Jones, officially the Municipality of Jones (; ), is a municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.

Etymology

The town derived its named in honor of William Atkinson Jones, an American legislator who authored the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916. The town was inaugurated on January 1, 1921. It was initially divided into 21 barrios with virgin forests and wide fertile plains, with Cabanuangan serving as the Municipal Government's seat.

History

The southern portion of Echague separated by the Cagayan River was created into a municipality named Jones in honor of an American Legislator, William Atkinson Jones, who authored the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916, and was inaugurated on January 1, 1921. It was originally composed of 21 barrios of virgin forests and wide fertile plains with Cabanuangan as the seat of the municipal government.

Geography

Jones is situated from the provincial capital Ilagan, and from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Jones is politically subdivided into 42 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

The barangays are:

  • Abulan
  • Addalam
  • Arubub
  • Bannawag
  • Bantay
  • Barangay I (Poblacion - Centro)
  • Barangay II (Poblacion - Centro)
  • Barangcuag
  • Dalibubon
  • Daligan
  • Diarao
  • Dibuluan
  • Dicamay I
  • Dicamay II
  • Dipangit
  • Disimpit
  • Divinan
  • Dumawing
  • Fugu
  • Lacab
  • Linamanan
  • Linomot
  • Malannit
  • Minuri
  • Namnama
  • Napaliong
  • Palagao
  • Papan Este
  • Papan Weste
  • Payac
  • Pungpongan
  • San Antonio
  • San Isidro
  • San Jose
  • San Roque
  • San Sebastian
  • San Vicente
  • Santa Isabel
  • Santo Domingo
  • Tupax
  • Usol
  • Villa Bello

Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Jones was 46,160 people, with a density of .

There was originally a population of Agta [Pugot/Aeta] living in the vicinity of Jones, along the Dicamay River. The Agta are one of the many groups known as 'Negritos' and who are descended from the pre-Austronesian population of the islands. The Dicamay Agta, who combined hunter-gathering with swidden agriculture, have been severely impacted by the influx of other ethnic groups who took up hillside and farm lands, resulting in there being no Agta living in the area today. There are numerous reports of the Agta having been driven off their lands, and in some cases of having been killed by immigrant groups of farmers.

Languages

Jones is dominantly using these languages: Ilocano, Yogad, Bugkalot/Ilongot, Dicamay Agta. English, being one of the official languages is used primarily in communication for government publications, local newsprints, road signs, commercial signs and in doing official business transactions. Tagalog, another official language and is also considered the national language is used as verbal communication channel among residents.

Economy

Jones is primarily an agricultural municipality best suited for the intensive production of rice and corn as evidence by its topographic map which shows that 73% of the agricultural area of 16,848 hectares is under 0-3 slope category.

Culture

;Pinilisa Festival

The Pinilisa Festival is an acknowledgment of the culture of Jonesians and celebrated every March 17 to rejoice over the bountiful harvests of Pinilisa, a unique organic plum-colored rice known not only in the region but also in other countries, due to its unique fragrance and flavor compared to ordinary rice. Unlike other varieties that rely on synthetic commercial fertilizer to grow healthy, this rare rice variety can thrive on rainwater and the rich alluvial soil in the area. Its gustatory features make it a favorite staple food and primary ingredient for native rice cakes and other products.

The success of the first Pinilisa Festival was conceptualized by the initiative of the administration of Florante A. Raspado, its first festival director-general. The festival was easily produced and marked the history of the town of Jones and one among the line-up of the Department of Tourism Wow! Philippines Program, making Pinilisa Festival is recognized not only in the Philippines but as well as on the world. The famous product “Pinilsa Rice” of Jones has given birth to the now famous Pinilisa Festival of Jones and is now identified and included in the list and calendar of the famous festival in the country maintained and documented by the Department of Tourism. Tourism Regional Director Blessida G. Diwa is among the patrons of the Pinilisa Festival, showing consistent support for the promotion of the Festival.

;Saba Festival

Dicamay people also celebrates the Banana “Saba” festival in the month of May. In this month people choose a day where they gather to the Barangay center for celebration, “Thanksgiving mass” is held in the morning and other activities in the evening where each purok/zone members shall have presentations for people enjoyment.

Tourism

Sibsib falls is the known tourist spot in Dicamay 2 which is 4 km from the barangay proper. It is a great place for bonding. Many visitors from other towns and barangays enjoy the beauty and freshness of air and water in the falls.

