Cabanatuan

Cabanatuan
City of Cabanatuan
Nicknames: 
Tricycle Capital of the Philippines
Gateway to the North
Motto: 
Pagbabago, Progreso, Disiplina
Map of Nueva Ecija with Cabanatuan highlighted
Interactive map of Cabanatuan
Cabanatuan
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°29′27″N 120°58′04″E / 15.4908°N 120.9678°E / 15.4908; 120.9678
CountryPhilippines
RegionCentral Luzon
ProvinceNueva Ecija
District 3rd district
Founded1750
CityhoodJune 15, 1950
Barangays89 (see Barangays)
Government
 • TypeSangguniang Panlungsod
 • MayorMyca Elizabeth R. Vergara (PFP)
 • Vice MayorJoselito C. Roque (PFP)
 • RepresentativeJulius Cesar V. Vergara (PFP)
 • City Council
Members
  • Jo-Mario Angelo E. Matias
  • Jean Yasmin D. Cruz
  • Marius A. Garcia
  • Aldwin Joseph V. Diaz
  • Oscar M. Mendoza
  • Jojo B. Valino
  • Epifanio G. Posada
  • Medel R. Seeping
  • Christian Jan G. Cecilio
  • Emmanuel D. Liwag II
 • Electorate244,298 voters (2025)
Area
 • Total
192.29 km2 (74.24 sq mi)
Elevation
52 m (171 ft)
Highest elevation
393 m (1,289 ft)
Lowest elevation
12 m (39 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)
 • Total
343,672
 • Density1,787.3/km2 (4,629.0/sq mi)
 • Households
81,792
Demonym(s)Cabanatueños (Male),
Cabanatueñas (Female)
Economy
 • Income class1st city income class
 • Poverty incidence
8.19
% (2021)
 • Revenue₱ 2,382 million (2022)
 • Assets₱ 8,342 million (2022)
 • Expenditure₱ 1,999 million (2022)
 • Liabilities₱ 4,166 million (2022)
Service provider
 • ElectricityCabanatuan Electric Corporation (CELCOR)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
3100
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)44
Native languagesTagalog (predominant), other languages with limited presence include Ilocano, Kapampangan and Sinama
Websitewww.cabanatuancity.gov.ph

Cabanatuan, officially the City of Cabanatuan (Filipino: Lungsod ng Cabanatuan; Ilocano: Siudad ti Cabanatuan; Kapampangan: Lakanbalen/Ciudad ning Cabanatuan), is a first-class component city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines.

According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 343,672 people, making it the most populous in Nueva Ecija, seventh in the whole of Luzon outside the Greater Manila Area, and the largest city north of Metro Manila along the Pan-Philippine Highway (AH26). It has earned the moniker "Gateway to the North."

The city is known for being home to more than 30,000 motorized tricycles, making it the "Tricycle Capital of the Philippines." Its strategic location along the Cagayan Valley Road has helped make the city into the major economic, educational, medical, entertainment, shopping, and transportation center it is today. It is the commercial center for Nueva Ecija and nearby provinces in the region such as Tarlac, Aurora, and Bulacan.

Cabanatuan remained Nueva Ecija's capital until 1965 when the government recognized nearby Palayan City as the new provincial capital. Nueva Ecija's old capitol and other government offices are still used and maintained by the provincial administration. Cabanatuan also briefly became the capital of the Philippines during the First Philippine Republic while President Emilio Aguinaldo was moving north to evade capture by American forces.

After the campaign for the city's designation as a highly urbanized city failed, a motion was made to convert the city into a lone district instead.