quirino: Cabarroguis
* Rizal: Antipolo
* Romblon: Romblon
* Sorsogon: Sorsogon City
* Tarlac: Tarlac City
* Zambales: Iba

Visayas

* Aklan: Kalibo
* Antique: San Jose de Buenavista
* Biliran: Naval
* Bohol: Tagbilaran
* Capiz: Roxas
* Cebu: Cebu City
* Eastern Samar: Borongan
* Guimaras: Jordan
* Iloilo: Iloilo City
* Leyte: Tacloban
* Negros Occidental: Bacolod
* Negros Oriental: Dumaguete
* Northern Samar: Catarman
* Samar: Catbalogan
* Siquijor: Siquijor
* Southern Leyte: Maasin

Mindanao

* Agusan del Norte: Cabadbaran / Butuan1
* Agusan del Sur: Prosperidad
* Basilan: Lamitan / Isabela1
* Bukidnon: Malaybalay
* Camiguin: Mambajao
* Cotabato: Kidapawan
* Davao de Oro: Nabunturan
* Davao del Norte: Tagum
* Davao del Sur: Digos
* Davao Occidental: Malita
* Davao Oriental: Mati
* Dinagat Islands: San Jose
* Lanao del Norte: Tubod
* Lanao del Sur: Marawi
* Maguindanao del Norte: Datu Odin Sinsuat
* Maguindanao del Sur: Buluan
* Misamis Occidental: Oroquieta
* Misamis Oriental: Cagayan de Oro
* Sarangani: Alabel
* South Cotabato: Koronadal
* Sultan Kudarat: Isulan
* Sulu: Jolo
* Surigao del Norte: Surigao City
* Surigao del Sur: Tandag
* Tawi-Tawi: Bongao
* Zamboanga del Norte: Dipolog
* Zamboanga del Sur: Pagadian
* Zamboanga Sibugay: Ipil

1 de facto seat of provincial government
*[PSGC]: Philippine Standard Geographic Code
*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate. Executive Order 135 §6 states that for "census years" (years divisible by 10) the reference date would be May 1st, but for all other years, the reference date is to be the "middle of the year". This means that growth rates, although correct, are not necessarily simple year-on-year comparisons.
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