Infrastructure

thumb|Dalibubon Bridge in Jones, Isabela

The municipality is 370 kilometres north from Metro Manila and about 90 kilometres from Ilagan City, the province's capital, 44 kilometres from Santiago, Isabela and 31 kilometers from a junction at Barangay Ipil in the municipality of Echague.

GV Florida Transport is one of the biggest bus transportation in Northern Philippines, particularly Cagayan Valley is currently serving the town & that serves Executive Deluxe Buses (with restroom) - (Jones, Isabela - Sampaloc, Manila via TPLEX.

Jones is accessed by UV Express Vans from Santiago to San Agustin.

Jones has two steel bridges, the Dalibubon bridge, now known as Jones I Bridge, which serves as the northern boundary between Jones and Echague, and the Embarcadero bridge, now known as Jones II Bridge, which leads to San Agustin, the southeastern-most town of Isabela.

Government

Local government

As a municipality in the Province of Isabela, government officials at the provincial and municipal levels are voted by the town. The provincial government has political jurisdiction over most local transactions of the municipal government.

The municipality of Jones 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 municipal councilors are elected directly by the people in elections 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

{| class="wikitable" style="line-height:1.20em; font-size:100%;"

|+ Members of the Jones Municipal Council<br>(2022-2025)

|-

! Position

! Name

|-

| District Representative

| style="text-align:center;" | Joseph S. Tan

|-

| Municipal Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Nhel C. Montano

|-

| Municipal Vice-Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Evelyn R. Raspado

|-

|rowspan=8| Municipal Councilors

| style="text-align:center;" | Cynthia C. Bangloy

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Arland F. Ramos

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Virginia B. Sy

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Julius A. Raspado

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | John M. Sabiniano

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Irene Aggabao

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Jervin Reyes

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Sir Arthur Jhan Z. Anunciacion

|-

|}

Congress representation

Jones, belonging to the fourth legislative district of the province of Isabela, currently represented by Hon. Joseph S. Tan.

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. Jones has two school district offices namely, Jones East, and Jones West, that govern both the public and private elementary and high schools throughout the municipality.

Primary and elementary schools

  • A.C. Ruiz Elementary School
  • Addalam Primary School
  • Arubub Primary School
  • Bannawag Elementary School
  • Bantay Primary School
  • Barangcuag Primary School
  • Dalibubon Elementary School
  • Daligan Elementary School
  • Diarao Elementary School
  • Dicamay I Elementary School
  • Dicamay II Elementary School
  • Dicamay National High School
  • Dipangit Primary School
  • Disimpit Elementary School
  • Divinan Elementary School
  • Dumawing Elementary School
  • Fugu Elementary School
  • Graceway Baptist Academy
  • Jones East Central School
  • Jones West Central School-Campus 1
  • Jones West Central School-Campus 2
  • JT Sebastian Primary School
  • La Salette of Jones, Inc.
  • Lacab Primary School
  • Linamanan Elementary School
  • Linomt Elementary School
  • Malannit Elementary School
  • Minuri Elementary School - Annex
  • Minuri Elementary School - Main
  • Namnama Elementary School
  • Papan Elementary School
  • Papan Weste Primary School
  • Payac Elementary School
  • Pungpongan Primary School
  • San Antonio Elementary School
  • San Isidro Elementary School
  • San Isidro PS - Annex (Bliss), LSB
  • San Jose Primary School
  • San Sebastian Integrated School
  • San Vicente Elementary School
  • Sta. Isabel Elementary School
  • Sto. Domingo Elementary School - Main
  • Sto. Domingo ES - Annex (LSB)
  • Tubar Elementary School
  • Usol Elementary School
  • Villa Bello Elementary School
  • Villa Saruccad Tribal Elementary School

Secondary schools

  • Addalam Region High School (Main)
  • Addalam Region High School (Divinan Annex)
  • Dibuluan National High School
  • Jones Rural School
  • Jones West High School (formerly Jones Rural School - Malannit Annex)
  • Sgt. Prospero Bello High School (Main)
  • Sgt. Prospero G. Bello High School (Dumawing Annex)

References

  • Municipal Profile at the National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines
  • Jones at the Isabela Government Website
  • Local Governance Performance Management System
  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
  • Philippine Census Information
  • Municipality of Jones