Mallig, officially the Municipality of Mallig (; ), is a landlocked 4th class municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. The municipality has a land area of 133.40 square kilometers or 51.51 square miles which constitutes 1.07% of Isabela's total area. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 32,208.
Etymology
The town got its name after the Mallig river that traverses the municipality.
History
The municipality of Mallig was named after the Mallig river that traverses it. The area was first mentioned by Fray Pedro de Santo Tomas as the area to which the Irraya/Gaddang fled after the revolt of Dayag and Catabay in 1621 in what is now Ilagan City.
In 1939, then President Manuel L. Quezon declared the westernmost part of the province as a resettlement area, historically known as the Mallig Plains Resettlement Area. From then on, the influx of settlers from the Central Plains and the Ilocos Region encouraged more other settlers to migrate westward in these Kalinga-dominated plains.
Mallig was created by virtue of RA 678 authored in 1952 by then Congressman Samuel F. Reyes. The act was approved on April 8, 1953, with the former barrio of Olango as the seat of government. The territory comprising Mallig was taken from several neighboring towns: from Roxas: barangay of Holy Friday, San Jose (East), and San Jose (West) from Ilagan: barangay of Casili, Olango Primero, Olango Segundo, San Jose Nuevo, and Manano from Tumauini: barangay of Barucbuc, Siempre Viva Norte , Siempre Viva Sur Bimmonton, Pasurgong, Manga, and Settlement No. 1 from Santo Tomas: barangay of Abut and Minagbag
Mallig was a harsh abode for the migrants at the beginning, particularly because of the hostile natives who dominated the area, and also because of the occurrence of endemic malaria. It took the settlers gradual adaptation and acclimatization before they finally convinced their relatives and other migrants to settle permanently.
Geography
Mallig is bounded by the towns of Paracelis, Mountain Province on its western limits, Quezon, Isabela on its northern limits, Roxas, Isabela on its southern limits and by both Delfin Albano and Quirino, Isabela on its eastern limits. Mallig is from Ilagan and from Manila.
Its main gateway is the Santiago-Tuguegarao Road which is a part of the national highway. The Ilagan-Delfin Albano-Mallig road, a provincial road, also serves as an important point of entry to Mallig.
It is also an agricultural town mainly composed of agricultural farms such as rice fields and corn fields which makes its rural landscape.
Barangays
Mallig is politically subdivided into 18 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
San Pedro (Barucbuc Sur) Bimonton Casili Centro I Holy Friday Jacinto Baniqued (Centro II pob) Maligaya Manano Olango Rang-ayan San Jose Norte I San Jose Sur Siempre Viva Norte Trinidad Victoria San Jose Norte II San Ramon Siempre Viva Sur
Climate
The climate in Mallig is tropical. Mallig has significant rainfall most months, with a short dry season. This location is classified as Am by Köppen and Geiger. The temperature here averages 27.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1784 mm.
Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Mallig, Isabela, was 32,208 people, with a density of .
Economy
Mallig is considered as one of the largest exporters of rice, corn, and tobacco in the Mallig Plains Region.
Major industries
Mallig is one of the top producers of agricultural products in the province. Its principal crops is mainly rice but corn and tobacco are produced in quantity. The municipality is often referred to as the "rice and nateng capital of the province." Other major crops are mango, calamansi (calamondin orange), banana, peanut, and vegetables.
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 Mallig 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.