THE ILOCOS REGION
The Ilocos Region is located in the northwest of Luzon, bordering to the east the regions of the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley and to the south the region of Central Luzon. To the northwest is the South China Sea.
The region is composed of four provinces, namely: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. Its regional center is San Fernando City, La Union
URBAN CENTERS
Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, Vigan in Ilocos Sur, San Fernando in La Union and the capital town of Lingayen and the cities of Dagupan and San Carlos in Pangasinan are the centers of trade, business, and education.
Region's Economy
Although the economy in the southern portion of the region, esp. Pangasinan, is anchored on agro-industrial and service industry, the economy in the northern portion of the region is anchored in the agricultural sector. The economy in Pangasinan is driven by agro-industrial businesses , such as milkfish (bangus) cultivation and processing, livestock raising, fish paste processing (bagoong), and others. At the same time the importance of trading, financial services,
and educational services in the economy cannot be denied. Income in the Ilocos provinces or northern portion mostly come from cultivating rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, and fruits; raising livestock such as pigs, chicken, goats, and carabaos (water buffalos).
CULTURAL GROUPS
This Region has three ( distinct groups: Ilocanos, Pangasinenses and Igorots. Ilocanos occupy the coastal provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union and certain parts of Pangasinan. The natives of Pangasinan are the Pangasinenses. There are also Tingguians who live in the secluded mountains of Ilocos Sur.
CLIMATE
Dry season is from November to April while the rainy season is from May - October.
POPULATION
In 2000, the region's total population was 4,174,000. It increased by 8.86% since 1995.