INFRASTRUCTURES AND UTILITIES
Road Networks
The core of Santiago's road network comprises three major roads namely Maharlika Highway, Santiago-Ramon Highway, and Santiago-Saguday Road. Santiago has six provincial roads. The Maharlika Highway, one of the major thoroughfares in the country, serves as the arterial road of the city. The city and barangay roads, the main collector and service roads, are the vital linkages of the farm to market roads and the arterial roads. As of 1999, Santiago City has a total of 351.373 kms. of road network, 18.35 kms. of which are national roads, 285.749 kms. are access or NIA roads. Of the total length of road, 95.94 lms. are concrete -paved, 10 kms. are asphalt-paved, 195.27 kms. are graveled, and 28.37 kms. are earth-filled. In addition, the city has 21 bridges with a total span of 890.05 linear meters, 644.45 meters of which are made of reinforced concrete materials.
Transportation Facilities
As of 1999, there are at least 18 bus companies and jeepneys associations plying various routes from Santiago to other parts of the region such as Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Kalinga and Cagayan. Nelbusco, Victory Liners, Baliwag transit, Royal Eagle, Auto Bus are some of the bus with terminal in Santiago City, offered daily trips to Manila. Nelbusco, which has the biggest number of units, has been operating through out Cagayan Valley and has some units taking regular routes to Baguio. Other transportation companies are RGR Express, Maryann Liner, MARIVI and Vizcaya Liner. The jeepney associations include MARETSCHI, IJODAI, and SITDECO. As of 1999, 42 registered tricycles(motorized vehicles) associations, with at least 7,210 units or 70% of the total number of registered vehicles, have been operating within the city.
Power
The 37 barangays of Santiago City have been energized by the Isabela Electric Cooperative, Inc.(ISELCO 1), a power franchise holder based in Alicia, Isabela, although 73% of the total household population have access to the electricity. The sources of the power supply of th ISELCO 1 are NAPOCOR and the PNOC, a natural gas plant at San Antonio, Echague, Isabela. The two mini hydroelectric plants (Magat A and B) based at Ramon, Isabela with the combined power generation capacity of 2,500 kw., comprises 70% of the total power bought by ISELCO 1 from the NAPOCOR.
Water Supply
The Santiago Water District (SANWAD), with 8 pumping stations capable of generating 7,467.68 cubic meters per day, supply water tob residential consumers, commercial establishments, government institutions. Water supply is above the requirements of the 18 Barangays being served, which requires 3,433.09 cubic meters per day. Water is chlorinated through its hydrochlorinator and drip method to ensure the safety of consumers. Cylinder and jetmatic pumps provide water to the residents of the 19 barangays not covered by the service of the Santiago Water District.
The city government granted the SANWAD
a package loan amounting to P1.5M
for the installation of additional pump stations in Barangays
Mabini and San Andres.
Communications and Mass Media
Excellent communication facilities are available in Santiago City. Giant radio and telecommunication companies provide facsimile, telegram and telex services. Worldwide express delivery companies and international direct dialing systems connect Santiago City with major cities in the country and in the world. Public pay phones can be found in the commercial centers. Landlines are available. Cellular phone has become a craze of fashion among employees, students, businessmen, executives and even teachers.