Delfin Albano, officially the Municipality of Delfin Albano (Ibanag: Ili nat Delfin Albano; Ilocano: Ili ti Delfin Albano; Tagalog: Bayan ng Delfin Albano), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 29,928 people.

The municipality was formerly known as Magsaysay. It was named after the former congressman, Delfin Albano.

Etymology

On November 14, 1982, by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 291, the municipality was renamed to its current name in honor of its native legislator, Congressman Delfin Albano.

History

On June 22, 1957, by virtue of Republic Act No. 2009, 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, Maui, San Roque, Carmencita, Aga, Villa Pareda, Villaluz, San Pedro, Concepcion, San Macario and San Nicolas and the sitios of Turod, Paco, Calamagui and Kim-malabasa, were separated from the municipality of Tumauini to form the municipality of Magsaysay, in honor of President Ramon Magsaysay who died two months prior.

In 1982, a bill seeking to change the name of the municipality from Magsaysay to Delfin Albano was filed in the Interim Batasang Pambansa. This was in honor of the late Delfin Albano who authored the Republic Act No. 2009 which created the municipality of Magsaysay. On November 14, 1982, Batasang Pambansa No. 291 was approved. The municipality formally celebrated and installed the name of Delfin Albano on October 1, 1983.

Geography

Delfin Albano is located at 38 kilometres (24 mi) northwest of Ilagan City, the capital city of the province. The town is bounded to the north by Santo Tomas, to the east by the Cagayan River shared with Tumauini, to the west by Quezon and Mallig, and to the south by Quirino, Ilagan City and the Mallig River.

Barangays

Delfin Albano is politically subdivided into twenty nine (29) barangays.  Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Climate

Land area and land use

The town occupies a total land area of 18,900 hectares, which is further subdivided to twenty nine (29) barangays. The total land area contains varied land use, which were developed in response to population and economic growth of the total land area, to wit: agriculture (59.04%), built-up areas (2.74%), forest (4.74%), open grass lands (30.15), and road and water bodies (3.33%).

Demographics

Population census of Delfin Albano

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1960 10,742 —     1970 13,905 +2.61% 1975 15,585 +2.31% 1980 17,725 +2.61% 1990 20,410 +1.42% 1995 21,811 +1.25%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2000 23,619 +1.72% 2007 24,899 +0.73% 2010 25,422 +0.76% 2015 26,614 +0.88% 2020 29,928 +2.33%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

In the 2020 census, the population of Delfin Albano was 29,928 people, with a density of 160 inhabitants per square kilometre or 410 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Delfin Albano

5 10 15 20 2006 19.10 2009 19.85 2012 16.32 2015 13.61 2018 16.95 2021 11.89 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Government

Local government

As a municipality in the Province of Isabela, government officials in the provincial level are voted by the electorates of the town. The provincial government have political jurisdiction over local transactions of the municipal government.

The municipality of Delfin Albano 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 councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Barangays are also headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. The barangays have SK federation which represents the barangay, headed by SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.

Elected officials

Members of the Municipal Council
(2022-2025)

Position	Name
Congressman	Antonio T. Albano
Mayor	Arnold Edward P. Co
Vice-Mayor	Thomas A. Pua Jr.
Councilors	Maximo S. Caliguiran, Jr.
	Alex M. Macarilay Jr.
	Anthony L. Albano
	Elli John G. Cañero
	Jay B. Caliguiran
	Edwin B. Badua
	Joel A. Talamayan
	Clemente Dumlao, Jr.

Congress representation

Delfin Albano, as a municipality, belongs to the first legislative district of the province of Isabela. The current representative is Hon. Antonio T. Albano.

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. The office governs the public and private elementary and public and private high schools throughout the municipality.

See also

• List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines