Cagayan eyes Lal-lo town as new capital

TUGUEGARAO CITY—The provincial government plans to give back the title of provincial capital to Lal-lo town in north central Cagayan, its old seat during the Spanish occupation.

Lal-lo is 70 kilometers from Tuguegarao City, the present capital.

Gov. Manuel Mamba said the move to restore Lal-lo’s status would decongest Tuguegarao and spread development to the northern parts of the province.

“This plan, while looking at our past, is more about looking forward to the future,” he said.

The provincial government intends to develop a government complex on a 27-hectare land at Barangay Bangag in Lal-lo, the site of the provincial sub-capitol.

The proposed transfer of the province’s seat of government would bring services closer to downstream areas, as Lal-lo is in the central part of Cagayan.

Sta. Praxedes town at the western end is 197 km or about four hours by land from Tuguegarao, while Sta. Ana, the easternmost town, is 152 km or about 3.5 hours by land from Tuguegarao.

Aside from the problem of distance, Tuguegarao has suffered from severe traffic congestion and overpopulation.

“We see the wisdom of why Lal-lo was made as the capital during the Spanish period,” Mamba said.